SmartMusic and Finale

While I was student teaching, the students regularly used SmartMusic in lessons.  Mostly the program was used for the accompaniment and the student's had their own sheet music so they weren't reading off the computer.  This is definitely something I wish I had growing up because when it came to All-State solos, I wasn't used to playing with a piano and when I first started it would always through me off!  I think it's great for the students to hear how the piano compliments their performance and there's more than just reading the notes off the page.

As far as Finale, I must say I absolutely love scanning pieces in!  What a time saver, considering I'm working on a laptop without the numeric keypad.  Using the numbers on top of my laptop is helpful, but nothing compares (in my opinion) to having a numeric keypad to work with when inputting.  It's kind of amazing how Finale can read and input music from a sheet of paper you scanned.  I can only imagine what deceased composers would think if they only knew what advancements would occur in music technology!

Week Two

I'm always fascinated with learning new things about technology and fun things you can do with it.  I've been using Google and Gmail for years now, but never ventured much into the extras beyond using the different searches.  In signing up for the blog, I actually forgot I had used Blogger previously (until I discovered my love for WordPress, but I digress) but that's about the extent of my Google-ing beyond the basics.  I'm excited to get more into it with learning different tips and tricks.  I am also really excited about Wunderlist -- you have no idea.  It's already on my iPhone, my computer, and soon will be on my boyfriend's iPhone.  No more forgetting the parmaesan cheese at the store, which has happened twice in the past week!  It's also nice to be refreshing my Finale chops since leaving Fredonia.  I already have a year of Finale/Tech in Music experience from undergrad, but not doing it with a laptop or on Windows, so there will be some new things to pick up.

I think we all pretty much covered how we can use that "new thingamabob" in a music classroom today in terms of Google (here's my edit & fancy link, Web 2.0!) and Finale is pretty self explanatory.

But here's a video of a cat playing the piano because who doesn't love cute animals doing cute things?

And last but not least, if you haven't already seen the Pachelbel Rant, I suggest you do below.  I've watched it a handful of times in the past, but it still makes me laugh.