Choir Lesson

For the first time I have two choirs that run back to back.  We have a 4 period block schedule (A/B days).  87 minute periods.

The first class is freshman choir.  I have about 26 students in that group.  The next group is "Senior" choir which has about 18.

This year I am going to use a textbook: Essential Musicianship.  I bought all three books.  I have planned on having the freshman group use Book One and the Senior group use Book Two.

I am curious to see how these groups develop.  Both groups probably have roughly equal talent.  It will come down to hard work to see which group progresses quicker.  One issue is getting combined rehearsal time if I want to combine the groups for concerts.

Each day I hope to spend about 20 minutes in the text doing warm-ups, voice builders and theory work, 20 minutes on solos and repertoire basics (like America the Beautiful, etc...), 10 minutes on writing, and 30 minutes on choir repertoire.  I'm hoping the structure will help.

Smartmusic

Does anyone understand Smartmusic? I'm hearing different things.

Is a practice room subscription tied to a device?

This is an email I got from a colleague:

My brother and I log into Netflix with the same login and password. We can even watch Netflix on two different computers at the same time. This couldn't happen with SmartMusic. If I was clever, my brother and I could share a SmartMusic subscription and log in with the same credentials. But this means we couldn't practice at the same time. If he goes up to his room and practices on his iPad, and I go to the basement and practice on the computer, one of us will get kicked off. What I love about it: I have one subscription. I use it on my work computer. When I get home, I use it on my home computer. When I get to my cello teachers house (who doesn't have smartmusic) I log in with MY credentials and show her the superman theme i wasn't supposed to be working on (she's not really a smartmusic user, but I still want to show off). I don't have to remember to de-authorize. Just like Netflix (except installed, not webbased). 

I was told by my Smartmusic rep that I would only be able to install a practice room subscription on one device.  I could not install it everywhere and just use the log-in.

So I wish I had two subscriptions I could install it on 20 machines, but only use it on two at a time.  This seems to be the "netflix" model.

And then I get an email today which says:

This version will allow access to any computer or iPad on which SmartMusic is installed

P-bone mini

I got the p-bone mini today.

It really, really feels like a toy.   It is very light.  The mouthpiece weighs next to nothing.

I played it a bit.  I've played an alto trombone before, but I do not know the positions and this will be a project for me.  Initial impressions were good about the sound.  I could really see a lot of high schoolers buying this mini to learn alto.   Of course there isn't too much demand for alto trombones, but that's another story.   

I anticipate alternating between this horn and my regular tenor during band rehearsals.  I usually play during rehearsals.

Music Room iPad Workflow

This where I think I stand on my paperless journey.  I hope to be 95% paperless.  I've been about 70-85% paperless.  The biggest change is I am hoping that the sheet music folders and worksheets will be digital.

Two big issues I've faced:
1. We haven't had wifi at school all summer.  Still don't have it.  That's a bit of a roadblock.
2. I need students and an actual classes to test the workflow.  I don't want to create more work for myself by doing this.

So...

In our google site I put listening assignments, forms, and any "archive" type of material.  It also holds our google calendar.  We are supposed to be going GAFE this fall, but I haven't heard anything about it yet.  If we do that I will be able to have that calendar shared a lot easier.

In Edmodo I am posting notes, assignments, and polls.  Students will be posting most of their writing assignments here.  I think I can put "worksheets" in here, have them done in the notability app, and then imported back to submit assignment.  Edmodo is new to me.

Smartmusic is not out yet for the iPad.  This is driving me crazy.  In Smartmusic we will do all of our benchmark assessments.  I have two laptops with Smartmusic installed, and am waiting to put it on two iPads.  Smartmusic records and grades the students and archives all the recordings.  We will also use Smartmusic in class for our sightreading and band exercise work.

I am putting our music folders in forscore.  The iPads will be shared across three ensembles so I am going to rely on the students to organize the folders as they see fit.  There seems to be no easy way to image this app with the metadata.  I am slowing filling my dropBox with our scanned music.  I am not sure I am doing the band naming procedure correct.  I put the band music in folders in dropbox, but once forscore imports it the folders disappear.  So I think I will name the files with "Piecename-part".

Digitize

I think I have decided to try going paperless in my freshman choir class as well.  20 iPads vs. 29 students.

I think we can share iPads for music viewing and students can use phones for Edmodo work.  I am very curious to see how Edmodo will work.  I will try to commit for a few months.

I think I will:

• Have students create profiles in forscore so they can email .pdf home and keep track of their markings.  
• I ordered 25 stylus.
• I'm going to try and digitize my "worksheets" for theory work. 
• I created folders for band music in dropbox and put parts inside folders.  I am not sure if this naming protocol will work.
• I really, really, really need Smartmusic to get live on the iPad so I can test it.  I plan on designating two iPads as checkout iPads for students to take home for assessment work.  Hopefully that will encourage work.

When you are trying to digitize everything the big thing is naming protocol and organization.  I am pretty sure I will get this part wrong and regret something.

Plans for the New Year

A few things that are brewing as we "round the turn" and start to prepare for the 2013-14 school year:

1. For the first time we have a senior and freshman choir.  I have 19 enrolled in the senior choir and 29 enrolled in the freshman choir.  I need to figure out how to coordinate repertoire.   It is exciting to see so many numbers.

2. I have 13 enrolled in band which is a few more than last year.  I hope to really push this group this year.

3. I think I will use edmodo in class.

4. I hope to be completely digital in senior choir, using forscore as their folders.  I have 20 iPads so I am not sure how to deal with the 29 students in freshman choir.

5. I am ordering smartmusic for iPad, even though it hasn't been released yet.  A bit worried.

Vacation

IMG_1250, a photo by brandtsch on Flickr.

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