Having just read "Notation Software: A Versatile Tool for Music Educators" by C. Floyd Richmond, I now have a greater understanding of how notation software can be used in the classroom. Richmond describes 6 ways that notation software can be directly applied to educational settings: arranging projects, composition projects, analysis of existing pieces, listening activities, testing, and performance practice. I personally have used notation software for arranging, composition, and performance practice. With regard to performance practice, I have used SmartMusic, which is a great tool for performers to use for practice when an accompanist is not available.
I think that this article presents very clearly and coprehensively a multitude of uses for notation software, many of which I hadn't ever heard about or thought of. Using notation software for testing seems especially innovative. Anything that gets students more actively involved with the subject matter, even in testing their knowledge, I think is a good thing. Something else that occurred to me while reading the testing section - music notation software and other technologies open up a world of possibilities for students with physical disabilities.
I definitely plan on investigating the Classical Archives website Richmond mentions several times throughout the article. I haven't had much time to explore it yet, but just perusing it briefly, it looks pretty cool.
By outlining a multitude of specific uses for music notation software, this article is a great starting point for educators looking to begin using notation software themselves and in their classrooms. I want to try to fully utilize all technology available to me when I begin teaching and this article is full of great ideas for just that.
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Smart music is a great tool, I've used it to audition for honors bands and to practice pieces that I didn't have an accompanist for!
ReplyDeleteI agree that this is a good place for music educators to start when they're investigated ways to use this technology with their students. I'll be interested to hear more of your ideas on how to use music technology sources to aid physically disabled students.
ReplyDeleteHi Rick,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the note about Classical Archives. I must have missed that in the article somehow. I'll have to check it out. I think that Sibelius can be used to create an exam for students but it would be difficult to actually require students to use the software in order to complete an exam. There simply would not be enough computers. However, after reading about the Vermont MIDI Project (an article for next week), I believe that students can learn so much by engaging composition through notation software. Hopefully I'll be able to avail this resource to my future students.