Using Smart Music

The help screen looks like this.  Try using the videos or Getting Started with SmartMusic.

To enroll in your class, select Assignments and then Enroll for Class.  

Enter the first name you wish to be called and your last name.

Enter the email address and password your parent used to purchase your subscription to Log in.

If you are sharing SmartMusic with a sibling, create your own account.

Enter the required information.

Select "Cary Academy" from the drop down list.

That is as far as Smart Music will let me see of the process, since I am not a student.  You should also need to enter your instrument.

Once you are finished enrolling, Go back to the Homepage.

Select Find Music and then the appropriate button for what you want to do.

To get to your band book, select Method Books.

To get to an accompaniment, select SmartMusic Subscription files.  There are band and jazz band pieces, along with many accompaniments to solos.  See Mr. Grush for recommendations and to find the sheet music.

Use the search feature to look up accompaniments by composer last name, instrument, title, etc.

There are also thousands of exercises to help you improve your technical skills.

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 - Use the options menu to customize your settings.
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 opened 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.