Using Smart Music

1. Click the play test button, then adjust the volume sliders.  Select a sound driver.

2. Make sure you have a microphone connected.  A small clip-on microphone that you can attach to a wind instrument works the best.  However, an inexpensive computer microphone available at an electronics store will also work. (No need to purchase one from Smart Music)  Built in microphones tend to cause problems, so I recommend an external microphone.

3. Set your microphone source and test your microphone.

Make sure that the box for "Mic Thru Speaker" is NOT checked.

4.  You can order a foot pedal if you wish for hands free starting and stopping, but I just use the computer keyboard.

5.  Click one of the 3 buttons.

6. "Open a Solo or Jazz Repertory Title" gets you to the SmartMusic Subscription Files.  There are thousands of accompaniments to classical and jazz solos for every instrument.  You can click the search button to search for
accompaniments by composer last name, title, and/or instrument.

7.  "Open a SmartMusic Exercise" let's you choose from thousands of technical exercises such as scales, arpeggios, intervals, rhythm patterns, and new "Play by Ear" and Jazz Chord Progression exercises.  It even shows the sheet music on the screen!

8. "Open a Beginning Band or String Method Book" gets you to both of Book 1 and book 2 of Essential Elements 2000 books for Beginning or MS band, plus many other band books.  It even shows the sheet music on the screen!

8. The 'Finale family Generated Files" allows you to search for other files (such as etudes or exercises Mr. Grush has put into Finale)

9.  The Smart music Interface.  See explanations below

Controls on the Left
Adjust computer and microphone volumes as needed.
Play accompaniment or record yourself playing with accompaniment.
Wait for Soloist is used if you are playing a solo piece with tempo changes and pauses.
Adjust Click to hear metronome at all times, just on count off, or not at all.
Change published octave to hear the solo part played higher or lower than the accompaniment.
Hear solo line to hear your part played.
Hear accompaniment to hear the accompaniment.
 

Menus at the top and Controls in the Center
File menu - open new Smart Music accompaniments.
Customize menu - gives you many settings you may adjust.
Options menu - is basically the same as the buttons on the right, but you can set your controls and reverb.
Subscription menu - check status, update, or move subscription (to different computer)
Help menu - also gives you the web catalog, symbols, terms, and the set-up wizard.

Use the drop down window at the top to open recently used accompaniments.
Use Bar and Beat to control where you want to start.  Set rehearsal marks or repeats if you want.
Tempo controls the metronome.  Use the slider or just type numbers in the box to the right of the slider.
A=440 controls the calibration or frequency of the tuner.  Don't mess with it.
Intelligent Accompaniment is used if you are playing a solo piece with tempo changes and pauses.
 

Buttons on the Right

Transpose
Takes an accompaniment you have downloaded and changes the key so another instrument can play it.
This is useful if you get together with a friend who plays a different instrument than you.

Practice Loop
This is a VERY valuable way to concentrate on just the chunks or small sections of music that need work.
Set "From" to where you want to start.
Set "Thru" to where you want to end
Specify how many times you want to repeat.
Specify Solo Line, Accomp Line, or both
Specify count-off, click, and how much time you want after each loop.
Play Pitch to hear the next note in the loop.

Play Pitch
Plays the next pitch in the solo line (You can also press the "P" key)

Tuner
Make sure to select your instrument after opening the tuner!
Use the tuner not only to work on tuning, but to check to make sure you are playing the correct notes. 
Play Reference Note to hear the computer play the note along with you. 

Metronome
Use the metronome as a practice tool. 
Set it for a slow tempo to start, and gradually speed it up.
Show Tuner to have the metronome and tuner appear in the same window.
Play Subdivisions to hear the "ands" between the beats.
Accent Downbeats to hear beat one emphasized.

Exercises
There are thousands of scale, interval, arpeggio, and twister (finger) exercises from which to choose!
Make sure to select your instrument and the correct concert key!
Click- Choose whether you want a tempo "click" on all the time, just on count-off, or not at all.
Practice Loop - Choose whether you want to repeat all or part of the exercise over and over and if you want it to a different key each time.
Solo Line- will play what you see on the screen.
Accomp Line- will play a music background.  Select Piano, or something more exotic.
Articulations- will allow you to change the pattern of tonguing and slurring.

Band Methods (MS students only)
Opens a variety of different band method books. 
All of the exercises for Essential Elements 2000 Book 1 and Book 2 are there.
Follow directions under Exercises (above)

Symbols and Terms
This is a glossary of music symbols and terms.