Mark White

Posted November 16, 2017 22:52

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I would like to hear from teachers the reasons why they use Smartmusic? I'm looking for support as to why you use it?

8 comments

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  Lorrina Allred November 19, 2017 06:41

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  1.  I like the students to practice the band music at home and be able to hear what it sounds like with all the instruments, especially the percussion students.  My beginning band students are in separate classes so it's good for them to hear the other instruments.

  2.  I like the assessment they see when they actually use it to practice.

  3.  I like the sight reading/ rhythm   exercises kids can practice.

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  Blake Jancius November 20, 2017 04:31

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  I am growing more and more frustrated w/SM.  8th Graders are good.  The good 7th Graders are good, the average/60%ers...little success.  AND I am talking just logging in and trying to calibrate.  Percussion is a mess!  I have talked and talked, showed  them...

  6th graders...what a waste of time (to teacher, and rescore). I can't image they read my comments.  I think  they will say it's a glitch for their bad score, yet, the submission is poor but not at the SM score.

  I love the gung ho kids that that are trying, the students that are poor players and I instruct them to join the class a year before to build up their knowledge and confidence and some do.  

  Sound Innovations Book 2 assignments do not go to ALL instruments of a traditional band.  Like the Concert Bb scale!!!!

  Why C trumpet, Why A flute, Why orchestra instruments in my band class????

  I plan to just assignment scales.  I am sick of listen to these poor recordings.  I was hoping kids would invest a touch more time at home to show them structured practice.  Slow something down, loop it.  They don't care...they are not me, not us.  

  It is not about the money, it is about my time.  We all have too much on our plate to waste our time.  

  SM is a great tool for 8th and above.  I would suggest the "tonal energy" app for brass instruments to match pitch if the student finds themselves on the wrong partial.  SM would be great for college students in secondary methods.   

  I am about ready to lose my mind looking at late assignments...I gave each student two 15 minute sessions to complete 4 assignments, I am content with 2 and delete the ones where there were such low scores from my stronger players. 

  I'm giving it to Jan 15...end of quarter 2.  SM is not user friendly.  too much clutter. 

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  Blake Jancius November 21, 2017 15:06

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  I have decided to give credit for just using SM to my 6th graders.  I will tell them they will get what they want out of this program.  This can be a great tool but I can't waste my time reading comment after comment from my students about poor recording issues on top of being off the beat by an 8th note.  They just are not ready.  Again, 7th grade is probably a good year to start.  

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  Mark White November 21, 2017 15:43

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  I agree I have the same problems for incoming 6th grade students. Biggest excuse my computer or mic is broken or smartmusic doesn't work. 

  (The reality is they need more practice)

  I just started using it at my elementary school at grades 4th and 5th. The middle school kids are fine except the incoming 6th that never used it.  The other elementary teachers that feed me don't use it either which is difficult.

  My biggest delay for the kids using it this year at the middle school level was them creating an account. 

  At the elementary level I created the accounts for them. Much easier process that I am going to do for my 6th grade students.

  Username:FirstLast(no space in between)

  Password:---------

  Do not have them enter the address to due to security reasons. Just to be safe. Worked out great.

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  Matthewweyant November 30, 2017 20:43

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  Right now, I'm assigning any concert and jazz band pieces that are in the library for guided practice and reality checks. I don't seem so tough when they see how tough Smart Music can grade ;) I'm creating classes of different levels for my lesson groups...I've pinned the Alfred percussion books to my Percussion classes. This way I can pin one book for the entire Band, and then separate method books for lesson groups for more individual access without Play Plus.

  I'm dangling Play Plus accounts as a carrot. They know I have 10 to give out, but they have to complete a google doc survey and do a Smart Music assignment to earn it so I can see who will really use it.

  I created a class for my Jazz Band. After school rehearsal attendance is sketchy due to conflicts, and what I can do with them is very limited given the time, so I want to offer guided style and improv practice in smart music.

  I might try an online honor band or offer other extra onscreen ensemble options. Being a smaller school, my serious musicians outgrow what my concert Band can do as a whole, so I want to offer other great pieces for them to practice independently...especially if they plan on continuing at the college level. If I throw a few pieces of my choosing into a smart music class that they can enroll in, I think some kids will take advantage of it. If I push too many required assignments with all the band kids, it can get laborious, and without direction, Play Plus may not be used very much. I'm leaning toward using Smart Music more for guidance and extra opportunity, rather than requiring all of the assignments to be graded.

  When SM finishes the new unit building features, adds the ability to hear individual parts with accompaniment in user content finale files, and MAKES THE ENTIRE CLASSIC OFFSCREEN LIBRARY AVAILABLE (hint hint SM), then I will be really off to the races

  Our kids come to me in 7th grade all over the map as far as skill level, or progress in a method book. I like using "14 weeks to better band" as a restart along with the Clark "5 Minutes A Day" warm-up books as my psuedo-method books for 7-9. They aren't in Smart Music unfortunately. I plan on trying to add them as content with Finale. I might use the good ol' rubank series to build units in smart music for next year, but I LOVE the Belwin/Alfred "Student Instrumental Course" series as a core book for the whole band. I would do cartwheels if Smart Music added the intermediate and advanced books to their library. 

   

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  Blake Jancius January 04, 2018 12:49

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  Still agitated...common SM

  Spinal Tap reference - "shark sandwick" 

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  TERESA MARINO April 26, 2018 02:14

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  Blake...HA! I love that movie.

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  Chad Criswell March 26, 2019 13:29

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  I have large classes of like instruments at multiple schools where I teach lessons and full band.  I use it primarily to show music on the projector rather than trying to point at stuff in a student's lesson book or on a piece of concert music.  It works great with a smartboard connected to help highlight or control playback from the front of the room.

  While I would love to be able to use SM as intended (having students practice at home) it has traditionally been a waste of money to purchase subscriptions for entire band classrooms as even it this day and age getting students to be able to use it at home is hit and miss with my age group.