USING SMARTMUSIC AS A REINFORCEMENT TO "THE HABITS OF

MUSICIANSHIP"
I.

Permission Granted.
a. The Habits Of Musicianship was created by Dr. Robert Duke and James Byo. It
is a cost free beginning band method.
b. https://cml.music.utexas.edu/online-resources/habits-ofmusicianship/introduction/

II.

Creating a working SmartMusic File by creating a:

a. Recreate exercise in Sibelius.
b. Export as an XML.
c. Import the XML into Finale.
d. Make adjustments to be sure the file plays correctly (for example, repeats, D.C. al
Fine, rit., a tempo).
e. Export file from Finale 2014.5.
f. Import into SmartMusic and assign to student though Teachers Subscription.

III.

Creating a SmartMusic accompaniment to an exercise.

a. Create a practice track in iReal Pro. (Creating a track with swing here is the only
way I have been able to bring swing into SmartMusic).
b. Export track as a MIDI and email to self.
c. Import MIDI into Sibelius because I am more familiar with it (I look forward to
being able to skip this step).
d. Delete click track.
e. Delete drums track because I dont like how they sound in SmartMusic.
f. Can add trombone solo line if desired.
g. Export MIDI again.
h. Import MIDI into Finale 2014.5
i. Export as SmartMusic ensemble file.

IV.

Academic Adjustments
a. Rhythm clapping alone with SmartMusic.
b. One pitch alone (typically the tonic) in rhythm with SmartMusic.
c. Slide positions alone (not to be done in SmartMusic).
d. Practice with original exercise in SmartMusic).

V.

Questions
a. Donald Babcock:
i. Why did you choose this project as your Independent Study?
ii. Answer:
1. I admire "The Habits of Musicianship" method because it favors
playing musically over a note, note, note method. Only three

USING SMARTMUSIC AS A REINFORCEMENT TO "THE HABITS OF

MUSICIANSHIP"
notes (F3, G3, and A3) are introduced and used in the first eighteen
exercises.
2. Until now, no SmartMusic files had been created for "The Habits
of Musicianship."
3.
b. Geoffrey Stanton:
c. Kevin Miller:
i. How will you provide SmartMusic to your students? There is often a
financial hurdle to providing this software and hardware to entire classes.
Also, there are technical hurdles such as limited internet access in some
areas.
ii. Answer:
1. I will only provide these customized SmartMusic lessons to
specials needs students and/or students who are falling behind.
2. Some students/ parents are willing to use their own iPad/PC.
3. Some students/ parents are willing to purchase the annual
SmartMusic practice room subscription for $42.00.
4. I am able to check out a few iPads from the school computer lab on
a weekly basis.
5. I dont mind using our budgeted band money for a few
subscriptions when the musical needs of my students are being
met.
6. If/when SmartMusic creates an app for Chromebooks, the overall
cost will decrease and more students can subscribe.
a.

https://www.makemusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/WeezicAcquisition-Press-Releasefinal.pdf?utm_source=cheetah&utm_medium=email

7. Students who lack reliable internet at home can sign up for extra
practice time at school where the internet is better (before, lunch,
and after school times).
VI.

Other issues I have encountered:

1. Special needs students arent always able to successfully run the
app for various reasons.
2. iPad volume is low and students need a speaker at home to hear the
click off, reference notes, and accompaniment.
a. Solutions for these issues are student and parent lessons on
how to use the app and speakers.
3. SmartMusic can be flaky. Until the apps (different that computer
subscriptions) have improved, I will never fully integrate
SmartMusic in my program. Currently, the cost and time

USING SMARTMUSIC AS A REINFORCEMENT TO "THE HABITS OF

MUSICIANSHIP"
outweighs the benefit for my general band population. Some band
teachers use SmartMusic as a form of assessing because
performances can be submitted from home and class time is not
used for individual assessments. The following issues need to be
resolved before I use SmartMusic with all students:
a. Unable to submit errors.
b. Parent emails such as, "Little Johnny is frustrated and in
tears and feels defeated because he can't get a higher score.
Little Johnny had always gotten A's in everything he does.
What can you do to help improve his score?"
c. SmartMusic mallet percussion assessment nonexistent.
d. SmartMusic comes to a grinding halt around 9:45 through
11:30 (Central time).
e. Microphone problems cause inaccurate assessment scores,
which is upsetting to some students.
VII.

Future Potential Research

a. Dr. Pierce said:
i. "This research may be a good preliminary step toward a larger project in
the future. I can imagine you publishing something like this. This kind of
project would be ideal for Music Educators Journal, for example."
ii. Becoming an Independent Investigator through EMU.
1. http://www.emich.edu/research/compliance/humansubjects/reviewcproc.php