For my class assignments this week, I researched the practice programs Chromatik and Smartmusic. Both programs offer interactive practice and tracking capabilities. Each program has the possibility of motivating students to practice and enabling teachers to assess individuals.
Chromatik
After watching a few YouTube videos about Chromatik, I was
very excited to be able to use it as a teacher. As I explored the app, I couldn’t seem to find the correct links to figure out how to use some
of the features described on the video.
As I did further online research, I read that Chromatik is no longer offering
Chromatik for Schools and Groups due to “a combination of low usage and a high
cost of maintenance.” (Explanation from Chromatik) The video had been very enticing (Chromatik video), so I
was disappointed. The functions of
the app are still worthwhile even if the capabilities are not what the 2012
video suggests.
Chromatik offers a vast variety of free music. Users can read music, make notes on the
digital score, record themselves, publish short recordings, and play along with
YouTube videos. The ability to make
notes and record (audio and video options) makes self-evaluation and
teacher-directed evaluation readily available.
The free music available through Chromatik allows students to play
several different genres of music.
Teachers need to be aware of difficulty level. Many of the pieces I looked through are not
for beginning instrumentalists. For example, several of the pieces tagged as “easy
piano” are not easy. It would be a good
idea for teachers to work with their students to choose appropriate pieces to
practice. If the student understands how
to look for range and difficulty level, it will save a lot of frustration for
both parties. The other problem I see
with Chromatik is the changing repertoire.
I read some concerns from Chromatik users who had been practicing
particular pieces only to find they were missing later on. Due to licensing and usage, the repertoire is
constantly changing. Users may not be
able to depend on their music to be available all the time. Chromatik does allow the user to upload their
own sheet music as well.
Smartmusic
Wow! I wish this
would have been available when I was a student.
What a great way to hold students accountable for their practice and
check in to their individual progress.
From my understanding, if Smartmusic is used efficiently, the students
can learn the fundamentals of pieces through individual practice - melody and
rhythm. This will allow the time in
ensemble and individual lessons to be devoted to artistry – phrasing, dynamics,
tone, and technique.
Assessment is often a challenge for music educators,
especially in large ensembles. It is
difficult to find the time to assess individual students. Smartmusic makes assessment and documentation
easier. Teachers, students, and parents
will have documented evidence of learning and progress.
The cost of Smartmusic will make some parents back
away. Testimonial videos about Smartmusic
put the cost into perspective. (Smartmusic Video) If
you consider the capabilities of Smartmusic, $40 is not much for a year’s worth
of individual coaching. If a school is
going to invest in Smartmusic ($140/year), the teacher must have a deliberate
plan on how to use the software. Will
students be required to purchase subscriptions?
Will there be practice room subscriptions ($44 each) available at school
(at no extra cost to the student)? Will
there be assignments through Smartmusic?
Teachers will need to take these questions into consideration and build
their individual programs accordingly.
In our video lecture this week, Dr. Bazan reminded teachers not to let the software do it all. Teachers must stay connected with their students (online and face-to-face), and check for understanding and progress. Artistry will not come through technology alone.
My school does not currently use Smartmusic or Chromatik, but I will be talking about the possibilities with my colleagues. Our middle school students all have iPads, so the hardware for either program is ready. It is exciting to think of the possibilities and opportunities for our music students.
No comments:
Post a Comment