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  June 2010
23 Last day of school 
 
28 Summer Band Week 1 begins
8:00 a.m.
 
  July 2010
2 Summer Band trip to Bowling Academy
11:30 a.m.
 
6 Summer Band Week 2 begins
8:00 a.m.
 
9 Summer Band Concert and trip to Grist Mill Pool & Tennis Club
10:00 a.m.
 

  August 2010
 
25 Marching Band Camp @ EPHS
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
 
26 Marching Band Camp @ EPHS
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
 
27 Marching Band Camp @ EPHS
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
 
30 Marching Band Camp @ EPHS
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
 
31 Marching Band Camp @ EPHS
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
 

   Sept. 2010
 
1 Marching Band Camp @ EPHS
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
 
2 Marching Band Camp @ EPHS
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
 
3 Marching Band Camp @ EPHS
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
 
8 First day of school
 

   
Email Ms. Murphy

 


Click here for a full schedule of events!

 

 

        What's new?


 

SmartMusic
This page contains resources and instructional videos to help you become familiar with the new software program called SmartMusic®.

The RMS Band will be using SmartMusic® to help students practice and perfect their musical skills this year. For more detailed information regarding the program, click on the links below. (You need Adobe Acrobat Reader® and/or Adobe Flash Player® to view many of these files.)

Instructional Videos   "How to" Links   Troubleshooting

General Tips   Tips for Percussionists   Microphone Tips



What is SmartMusic®?
 
    
     The Benefits of SmartMusic®

System Requirements
 
    
     Subscribing to SmartMusic®

"How to" Links
 
    
     Instructional Videos

Microphone Tips
 
    
     Tips for Percussionists

Troubleshooting
 
    
     Other SmartMusic Tips

SmartMusic® Phone Numbers
 

     Smartmusic® Website

What is SmartMusic®?

SmartMusic® is a software-based computer program that helps students practice and submit their at home practice assignments. Students can practice exercises, solos, and lessons out of their method book as well as some of the music they are preparing for a performance.


What is SmartMusic®?

*Adobe® Reader® is required. Download a free update.
**Adobe®
Flash Player® is required Download a free update.

For more information, visit the SmartMusic® website directly by clicking on the links below:

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The Benefits of SmartMusic®

Practicing alone is often boring because the music has been taken out of its intended group setting. SmartMusic® makes practicing fun. With SmartMusic®, students are able to practice with professional accompaniment. (Meaning you will be able to hear other instruments playing along with you.) This makes practicing time more productive, all while helping the student develop better listening skills and a better understanding of the music.

SmartMusic® records and even grades student progress from a home or school computer and includes a metronome, tuner and digital recorder. Most assignments offer assessment, where green notes indicate what students have performed correctly and red notes indicate where improvement is needed.

A SmartMusic® subscription also provides you immediate access to the world’s largest musical library, allowing you to explore other pieces that we might not be using in class. This is particularly useful for students who are looking for that added challenge in band!

For more information, visit the SmartMusic® website directly by clicking on the links below:

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Purchasing & Subscribing to SmartMusic®

SmartMusic® is a very efficient and enjoyable way to practice at home.

Since all practice assignments and playing exams will be given via SmartMusic®, Ms. Murphy is recommending an at home subscription of the software.

Rather than completing assignments at school and losing valued instruction time, students who have this at home can complete their assignments and take their playing tests from the comforts of home and email me their scores and recordings. Using this method, a student could play an assignment/test 20 times to get a score of 100 if so desired. What a great encouragement for all students to become better players and musicians at RMS!

A SmartMusic® student subscription is just $30 per year. This gives you considerable savings over the normal home subscription of $11.95 per month!

To subscribe to  SmartMusic®, go to www.smartmusic.com, click on the "order now" button for students  and follow the simple onscreen instructions.

Other helpful links:

Requires Adobe® Reader®. Download a free update.

Student Quick-Start Guide
Enrolling in the SmartMusic Gradebook

Still confused? Contact Ms. Murphy for help. Have fun practicing!

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"How to" Links
 

Some files require Adobe® Reader®. Download a free update.

Getting Started:

Student Quick-Start Guide – a comprehensive step-by-step guide for students that guides them through purchasing a subscription, activating a subscription, and enrolling in a Gradebook class.
Enrolling in the SmartMusic® Gradebook – a quick guide for students enrolling in a Gradebook class. Use this guide if you already have access to an activated subscription.

Practice Tools:

Practice Effectively and Avoid Frustration

Technical Support:

Still confused? Contact Ms. Murphy for help. Have fun practicing!

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Instructional Videos**

The following instructional videos** will assist you in purchasing SmartMusic for your home computer.
 

**Adobe® Flash Player® is required to see the instructional videos.
Download a free update.

SmartMusic Subscriptions:

Getting Started:

Assignments:

Practice Tools:

Repertoire (Music):

Support:

Still confused? Contact Ms. Murphy for help. Have fun practicing!

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Microphone Tips

Most of the problems that students encounter when using SmartMusic® can be solved by simply knowing where to place the microphone.

Pictured below are suggested positions for the SmartMusic® microphone as well as recommendations for speaker placement. After properly placing the microphone, be sure to adjust the settings of the microphone when starting SmartMusic®. You can also adjust the microphone settings inside of the SmartMusic® program by sliding the dial up or down. The microphone dial is located in the top right-hand corner.

Percussion - microphone option 2: Recommended for bell players.

With bell kits, you can improve the success rate by clipping the microphone below the bars aiming downward, about 4-6" below the bars themselves. The ideal spot for the microphone is just below the lowest C# key on the far
left-hand side of the bells.

Also, using rubber mallets (while not a great choice for concerts) will improve the assessment by reducing the "strike" at the beginning of notes and cutting out the overtones.

Lastly, make sure the “Instrument Range Checking” feature located in the OPTIONS menu is off. (See picture below.)

Unfortunately, the assessment feature (red/green notes) is not available on most exercises of the method books for percussion students. Until that feature is made available to percussionists, the student will need to submit a recording to his/her teacher so that the teacher may grade the assignment.

More help with Microphones

Requires Adobe® Reader®. Download a free update.

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Troubleshooting

SmartMusic® is an extremely innovative and well-designed software program that provides a very efficient and enjoyable way to practice at home. However, like anything, it is not perfect, and sometimes problems arise that our beyond our control.

In an effort to help students and parents make the most out of SmartMusic®, Ms. Murphy has created several links to help keep problems to a minimum.

Below is a list of steps to take should you have a question or encounter a problem with the program.

  1. Click on the HELP button on the SmartMusic menu screen.
    (See picture below.)


     

  2. Go to the Customer Support page on the SmartMusic® website where you can browse answers to frequently asked product, pricing, activation, or technical questions. You can also submit a question to the customer service department.

  3. Call SmartMusic® Technical Support. This is a FREE service to all current subscribers. Click on this link for the Technical Support phone number.

  4. Click on one of the files below. You need Adobe® Acrobat® Reader to view many of these files.

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SmartMusic Phone Numbers                    

  • Technical Support - 1.866.240.4041 (M-F, 8:30 AM - 8:00 PM CST)

  • Customer Service - 1.888.874.2144 (M-F, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM CST)

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"RAISING EXPECTATIONS"

 

Riverside Middle School         179 Forbes St.         East Providence         Rhode Island  02915        401.433.6230 ext. 109