iPractice: Music Technology in Action
Integrating technology into your music classroom and studio
Music Technology Quote of the Day
I think people should be able to have at their behest, like, four hours of music, entertainment, visual knowledge, different pathways. That's what I'm trying to do with modern technology, not just another song and another song.
-- Jon Anderson
iPractice | August 16, 2018
Sneak Peak: iPractice: Technology in the 21st Century Music Practice Room
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Chapter 1 introduces the idea of integrating common, easy- to- use technologies into the music practice room. We lay the foundation for the book by exploring effective and efficient music practice strategies supported by research. We explore distributed practice, marking parts, mapping, blocking chords, working with a metronome, changing rhythms, and mental practice. We also introduce several new practice strategies that have not yet become common, such as interleaving practice. Throughout the book we will focus on how to expand these quality practice strategies with technology.
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iPractice | August 17, 2018
Feature Article: How Machine Learning can Enhance Music Education
by Daniel Browning
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This article is a look into how current and future technologies can be used in music education. By "machine learning" Browning generally means software like SmartMusic that can help students by providing performance feedback. He also talks about technologies like Google's Magenta that can create or analyze music. Rather than replacing teachers or student creativity, machine learning assistances student learning. It’s up to music teachers to figure out how to best use new technologies to help - rather than replace - student learning.
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iPractice | August 17, 2018
Feature Research: Young Pianists Exploring Improvisation Using Interactive Music Technology
by Victoria Rowe & colleagues International Journal of Music Education
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Abstract: The use of music technology in the enhancement of young pianists’ musical improvisations has been scarcely explored in instrumental music teaching and learning research. 19 pianists aged 6–10 used an interactive improvisation system called Musical Interaction Relying On Reflexion (MIROR)-Impro for six weeks to enhance their improvisational skills. This system engages pupils in musical dialogue, answering in the same style as the pupil’s input, creating a reflection of the user’s own musical ideas. The system enhances young pianists’ capability musically to explore and improvise.
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iPractice | July 9, 2018
iPractice Blog: Writing from a Distance - Researching in the 21st Century
by Jennifer Mishra
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Barbara Fast and I have just finished editing the final galley proofs of our book iPractice: Technology in the 21st Century Music Practice Room. The book is due for release in November, 2018 – pre-order from Amazon. Not only is this book about using 21st century technology in the music practice room – it could only have been written with 21st century technology. The entire book – from conception to this final proof was written at a distance. In this post, I’ll describe our writing process and encourage other co-authors to use available technology as a central part of the collaborative process.​
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iPractice | August 15, 2018
Technology Book: Children's Creative Music-Making with Reflexive Interactive Technology - Adventures in Improvising and Composing
by Victoria Rowe​, Angeliki Triantatyllaki, & Francois Pachet
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Published Description: Pioneering experiments conducted with young children using a new generation of music software for improvising and composing. Using artificial intelligence techniques, this software captures the children’s musical style and interactively reflects it in its responses. The book describes the potential of these applications to enhance children’s agency and musical identity by reflecting players’ musical inputs, storing and creating variations on them. Set in the broader context of current music education research, it addresses the benefits and challenges of incorporating music technologies in primary and pre-school education.
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iPractice | August 15, 2018
App Review: Metronome Ïž
by ONYX
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A sleek metronome app with minimal bells and whistles. The interface is very easy to understand and use, although there are no options for subdivisions or various meters/beat emphases. There is the option to change the sound effect produced from the metronome, including a counting voice (although the voice timbre in this particular app may seem strange or unpleasant to some users). Features: 30bpm to 250bpm; ad-free interface; tap in your own tempo; timer at bottom of the app screen to time your practice sessions; option for LED flash during beats.
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iPractice | August 21, 2018
Feature Video: Music Education Collaborative Student Driven Learning
by Zoltan Virag
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Using iPad in the classroom. Zoltan Virag gives real world examples of students performing and creating music using various apps on the iPad. Zoltan shows real children learning. Talks about music as a thing we “do” and how the app revolution has the potential to increase music making rather than detracting from it.
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iPractice | July 9, 2018
Tech Tutorial: Using TimeGuru App - A Metronome for Changing Meters
by Jennifer Mishra
A video tutorial on how to program the Time Guru Metronome app for the mixed and changing meter of the first 6 measures of Bartok’s Mikrokosmos Volume 5 #126
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Free Apps to Explore
Hashtags to Follow
Have a technology tip or a favorite app or website? Share it here!
Blogs to Follow
Featured Podcasts
Music Education Podcast by the Domestic Musician
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Sing Better Fast!: Vocal tips, singing lessons, voice exercises
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© 2018 Jennifer Mishra