My Practice Tracks Recording Project

Before Christmas, my singing coach, Sherry Kennedy, sent one of her students to me with a new project. Her student sings with one of the Up2Something choirs in Calgary. Some of the pieces the choir is working on are challenging, so she hired me to make practice tracks recordings of the alto part.

A New Kind of Gig: Recording Practice Tracks

This was a little different from the practice tracks recordings I make for my piano students on occasion, so I had a bit of a learning curve. From the get-go, I knew that it would be most efficient to record the alto tracks digitally from my Yamaha CP-33 straight into my computer, using my favourite free audio recording and editing software: Audacity by SoundForge.

First, I had to research just how to get my digital piano to “talk” to Audacity, as initially, the program didn't recognize that the my piano was plugged into the computer. More specifically, my digital piano was plugged into my M-Audio Box, which wasn't on speaking terms with Audacity.

The turnaround time was approximately one week to do eight songs. I quickly saw why my client needed mp3 practice tracks: some of them were quite tricky, with multiple time signature changes and/or key signature changes. If it wasn't that, there were complex rhythms.

My client asked for just her part. However, there were bars and bars of alto tacet, with tempo changes in between. I decided to play one of the other vocal parts during those times.

Part 2: Recording Vocal and Piano Accompaniment mp3 Tracks

Last month, my client came back. She and her fellow altos wanted practice tracks of all their repertoire for the year: 15 songs. Actually, it was more than 15 as "A Celtic Fantasy" was a set of three songs, while "A Tribute to Queen" was a medley. Many of them were fast and lively.

This time, they asked for piano accompaniment during the alto tacet. Now, I could have done that, but that would have broken the flow. What if I messed up and played the soprano part after playing the piano interlude?

Besides, what if someone from one of the other choir sections came back and hired me to do practice tracks for them? The piano accompanist/sometime conductor in me demanded that piano accompaniment mp3 tracks were required for all of the works. That way, I could separate the tracks: piano accompaniment only, alto only, or vocals with piano accompaniment.

Talk about a make-work project. I tried to speed learn/semi-fake all the works in under a week. It didn't take long for me to realize that I would need to record a section at a time and then mix the tracks together. With a short window, made shorter with music teaching and writing, I could be “on” for short sections but not extended periods of time. This also made it possible to record each piece in multiple sittings. I could take a break, teach, sleep and start up, right where I left off (the beauty of digital recording).

Here's a screen shot of one of the tracks, “A Tribute to Queen”:

Did I have to do all of that? Probably not. However, I was looking at this from a long-term perspective. If I get more gigs like this – making piano accompaniment mp3 tracks – I need to hone my skills at each step. Not only that, I also need something that I can show off (Note to self: add a clip to your Soundcloud).

Besides, the pieces were just plain cool. I was itching to play them. As far as piano accompaniment projects go, this was pretty neat. Hard work, but I can see the potential  practice tracks recording to be a neat sideline gig.

Music planning sheets for teens and tweens

This year, I have several tweens and teens in my studio. Some are preparing for a piano exam, while others are studying music for recreation. One common trait among the majority of them is that they have problems staying on track, that is, time management.

I have vacillated from creating a simple exam preparation timeline to a highly detailed list of goals and milestones. Neither have worked particularly well. Last month, I created a six-week project worksheet and a learning timeline.

As a team, I speak with each of my students to build the learning timeline on Google Docs. Afterwards, I share the link with both the parent and student, granting them viewing and commenting rights. Here’s a screenshot of my student W.’s learning timeline. She’s preparing for her Grade 8 classical piano exam through Conservatory Canada:

Using the learning timeline, we proceeded to break down her learning goals using the six-week project worksheet. So far, she says it’s helped her stay on track more than any other assignment sheet we’ve used in our time together. Here are two of her planning sheets:

My student N. is in Grade 12 at school, so practice time is extremely limited. She isn’t preparing for a piano exam. This is what her learning timeline looks like for this half of the school year:

This is a picture of one of her planning sheets:

My students have been using these music planning sheets since mid-December. So far, they like that they contain just the “right” amount of information. They can see their goals for the week and each month at a glance.

Students and music teachers, if you’d like to download the six-week planning worksheet for educational use, you may do so by clicking here. It works well for recreational music students as well as students preparing for a music exam. Here's a link to view the year-planner.

Music Education Apps for Android - 2014 edition

Back in September, I shared some music education apps for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch. Now, it’s Android’s turn. These are some of the best music education apps for Android that I have found. I have tried all of these on my phone, tablet (or both). Music Note Flashcards, Sight-Reading and Music Theory Apps for Android

Music Note Flashcards is a simple, free app for music students who need to work on their note recognition. Unfortunately, you can’t specify the testing range and there is no way to keep track of your progress.

Music Note Quiz is also a free note-reading Android app. I like how you can select your testing range: treble clef, bass clef, or the grand staff. You can also choose to repeat cards.

Music Tutor Sight Read Lite (FREE): Now this is what I’m looking for in terms of a music lesson and practice tool! With the free version, students can test their sight-reading. There are three game modes: timed tests, study and learn. I tested out the timed mode. A note appears on the grand staff. Players must quickly press the correct key. You can specify how long the test will be as well as the naming conventions (standard notation versus solfège). There is a note-writing mode as well. It scores your accuracy.

The full version of Music Tutor Sight Read ($2.99) also quizzes key signatures. What I really like about this app is that is tests keyboard geography. For instance, is that note G4 or G5?

I cannot believe that My Piano Assistant is a free app. This is a great app, not just for music students, but teachers and all types of pianists. If you are having trouble with your chords or scales, just punch in what the chord is and the app shows and plays you the notes. So, next time you’re baffled by an F7 chord with a flat 13th, worry no more. If you keep mixing up jazz minor with melodic minor, check out exactly how they differ.

Piano Sight Read is another free note-reading app. It’s not as fancy as Music Tutor Sight Read. It has two modes of play: practice and examination. You can’t specify the test range. It probably displays better on a phone versus my tablet. My score went down because I wanted to play the correct pitch on the keyboard and couldn't with such a small keyboard (just short of an octave).

Simply Music is a neat app. You know the card game, “Memory”? Well, this is Memory: the music version! There are four levels of difficulty. You can select if you want to pair up note to note or note to letter name. You can also select which clef. All this for free!

Ear Training and Rhythm Drills Apps for Android

Perfect Ear was one of the first apps I downloaded onto my smartphone and tablet. Musicians can test how well they can identify scales, chords and intervals by sight. They can also see how well they can recognize scales, intervals, chords and cadences by ear. If you upgrade to Perfect Ear Pro ($0.99) you can get more options for for singing intervals and recognizing cadences.

Perfect Ear 2 was released earlier this month. The free version has 20 different tests, whereas the Pro version has approximately 100 tests. It’s quite a step up from Perfect Ear 1.0. In addition to the music tests above, there are also interval comparison, rhythm reading, rhythm dictation and pitch training. You can use the standard tests or create a custom test.

It also contains a scales dictionary and theory articles. Soon, it will have the Circle of Fifths.

The newest version has a beautiful design. It’s also a smaller app than Perfect Ear Free.

With Rhythm Sheep Free, learn music, players have to successfully tap back the rhythm they hear. There are 40 levels to try out. The full version ($1.27) has up to 230 levels.

Recording and Backing Track Apps for Android

iOS devices have the edge over Android as far as recording, mixing, sequencing and editing go. This is for several reasons. The main ones are: latency issues (playback delay), processor and connectivity issues (Android devices aren’t OTG compliant nor MIDI class ready at this point).

In a pinch, I use the Smart Voice Recorder. You can change the sample rate (recording quality). The thing is, the sound quality depends on how good the mic is. However, for recording and reviewing your practices, it will do the trick. You can share your files easily as well.

With iReal b Pro ($10.99), you get a mobile band. Download the chord charts for over 1,200 songs available in the forums. Or, enter in the chord progression for any song, choose your instruments, tempo and style and play away. Instead of using a metronome, why not try practicing with a virtual band?

Metronome Apps for Android

I have been searching for an Android equivalent to MetroTimer. It’s my favourite app on my iPod Touch. My students and I giggle over the cartoon voice counting out the beats.

The one metronome app for Android that is like it is Metronome Beats. I had it on my smartphone for the longest time. Like the free version of MetroTimer, you don’t have as many sound options, subdivisions or time signatures to choose from. For $2.95, you can upgrade to Metronome Beats Pro. This has all the time signatures and different sound options. If you’d rather listen to claves or a cowbell instead of the regular metronome sound, go for it!

Before I got my tablet, I was looking for apps that could multi-task and didn’t take up a lot of memory. I found this free Metronome and Tuner app, called Soundcorset. You can’t change the metronome sound, but you can change the number of beats per bar, the beat subdivision and use the tap tempo function.

There are countless other music education apps out there for both iOS and Android devices. One of the most comprehensive lists I have come across is by David Brian Williams, Ph.D. Click on the link to see his recommendations of Tablet and Smartphone Apps for Music Education: Android and iOS.

Christmas Gift Ideas for Students

My colleagues and I have been discussing what kinds of presents we give (if at all) to our students. I have given small Christmas gifts to my students throughout the years, such as pencils and erasers, candy and Christmas decorations. Twice, I've turned my students' gifts into a Japanese language studies project. I made origami stars and turned them into ornaments. Another year, I bought small ornaments and wrote my students' names on each one: in Japanese.

This year, I was inspired by the CD project I did with a student who terminated lessons earlier this year. Last week, my students recorded a track for the studio Christmas CD. Most participated.

I didn't have time to record anything new. Thankfully, I still have my files from a family Christmas CD I made a few years ago, so I tossed one of the tracks in.

It was a good excuse to test out LightScribe label making software. No more smudged up CD labels. The CD design and name are etched in. Let me tell you, my studio and office computers were busy burning audio and artwork.

Then, I was going to add a Christmas candle. However, I discovered that decorating each one would take more time that I could spare and that it was really difficult to find glass votive holders for a really good price. Only once I switched gears, did I learn that IKEA sold said glass votive holders at a sweet price point.

At Michael's, I found 30 party favour tins on sale. I picked up some round Christmas chocolates and decorated the tins with foam stars and Christmas ribbon (also on sale).

It was important to me that my students get at least one thing that can be re-used. The tins are a good size to hold little trinkets, candies, dice or coins.

The last bit was a bit of a last minute bonus. I took my studio mascot, Maestro, to PetValu on Saturday. There, with a donation to Pawsitive Match, pets could pose with Santa Claus.

I was initially told that the photo would be sent on Tuesday. I was delighted to see the photo in Maestro's mailbox yesterday afternoon. Bingo! Here's the perfect Christmas card for M̶a̶e̶s̶t̶r̶o̶'̶s̶ ̶g̶r̶o̶u̶p̶i̶e̶s̶ my students.

Here's the finished package:

Here are a few ideas that some of my colleagues have come up with:

• personalized framed Wordle pictures (Jennifer Foxx)

• rainbow loom bracelets

• customized greeting cards

• sheet music

Need more student gift ideas? My colleague, Joy Morin, asked teachers to share their Christmas gift ideas on her blog, Color My Piano. Finally, Diane Hidy has a colourful list of prize and gift ideas on her blog.

Now, it's your turn. Fellow music (and school) teachers, please share your Christmas gift ideas. What do you give your students for Christmas?

What does pizza have to do with studying music theory?

"Pizza" probably isn't the first word that comes to mind when you think about studying music theory. Now, it's probably the first thing my students will think of whenever they study music theory. The idea of hosting a pizza music theory party came from my colleague, Dorcas Ng. Whenever she shared pictures from her music theory and harmony study sessions, it looked like the students were having a great time studying and eating pizza.

This is my first year teaching music theory as a group class. It didn't take long for me to realize that my Basic Rudiments / Theory 1 class would need coaching on certain areas, in addition to extra help on how to study music theory. It didn't take much convincing to tell them we should have a music theory study party with pizza.

Three out of four of my students in the class attended the music theory party this past Saturday. The party lasted for 2.5 hours. We got to a slow start because everyone slept in. Then, of course, the weather.

Each student bought study snacks to share. I purchased two 12-inch pizzas from Sobeys from the deli section.

The class was also part of an experiment. In October, the students drafted up rules of conduct for the studio. Each time a  student exhibited good manners as per "the rules", I added a marble into the Good Manners Jar. If they filled it up to the line (which they did), then I would get them a special dessert for the music theory study party.

The first hour of the music theory study session was dedicated to review. I zoomed in on the typical troublespots: the Circle of Fifths, intervals, rhythm and chords.

My students came up with a unique mnemonic to remember the Circle of Fifths:

We then took a 10-minute break, which gave me enough time to prepare lunch. One student played a game, another jammed on a keyboard, while the third student sketched.

The next part to our "How to study music theory" session was dedicated to working through a practice test. It was open book and I allowed my students to ask each other questions. This way, they could start developing their self-study music theory strategies.

During lunch, we chatted about non-music topics, such as everyone's plans for the weekend. We also discussed history, travelling and inventions.

The final part of the music theory study session was dedicated to vocabulary. My students took turns being the Quiz Master. It was a delight to listen to them give each other hints:

Students A & B: FORTE! FORTE!

Student C: I can't think! You're both too loud.

***

Student A: Rall - en - ta - - - n - - - d - - - - o - - - - - -

Student B: To get slower?

I took a snapshot of a couple of other cute definitions, mispronounciations and study helps that they came up with:

For homework, they are to complete the practice test. On Tuesday, they will write an in-class final examination.

Two of my students will write a music theory examination through either Royal Conservatory of Music or Conservatory Canada. The other two will continue to the next level before writing the official examination.

Afterwards, I asked each of my students if they gained a better understanding of music theory during the study session. The answer was a resounding "YES!" They also had a good deal of fun, whether it was when they were developing the Circle of Fifths mnemonic, drilling vocabulary or telling me, "Are you writing that down? You should post that on your Facebook."

Music theory has been one area that my students have called "boring". Teaching music theory in a class setting was my first step to changing things up. Hosting the music theory study / pizza party was another. It is my hope that the two changes make studying music theory a bit more interesting and enjoyable.