Smartmusic?  What is it?

Smartmusic is a computer program that can greatly help students become better string players.  This program loads easily onto your computer and will allow students to pull up almost any piece of music that is already in the program.  As a teacher I can add any music I want into the program which students can use as well.  This allows students to play along with the music and it will grade students on how they played.  It will show the student what mistakes they made and even let the student record themselves and email it to the teacher.  The student can slow the pieces down to practice or speed them up.  They can add piano accompaniment and even set it so that it will follow them if they slow down or speed up.  It has a built in tuner so students can tune their own instrument.  Students can even make their own recordings of pieces and put them on a CD to listen to later. 

 

I am going to use Smartmusic in the classroom and I would highly recommend each student buy the program for their home computer.  This would allow the student to do any playing test from home and even get ahead in class by doing other playing tests ahead of time.  I will have a chart up in class soon that will list different sets of songs that students can "pass-off" if they get a grade of 90 or better.  Whoever passes the goal lines I have on the charts will get extra credit.  I have already put up some of the goal lists with explanations of how this system works.  Here are the list for 6th grade, 7th grade and 8th grade.

 

The Cost

The program itself cost $25 for a year subscription and $15 for a microphone.  You will never need to buy the microphone but once and the $25 for each year.  Many schools have been using this program and it is very successful. 

 

Learn More and Watch it Being Used

To purchase this program or read more just go to this website http://www.smartmusic.com/ then click the "students & parents" tab.  Then click "Take the Tour".  This will show you a video of how the program works. 

 

If you would like to purchase the program, on the same page (the "students & parents" tab) enter "mccantsstrings" in the box labeled "enter code" and click "go".  Put a 1 in the quantity box and click "continue".  Then make sure you put a 1 in the box next to "SmartMusic Instrumental Microphone".  It will then let you create a new account and follow the instructions.

 

 

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