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We have noticed an interesting side effect with SmartMusic.
We have a jump in requests for the names of private teachers.
We think that now parents and kids have a standard that they can hear and see, they realize they need a little tutoring. Hopefully, a little tutoring works into some long-term relationships!
I had an interesting before school session with a young lady.
She was having SmartMusic trouble at home and wondered if she could use one of the practice room computers.
I opened up a practice room and we chatted about what might be going on with her machine at home and that gave her some ideas. (I think it will be a mic placement issue.) I went to hang up my coat and started to practice. I had several students waiting, so I popped in later to see how she was doing.
Yesterday, she was annoyed with me when I tried to tell her about her wrong notes.
This morning she noticed the same wrong notes and fixed them herself using the find a fingering feature.
We were both pleased.
My student was happy. She figured it out herself. She didn't have to figure it out in front of everyone. She got the information she wanted right when she needed it. These may not seem like big deals to adults, but we are talking about a middle schooler here. Wanting to be independent and not potentially embarrassing yourself are huge motivators!
I was happy. I have a student solving her own problems. I bet she will remember the solutions much better because she discovered them herself. We'll see next rehearsal.
She left just as I was starting to help another student with the same song. There was a proud, knowing smile on her face.
We are now on our second assignment.
The second time around has brought some changes. The first REALLY BIG thing that comes to mind is the practice room usage has jumped. Big time.
The most popular times are right away during the morning. I walk into work and kids meet me at the door wondering if they could use the practice stations. I usually have small groups of 2 kids in each room (they are small rooms) and a couple waiting for a turn in the hall.
After school and during morning meeting (home room) are popular times as well. The last kids of the week left at 3:30 on Friday.
I think there are a number of kids who have access at home are playing here as well. It beats waiting for the rest of the building to open up.
It is a chance to see and hear how they are doing while they are working on the project. I'll pop in and give a little advice in each room. The kids also coach each other.
The place actually sounds like a music department. Pretty cool.
NO USER SERVICEABLE PARTS was the news from the Apple site.
One of the minis went out and I did the basic toubleshooting thing of checking to make sure it was plugged in, etc. NO power to the mini. I swapped out the power block and sure enough, it is more than happy with a different power supply.
No user serviceable parts was the news from the web site and it directed me to my nearest Apple store. I had heard the service was very good there, but I have never had to try it. That is pretty amazing by itself. I have never had to try Apple service even though I have had a Mac since what, 1993 or so?
Made the appointment on-line. Arrived a little early and sure enough, things got fixed (actually replaced) and I was leaving a happy camper 10 minutes later. Wow. Service.
As we are scrambling to get our assignments in, I have noticed the value of experience.
Getting "enrolled in class" is a fairly intensive process, with several places to go off in the wrong direction.
I am trying to let the kids figure it out and I am observing as they do their enrollments in the practice room.
Then something interesting happened, I had one student tell me "I have this figured out, do you mind if I help him?" All of a sudden things went much smoother and we were getting enrollments done in half the time. It was a nice moment. Thanks Danny.
I have a few wishes--
I wish everyone listened when getting directions. The main trap so far is bad password-itis. You mean zero and the letter O aren't the same thing?
I wish that people would be brave enough to call tech support when they need to. It makes one wonder how many programs go unused because of problems. Has most tech support gotten so bad that people will only call them as a last resort? I think it is pretty good over at SmartMusic.
I wish there was another way to get students "enrolled in class". Right now, the only official way is to go through the SmartMusic program itself. Wouldn't it be nice to visit a web page with your whole class in a lab and knock the enrollment off in 20 minutes? The real users of the grade book are the teachers and they wouldn't be using it without being SmartMusic schools. So I am wondering what registering via SM protects.
I put out an assignment yesterday. I have recordings to hear this morning. Whoa. That was fast and easy.
I listened to a couple already and it sounds like the kids are making use of the preview button. These assignments were well done before they were turned in.
Listen to the recording. Put a grade in the box. Hit the button to fire off an e-mail that says "good job!" How much easier can it get?