My Noteflight Assignment Response

Noteflight felt very time consuming, however, this may be due to the fact that I am quite familiar with other music notation software and can quickly navigate my way through.  For being a free program, it is pretty nice.  It is nice to have the ability to share ones files with others.  I also felt is was nice to note have to save your files to a your computer or thumb drive, which in return allows for more free space on your computer. 

The program would have a place in the educational world.  Students have the capabilities to write and/or arrange music from school and at home.  Because of the file saving option, students would not have to worry about bringing personal thumb drives to and from school.  With the sharing option, students are capable of communicating with other students and musicians about their work.  If teachers from surrounding districts know and are in contact with one another, they could actually have an interactive classroom with one another's classes.  Students from different schools would have the opportunity to share thoughts and "proof-read" arrangements and compositions. 

Even though I had some issues because of my habits, I felt Noteflight was a great program.  There are a plethora of ways one could utilize this program into their classroom, especially if music theory is being offered.

My Noteflight Assignment

A Bicycle Built for Two (with a little hint of God Bless the Child)


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Using MIDI Controller with String Studio VS-1

String Studio VS-1 is a string modeling synthesizer plug-in that swaps the traditional oscillator, filter, and envelope pattern for real-life string instrument components.  String Studio's pick, bow, hammer, finger, fret, damper, and soundboard let you control the materials, natural decay, grain, warmth, buzzes, harmonics, resonance, friction, tension, and component interaction that make up the sound of guitars, basses, clavinets, clavichords, pianos, and ethnic instruments.  And that, with the same scope and versatily that you've come to expect from a full-featured traditional synthesizer.

By using a MIDI controller you can use strum positions for intricate playing details.  String Studio provides over 500 organic instruments, tones, and textures for you to discover.  Choose from Acoustic and Electric Guitars, Acoustic and Electric Basses, Clavinets, Clavichords, Acoustic and Electric Pianos, Ethnic Instruments, Synths, Pads, Ambiences, Sound Effects, and Martin Walker Signature Sounds: Collection One. 

Yamaha EZ-EG MIDI Guitar

Since were are discussing MIDI this week, I thought I would blog about the Yamaha EZ-EG.  The EZ-EG features 12 lighted frets that show beginners the actual hand positions for all the chords they'll need to know before they take off on their own, and six "strings" that emulate strumming or finger-picking.  In addition to a built-in selection of 3 songs and 15 song riffs, a variety of songs can be downloaded into the guitar's Flash ROM via MIDI IN/OUT connections and a quick connection to a computer.  The EZ-EG will also reproduce nine realistic guitar sounds, eight bass guitar sounds and the timbres of a banjo, piano and traditional Japanese shamisen through its built-in speaker.

"The Yamaha EZ-EG is a unique product in that it can provide a great foundation to music and to the guitar," states Jim Presley, marketing manager, Portable Keyboards.  "It not only prepares you for a future of playing, but also makes learning interactive and fun for those who may prefer the guitar to a traditional keyboard."

Selectable play modes include: Strumming Practice for the right hand, where chords change automatically during a strumming practice; Chord Training for the left hand, where the user simply makes the chord changes while it strums; and Full Play, which shows chord changes by lighting the frets, while the user strums and plays chords.

Since this product can work with computers, students not only learn how to play the guitar, they have the ability to write and produce their own music with the guitar.  The guitar is compatible with a plethora of music software programs.  I am providing a link below to the website to learn more about the product and also a link to other products and software that can be used with the EZ-EG. 

Yamaha EZ-EG

Products for EZ-EG

More Finale Options & Explanations

Went onto Finale's website and found this page offering education applications and explanations of how to use them.  Really indepth, must check it out if you are a Finale user!

http://www.finalemusic.com/Finale/Features/EducatorTools/default.aspx

Award Winning Sound Software

Since our readings were about notation software, I thought I would post links that can be used with notation software to allow for an even more realistic playback.  Garritan offers state-of-the-art software that reproduce the sounds of the musical instruments in a jazz and big band, concert and marching band, symphonic orchestra, world instruments, and grand authorized Steinway pianos right from your computer. This award-winning collection is the first library of its kind and set a new standard.  Go to the link provided below and check out everything.

http://www.garritan.com/

Also, for any drummers or anyone interesting in getting more realistic sounds from your playback when arranging or writing for your marching band, check out Tapspace's Virtual Drumline 2.5.  I have been using Finale for quite some time now and as a percussionist, I can not stand the sounds it produces for the battery.  Virtual Drumline features the sounds of DCI world champion percussion section, the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum Corp.  Check out this link to see the plethora of sound options it offers. 

http://www.tapspace.com/Virtual-Drumline-25-pr-6.html

Also, Garritan offers Virtual Drumline 2 as part of its package.  Not as many sounds and samples, but still has quality sounds.

Awesome Classroom Technology

This is the Yamaha  Harmony Director HD-200.  This comprehensive tool brings harmony training, rhythm training and ensemble timing together in one convenient device.  It enables music educators to clearly demonstrate pure temperaments and for students to learn how to tune individual notes within chords, so that entire chords may be tuned. The HD-200 Harmony Director helps musicians understand how each part fits into the complete harmony of the ensemble. This level of understanding will help your ensemble move from good to outstanding.   It allows you to teach them through examples rather than words alone, the kind of harmonic understanding that takes many years of experience to develop.  The Harmony Director can help your ensemble move from good to outstanding. 

Here is a link of a video to learn more about the product:

http://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical-instruments/winds/harmony_director/harmony_director/?mode=model&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26amp%3Bamp%3Bsource%3Dweb%26amp%3Bamp%3Bcd%3D1%26amp%3Bamp%3Bved%3D0CCAQFjAA%26amp%3Bamp%3Burl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.yamaha.com%252Fyca%252Fpages%252Fdefault.aspx%252FSDB1060798%26amp%3Bamp%3Brct%3Dj%26amp%3Bamp%3Bq%3Dyamaha%2520harmony%2520director%2520hd200%26amp%3Bamp%3Bei%3DdHB5TabhEO6O0QGN4O3TAw%26amp%3Bamp%3Busg%3DAFQjCNH_xjXTQh8g487EoeGi4A-VupP6ow%26amp%3Bamp%3Bsig2%3D33pAk_0U_OkRy0H3rfghnA&type=global

Trying This Out!

Hello Everyone!  This blog was created as part of a set of requirements for the Kent State University Master of Music Education Program.  This blog will be used to reflect on various course readings as well as to jot down some thoughts throughout the program.