SmartMusic software can be downloaded onto a computer or tablet (Mac or Windows friendly,) and it enables students to practice their scales, exercises, and repertoire and get feedback in real time. This as a concept is amazing. Students can practice a piece they are doing in band (and sometimes choir,) and hear the context of the entire ensemble around them, see their part on the screen, and get scored as they play. Notes that are played correctly (both in pitch and rhythm) are colored green, and notes that are incorrect are colored red. Once the piece or excerpt is finished, students get a calculated score. This score can then be shared with a teacher.
The biggest drawbacks to SmartMusic, which otherwise seems like an amazing program, are that you are limited to the repertoire accessible through the system itself, and also that it is mostly geared toward instrumental learning. This basically means that if you want to teach a piece (band or choral) that isn't already being used by SmartMusic, you can't upload it into SmartMusic. Therefore if you want to use this as an assessment tool, you can only use what SmartMusic has pre-selected. This is the same with the method books you can teach out of. Additionally, if you are a chorus teacher (as I am,) there is far less choral repertoire used by SmartMusic, so this limits your choices further.
This said, SmartMusic has expanded their repertoire considerably with more recent updates, so this can potentially become less of an issue as the program develops.
SmartMusic offers a free subscription, but this significantly limits what you have access to. On their site, they lay out the subscription benefits. I have uploaded them here:
All in all, SmartMusic as a concept is something that I think could really benefit music educators. Perhaps if there as a choral-specific version of SmartMusic, or if more choral music was included, it might be better, but for basic technique, and for instrumental teachers, SmartMusic has a lot to offer.
Hi Liana
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for this great app, I like it!
One of the best features you just mentioned is "and repertoire and get feedback in real time", which can open endless possibilities for music learning, and I am currently thinking of remote-teaching!
for the drawback, I think its just a matter of time, and for sure they will develop their software to solve all these problems. For the subscription, I see it as almost $1/day which is not big amount compared to my daily expenses.
Thanks again
Thats a really good point that it's really just like 1$ a day. I hadn't considered that!
DeleteNailed it, Liana - and, to tie-in with some of my content's focus, this is a perfect demonstration of a "Game of Skill." Just because it doesn't have a point system and boss battles does not mean it is an incredibly engaging way to provide INSTANT feedback for students learning certain instrumental skills. I like that this is something you've been able to discover and use.
ReplyDeleteAs for the "uploading files," this seems like only a matter of time before Smart Music (or some other product) can provide this. So much of music can be mathematically represented that it only takes a savvy engineer or computer scientist to make that reality come true!
Thanks for sharing!
It really is just like that! I've enjoyed reading your blog, and this definitely ties in! Kids are very motivated by this - the band teacher I worked with last year used it for her students and they were always trying to best themselves!
DeleteHi Liana, I am glad that you mentioned SmartMusic. My second son is playing viola and he uses the SmartMusic. It's amazing that the SmartMusic can play the instrumental music reading the score. Now, I have a better understanding of it, including some limitations.
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