MakeMusic's highly acclaimed SmartMusic Studio software has been updated to version 10 with several notable improvements and additions.
MakeMusic Inc. has released its newest version of the popular SmartMusic Studio Accompaniment System. This newest version boasts several new improvements, mostly in terms of newly added repertoire including Book 2 of the Standard Of Excellence band method series and a large selection of concert band titles. Over two hundred popular concert band titles have been incorporated into the SmartMusic system, allowing students to practice their large group ensemble selections while also opening the door for the possibility of small, unbalanced ensembles to fill in the missing parts during a performance.
Another new addition to the SmartMusic Studio package is an online assignment system called Impact. Using a web based interface teachers can create gradebooks for their students, complete with assignments to be practiced with SmartMusic at home. Using a $25 student subscription a student can practice their assigned scales, etudes, solos, and concert band pieces and have the SmartMusic system report back to the teacher about their practice time. Students also have the ability to record and send their practice sessions to their teacher for evaluation. In extremely rural areas where professional instrument teachers may not be available it is possible that Impact, coupled with SmartMusic's built in assessment abilities, may finally make it possible for a professional oboe or bassoon teacher to teach a gifted student via the Internet in whole or in part.
In testing the software I downloaded and practiced the beginning band arrangement of Legends by Clark/Feldstein. I had expected the accompaniment to be MIDI based as previous accompaniments had been prior to version 10. Instead I was treated to a full, professional recording of the piece. The tempo can be altered, exactly as with the solo accompaniments, however at significantly slower tempos the time shifting causes audio artifacts and distortion to appear. For the most part though I was impressed with this new feature and can only hope that additional concert, jazz, and other titles will be added in the future.
SmartMusic Studio is published by MakeMusic Inc. and is available for purchase and download (150MB) from their web site http://www.smartmusic.com.
