Roger Whaley

This year at GMS brings a new plan for the music department. We have been users of SmartMusic since it was a computer attached box called Vivace. We have watched it turn into a self contained program as computers got better and faster.

We have seen what it will do for kids. Listen here

Up until this year, however, we have made the home subscription available, but not required its use.

With SmartMusic Impact and our new time constratints, it became obvious that we needed to use this program even more heavily.

Impact will organize the data that is coming in from the students and make it possible to send very specific assignments out to our students. This will help us identify who really needs our help and take care of entry level skills like rhythm and right notes. Do we expect Impact to replace lessons? No. There are many things that need to be coached into an excellent performance. (Tone produciton and its relationship to embouchure come to mind quickly!) SmartMusic and Impact will help with the triage.

Here's the plan and what has happend so far:

We did some math and figured out what it would cost to get SmartMusic and next year's band book for the class. We haven't had to do a fee until this year, but they are now called for. The fee covers the cost of SmartMusic and a band book. Check with a SmartMusic representative because their pricing changes with the new site license discounts.

If you do not have an internet connected computer that will run SmartMusic, you will have access to practice room computers that do. Your fee will help cover the cost of those practice room computers.

For students who can't afford the fee, we have a scholarship program available from our band boosters.

That's the plan.

The key feature of this plan is access for as many people as possible. If you are on the wrong side of the digital divide, we have you covered. If it is a cost issue, we have you covered. I think we have fairness covered.

When you look at the program and how it works, the more computers SmartMusic is on the better.

Posted by Roger Whaley at 2:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The GMS SmartMusic project seems to be getting back on track. The discs are arriving. The principal and district tech director are working on acquiring the practice room computers.

I am too. Yes, this is work even if you have the support of great staff. First you have to tell the people in charge what you need. Fortunately, that isn't very much in my case. I need four computers that can run SmartMusic. We have monitors, desks and drops for the network. Just need the CPUs.

I did some of the legwork for them and ran down some choices that would work. One was the district standard desktop and the other was a Mac mini option.

I also made sure the tech director knows what I am up to as well as anybody in the building that is assigned to technology. They helped with what is current for district choices and they may need supply support later.

I included the Mini because at the last two music conventions I have attended I estimate that 90 percent of the conversations I was a part of (or overheard) started with the phrase, "Have you seen Garageband yet?" As long as I am getting gear for students, why not gain in capability? Also, my assignment this year includes general music students. Garageband can certainly help with the composition unit there.

If there were some rules to pass along to those in the equipment-buying phase of things in our district they are:
1. Help with the legwork to get what you need.
2. Get the principal in quickly and be able to explain what this will do for your kids.
3. Don't forget the tech director (and tech team.) They need to be able to provide support and that can affect your choices for hardware.

If budget is an issue for hardware, get your plan to the school parent group, music booster group and anyone with money to give away. It doesn't hurt to ask and it is a promotional opportunity for your program.

Posted by Roger Whaley at 3:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Turns out that SmartMusic is set-up to run on XP (or OS X.4.) The practice room computers I was planning on using are unable to run XP. UGH.

Time to scramble and beg for some newer hardware. If the budget can't handle it, it will be time to talk to the various parent groups. This might also be a good time to visit the Mac option. The Mac Minis can use the monitors I have and come with Garage Band and a bunch of other interesting programs that would be good for enrichment and extention of music and multimedia classes.

I don't have to have the newest hardware. I have passed on replacement computers before. Why send a working, does-what-I-want-it-to, machine down the road? Heck, my home computer replacement schedule is about once every ten years or so. Just so it runs what I need.

Posted by Roger Whaley at 2:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Good Day!

This blog has been collecting dust for months. It could be because I have been scrambling with the job. Or maybe it is because I haven't had much blog-worthy to say.

I am back because I have a new project that I would like to keep track of... A major SmartMusic rollout.

A little background.
The Westonka School District has some budget problems. In the 15 years I have been there, this is actually a fairly normal situation. This year, however is different because the powers that be have decided that the band sectional time is not going to be available to my 6th and 7th graders. With only 40 minutes per rehearsal every-other day. What are we to do for holding kids accountable and helping them to grow as musicans?

Well until we get the time back, we are going to use SmartMusic to keep track of our band students. All students with internet access at home are getting SmartMusic. For the 5 percent that don't have access for one reason or another, we will have stations availble at school in practice rooms.

There are a bunch of sound educational reasons why kids should be using SmartMusic. I just wish that triage for my time problems wasn't one of them.

It should be interesting to see on guy's struggle with the digital divide, educational software and attempting to work smarter not harder.

Things you should know. The views expressed are mine, posted on my time, using my gear, at my U of M blog site. http://www.westonka.k12.mn.us/policies/4000/policy_4090.pdf

Posted by Roger Whaley at 8:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)