Smartmusic for the Musician

Smartmusic has come a long way from the digital cartridges of it former practice system.  Makmusic just made the Ipad version of Smartmusic available, allowing the user to access an entire library of music to practice and play with.  In the classroom, Smartmusic allows educators to set up a Gradebook for each of their classes.  The students create an account at Gradebook.Smartmusic.com, and then join the teachers classroom.  Here the educator can send out assignments from method books used, jazz tunes, band pieces, and solo instrument materials.  The institution fee is around $150 dollars for one calendar year.  Individual plans run around $40 dollars.  The program listens to you perform, anaylizes the performance and tells you which notes were played correctly and incorrectly.  (Green for correct, and Red for Incorrect).  It will grade it on a percentage, which allows players to improve each take.  The play then can upload their best take to the educator for commentary and review.   The Ipad version does require IOS6,  which was an unpleasant surprise for me and my original Ipad.  This makes me an unhappy Apple user. The last time they pulled this stunt, I bought PCs and have stayed there until buying a macmini four years ago.   It seems that I will have to use my ipad in other capacities.  As a Finale user, I can access Smartscore, which will at least play the created music files.  The tools available for musicians are well worth the investment, as you still spend several thousand dollars for a professional level instrument.

The Case for Video on Demand

When I watched the movie for my assignment a few weeks ago, I found that renting the movie from an online carrier was easier than having to find the movie at a local dvd store.  I think the VOD movement will eventually replace the DVD, as you can order or download the video at your convenience, pause or restart the viewing if you are interrupted, and view it anywhere you are.  It is a similar progression in music, where I can now download a song or album often for less expense than purchasing the physical format of a CD.   This is an increasing return for the movie industry, as it migrates away from a "physical" delivery system. 

I think VOD enhances movie going based upon convenience for the user.  it retrieves the idea of having you entertainment with you wherever you are, such as the days of the portable radio, and rekindles the idea of podcasting in a visual format.