Technology
In determining the technology that I will use to solve my problem I first had to have something the students could work on individually outside the class because I did not have class time to teach each student individually. I came upon the book Essential Elements for Recorder Classroom Method This book and CD Rom has 130 songs that enables the student to slow down or speed up the beat of the song. It also includes a fingering chart. The reason I believe this is not the best technology is because there isn’t an evaluation system. Evaluation systems are essential because they help students know if they are matching rhythm, pitch, or keeping a steady beat. Another essential that this book and CD ROM does not have is a teacher management system that could help the teacher when they are instructing 100+ students. These are the reasons this technology is not the best solution.
Recently I discovered the free Recorder Ace site. It is a web-based software that has 9 songs that will help students play notes accurately. This site shows the notes on a staff and plays the melody with the student. If the student is accurate with his pitch, rhythm and tempo he earns a perfect 100%. If the student makes mistakes he earns less than 100%. Unfortunately this software does not notate where their pitch or rhythm problems are located in the song. Another reason Recorder Ace is not the right technology is because it does not have a teacher management system that would help the teacher when he is instructing 100+ students.
SmartMusic is the preferred web-based software I will use with my students. This software is similar to having a music lesson with a music teacher. SmartMusic instructs students on pitch, rhythm and tempo. The program provides students an example of the song and plays an accompaniment with them.
SmartMusic gives each student a percentage score of correct notes played on each of their assignments. This software also notates where their pitch or rhythm problems are located in the song. The student must listen and reflect, then change the way they were playing the song to increase their score on that song. The student can perform the song again and again until they eventually receive a better score. This technology has a teacher’s management system. This software keeps a portfolio of each student’s scores and stores MP3 files of each child’s performances.
SmartMusic gives each student a percentage score of correct notes played on each of their assignments. This software also notates where their pitch or rhythm problems are located in the song. The student must listen and reflect, then change the way they were playing the song to increase their score on that song. The student can perform the song again and again until they eventually receive a better score. This technology has a teacher’s management system. This software keeps a portfolio of each student’s scores and stores MP3 files of each child’s performances.
"Merrily We Roll Along" with mistakes using SmartMusic 68% score
"Merrily We Roll Along" with no mistakes using SmartMusic software 100% score