SoundTree has added an amazing new suite of software titles from a software company in Ireland called MusiCan. It is primarily intended for younger students, grades PreK - 5, and covers a wide variety of musical topics in a very graphically appealing environment. In addition to younger music students, MusiCan has wonderful applications for special needs students as well as ESL/ELL students. The software was brought to my attention by Elise Sobol, a noted expert on music and special learners.

Here is her review from the most recent edition of SoundWAVES:

Soundtree has added a unique, complete and integrated animated software teaching and learning system to its product catalog called MusiCan. MusiCan is the brainchild of award winning innovative creator/inventor John Hesnan of Galway, Ireland. Filled with the dream that “every child leaving school will be able to read, understand, enjoy and appreciate music just like any other subject”, Mr. Hesnan and his team, has crafted a suite of products that boost sequential learning from the primary to the higher grades.
For years, classrooms, therapists, and lifelong learners have been using this suite of products in the UK boosting testing and assessment scores through the support of MusiCan’s realistic lessons in structurally sound learning modules, teacher’s guides, resources, lesson plans, performance tracking, and database continuous assessments. At the primary level, from the introduction of sounds of the environment to teach a discriminating ear for sophisticated musical development to the advanced programs with musical production for cinema and recording studio, MusiCan has many features, including the following components:

1. It is fun to use, it is interactive, and most importantly, it is compatible with PCs, Macs and interactive white board technology.
2. The modules include songs, lyrics, backing tracks, printable texts and movement to music (great for active learners).
3. It is designed with real sound and acoustic instruments.
4. Students set the pace based on individual learning styles, challenges, and gifts.
5. Each module has cross curricular links.
6. There is constant reinforcement for success with encouragement for each effort.
7. Lessons have both direct and subliminal learning.
8. There is personal profiling capabilities long and short term.
9. It includes a Teacher’s area with lesson plans with a scheme of work laid out for every class, including printable activity sheets to reinforce musical concepts and cross-curricular themes.
10. Each module has additional resources for differentiating instruction for ESL/ELL learners.

Through a phone referral from the New York State Education Department to pilot this software learning system at my school, I immediately saw that MusiCan was a unique offering to support and enhance multi-sensory/multi-modal teaching which is the bases for success in teaching exceptional children with special learning challenges. MusiCan is used daily at the Nassau BOCES Department of Special Education, Rosemary Kennedy School where I teach children with autism and developmental disabilities age 8-21. The program purchased a site license so that classroom teachers, therapists as well as music and art teachers could support their curriculum objectives with this instructional technology.

As an active clinician at the county, state, national, and international levels, I have been pleased to informally introduce MusiCan to global school communities in such diverse places for example as Aruba and New Zealand. Now, formally, I am delighted to bring this suite of products to SoundTree with the hope that every school district and therapeutic setting will benefit from John Hesnan’s dream for enriched education through the medium and universal language of music. When I was appointed in 1993 as the New York State School Music Association Chairperson for Special Learners, it has been my goal to know what resources are out there to optimize the potential in every child and to communicate this to school and related service personnel.

For educational software, MusiCan has topped the list not only for its technological innovation and appeal, not only for its relevant conceptual teaching, not only for its music foundations of pitch, melody, harmony, rhythm, dynamics, form and style, not only for its aural, visual and linguistic links for speech and language development, but because it reaches the whole child no matter what his/her learning style or cultural background. This suite of products, MusiCan 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 is an inclusive, dynamic, engaging, comprehensive teaching and learning assist for reaching every student in the 21st century. Shouldn’t every child be able to read, understand, enjoy and appreciate music just like any other subject? MusiCan is now available exclusively through Soundtree. The price of the MusiCan 1-5 bundle is $159.95. There is special bulk pricing available that makes the software very affordable at the site license level. To download a demo of the software, visit www.musican.com. For pricing information and availability, contact SoundTree today at info@soundtree.com, or contact your local SoundTree Account Manager.

Rising Software has recently announced the release of the latest versions of both Auralia and Musition - now in version 4.0. The best news is that Musition 4.0 is finally available for Mac users! The combination of both of these titles is the perfect solution for a comprehensive ear training and music theory course for students in middle school, high school, and the university level. For long time users of both titles, the latest versions are marked improvements over previous versions, with the strongest addition being a new feature called Courses, including an AP Music Theory course that is the perfect compliment for those high school students gearing up for the AP Music Theory test. Here is a closer look at each title:

Auralia 4.0

First, I love the redesign of the interface. Rising Software has done a wonderful job of enhancing the aesthetics, and have cleaned up the menu page by adding the 41 specific topics under each of the five main categories. Teachers no longer have to wonder where exercises are. Next, Auralia’s solfege support is greatly improved, allowing teachers to select either fixed or movable do exercises and a great solfege window. Perhaps the greatest enhancement though is the new feature called Courses. Here, teachers can have their students select an appropriate course of study depending on the aspect of the music program they would like to enhance. For example, students can select a “Band” course of study. Once the course is selected, Auralia automatically chooses the relevant content and “grays out” those aspects of the software that might not be as relevant. There are quite a few courses to choose from, but I would imagine that none will be as popular as the AP Music Theory Course. The lessons are much easier to access, and the drill and practice activities truly reinforce the students learning. As a long time Auralia fan, this new version is an incredible update. I would strongly recommend upgrading your existing title, or purchasing a new one. Of course, SoundTree is a great place to get the software as they will support you through the upgrade process as well as help troubleshoot any networking issues. To purchase a single copy, click here. For upgrades and site licenses, contact your SoundTree representative today.

Musition 4

First, I am thrilled that this amazing title is finally available for Mac users. Musition is the perfect compliment to Auralia 4, covering all aspects of music theory in the same interface style as Auralia. The new version of Musition also has the same improved interface, with a really fresh feeling graphic environment. Like Auralia 4, Musition has five main categories containing 34 topics - with each topic now listed on the main page. Like Auralia 4, Musition also has a series of courses perfect for different aspects of a music program. It is appropriate for middle school, high school, and university students, and the customizability of both programs makes this pair of titles useful to any teacher who is trying to improve a certain aspect of their program. The AP Music Theory Course in Musition 4 is the perfect pairing with Auralia - and really should be included. I would strongly recommend any existing user, or any Mac user to purchase Musition 4 or upgrade your current version. Of course, SoundTree is a great place to get the software as they will support you through the upgrade process as well as help troubleshoot any networking issues. To purchase a single copy, click here. For upgrades and site licenses, contact your SoundTree representative today.

If you’d like to take either title for a test spin, you can download a demo version of each title with limited functionality. You can access the demo versions for Auralia and Musition on the Rising Software homepage. As always, I welcome your comments and questions!

You may remember that a few years back Sibelius distributed a software title for a short while here in the US called O-Generator Learning to Compose. For one reason or another it wasn’t around for very long, but I am very pleased to report that it is once again available here in the US along with a brand new exciting title called O-Generator World Music. If you’ve never heard of O-Generator you most certainly will. Made by a company from the UK called O-Music, it is an ingenious way to get students in elementary, middle, and high school composing music in a brand new way.

Check out the videos and demos on each of the software landing pages. I have had both titles for a few months now, and I have to say, it is a blast to make music with. The software employs an ingenious circular display that splits up a measure into sixteenth notes. Each sixteenth note is represented by a small circle (the strong beats have a larger circle). Within each circle students can enter a wide variety of high quality samples, including drums, bass, guitar, vocal, and keyboard loops. Once you have filled up your circle, you can move on to the next one until you have composed a complete song. Students will easily understand how the interface works, and will enjoy creating their own songs in a non-traditional way (no notation, no loop sequencing interface). Both software titles also include teaching materials, supplemental videos that help explain the various concepts in the software. The lessons are also tied to the UK music learning standards - so the programmers were really think about education when they created it. I would strongly recommend adding this title to your software offering. It works wonderfully with both a SmartBoard or digital whiteboard and in a lab setting.

At the upcoming TI:ME National Conference (held in conjunction with NJMEA), Marcel Pusey from O-Music will be making presentations on both titles. If you are coming to this fantastic event, be sure to stop by his sessions. SoundTree will have copies of both titles available for sale in our booth.

SoundTree is very proud to offer both of these titles on our web store (Mac/PC). O-Generator Learning to Compose is priced at $129, and O-Generator World Music (a very unique approach to teaching world music) is priced at $149. As always, lab pricing is available from SoundTree. Contact your local SoundTree Account Manager today to order or shop online!

Today and tomorrow I am in Charleston, SC on behalf of SoundTree to present two sessions at the South Carolina Music Educators Association Conference 2010. I love the city of Charleston, and I am looking forward to seeing the many music educators that I have met from South Carolina over the past two years. There are also a ton of great sessions being presented by some fabulous presenters, and I am looking forward to sitting in on them. As always, I have created a special landing page for the event which contains all of my session materials, and I will post podcasts of all of my sessions.

Today I am in Grand Rapids, MI on behalf of SoundTree to present the Keynote Address and sessions at the Michigan Music Conference 2010 Technology Pre-Conference. I was thrilled to have been asked to present at MMC 2010, and I am looking forward to meeting with the many fine music educators here in Michigan. There are also a ton of great sessions being presented by some fabulous presenters, and I am looking forward to sitting in on them. As always, I have created a special landing page for the event which contains all of my session materials, and I will post podcasts of all of my sessions.

If you are on Twitter, follow the events of the day at #mmc10, and by following SoundTree and I at @SoundTree and @jimfrankel.

Tomorrow I will be presenting a full day of sessions on behalf of SoundTree along with his colleague Robin Hodson at the first ever NJSMA Workshop Day at Kinnelon High School in Kinnelon, NJ. I am presenting two sessions on Smartboards in the Music Classroom and Online Resources for Music Educators. Robin Hodson will also be presenting sessions on Groovy, Sibelius and recording and editing digital audio. As always, we will be podcasting the sessions and all of the session materials are available at www.soundtree.com/njsma10.

If you can’t make this workshop, please make every effort to attend the TI:ME National Conference next month!

I welcome your comments and questions.

Online TI:ME Courses - Spring 2010

SoundTree is offering three online TI:ME Courses for graduate credit through a partnership with Five Towns College starting March 1st. The courses will meet completely online, using both weekly live video conferences and Five Towns College’s online course management tool, BlackBoard™. Courses run 12 weeks and cost $750 per course (plus $50 application fee). Upon successful completion of the course, students will receive 3 graduate credits.

The following courses are being offered:

EDU 521, TI:ME 1A: Basic Skills - Electronic Instruments, MIDI Sequencing, and Notation
Instructor: Dr. Thomas Rudolph

EDU 522, TI:ME 1B: Basic Skills in Music Technology: Instructional Software, Communications, and Digital Media
Instructor: Stefani Langol

EDU 523, TI:ME 2A: Music Notation Software (Finale)
Instructor: Dr. Scott Watson

For more information and to register, please visit www.soundtree.com/timecourses or contact us at info@soundtree.com.

Registration deadline is Friday, February 20th. There is a minimum requirement of 9 registered students per course in order for each course to run. In case the course needs to be canceled, you will be notified by February 27th.

I am presenting a one hour workshop on behalf of SoundTree on utilizing SmartBoards/IWBs in the music classroom this upcoming Monday, and I need your help.

The workshop is focused on best practices with SmartBoards/IWBs and will provide lesson plan ideas for general, vocal and instrumental music teachers. I would love to feature some of your ideas in the workshop (and would credit you fully). If you would please take a few moments to share how you are using your IWB (Interactive White Board) with your students; what brand of IWB you have; what are the advantages and disadvantages of using an IWB in your classroom; and any resources that you use to create lessons using software like Notebook for the SmartBoard. By the way - special thanks to my dear friend Liz - the model in the picture above.

I look forward to hearing from you soon. The workshop is on Monday!

Today I am heading down to Tampa, FL for the FMEA 2010 Conference. This is always one of my favorite events to present at (and the weather ain’t too bad down there either). FMEA is a huge conference with over 10,000 attendees and it always attracts great presenters. This year the featured technology presenter is a good friend and colleague - Amy Burns. Amy is presenting two sessions: Podcasting in the Elementary Music Classroom and Integrating Technology in the Elementary Music Classroom. I am presenting a session tomorrow on behalf of SoundTree titled Finding Funds for Music Technology. As always, I have created a special landing page for my session and I will be posting a podcast of the session by tomorrow evening. I will also be tweeting from the show (follow me at www.twitter.com/jimfrankel and SoundTree at www.twitter.com/SoundTree). I’ll be using the hashtag #fmea10 if you’d like to follow the tweets.

If you are going to be at FMEA, please stop by my session, or visit the SoundTree booth - #6023. I hope to see you there!

First of all Happy New Year! I am looking forward to another year of blogging with you.

As many of you may already know, the TI:ME National Conference is coming to New Jersey this year - being held in conjunction with the NJMEA In-Service Conference in East Brunswick from February 18th through the 20th. I am absolutely thrilled that TI:ME is finally here in what I consider my home state (though I live in NY). The schedule of sessions has just been released, and there are some terrific presenters and sessions lined up.

To download an At-A-Glance schedule of events, click HERE.
To download the full schedule, including session descriptions and abstracts, click HERE:
To register for the conference, click HERE.

I truly hope that you will make every effort to attend this year. It’s not every day that you can see so many wonderful presenters in one place, and if you live in the Tri-State area, you should start making your travel plans today. Exit 9 on the turnpike!

I welcome your questions and comments.