MuseScore Noteflight and Improv..Oh MY!!

This week was one of technology and improvisation. On one extreme we spent some time learning about improv and some of the technologies that are out there in support of this kind of creativity.  What I found is that technology can be a key asset if you know how to use it.  The machinery that we have can do some very amazing things if you know how to use it.  This is not unlike a calculator that can do very complex calculations if you know what to type in to start with.  I have used GarageBand on both mac and iPad to create and compose music of my students.  The next step is of course to let them explore these programs on their own.  I am finding that just letting the students play with these machines can have some crazy results.  Once they get over the fact that they can record their own voices, my students this week came up with some interesting ideas.  Playing around with the chord function on GarageBand and the smart drum machine, resulted is some music.  My students were creating music.  How interesting that without even directing them to do so, things like the I IV V chord progressions began to come through.  My guess is that this is because this is what they are used to hearing.  My next project with them is that I hope to collaborate with another class to create a Delta Middle School Band song.  It may even be possible using Noteflight to transcribe this and print it.  The possibilities seem endless.

Using the two notation softwares was an experience for me.  I grew up using Finale and Sibelius so the input methods and the way the software was designed was pretty familiar.  I have to say that Noteflight was by far the better of the two softwares.  This program was very user friendly and very intuitive in it's design.  I didn't have any trouble getting the program to do exactly what I wanted it to do.  MuseScore has the potential of being a powerful program but required a little more "tinkering" in order to make it work.  The best part of these programs of course, is the price tag!  Noteflight is even better because their is no download involved.  I am looking forward to using this with my students!