Here is a recording I made going over the functions and how I would utilize Songsterr in my guitar class. I apologize for weird volume jumps, not too sure what happened. I had to record a Zoom session with myself in order to get computer audio to come through. I am also semi whispering because baby was finally napping! This is also my first time trying to upload a recorded Zoom session, so let me know if this doesn't work!
Utilizing Songsterr at my new position:
I think on of the biggest issues I had while teaching in the past was lack of at home practice. Students would utilize all class or rehearsal time to learn their lessons/pieces. I think utilizing Songsterr as a practice tool can be really beneficial, as they would be playing what they enjoyed. As long as they are playing at home, they are getting better. It doesn't have to be my music. I can get them to play that easily. It's getting good practice habits and developing their technique.
What I am going to start to do with my students is assign weekly goals. They are to find a song of their choice, and work towards completing the entire thing. Each week, they are to go on to Songsterr and work on one section of the song: Intro, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Solo (if provided), Outro. They will utilize all feature Songsterr has to offer to help learn the song. I will provide a GoogleDoc that will work as a practice log. Dates will be marked and they will enter length of practice, what they worked on, how they worked on it (Did you slow the song down? To what tempo? Did you need to utilize the Loop feature? etc.). This log will work as a literal practice log, but also show me how comfortable they are with Songsterr and that they are using it to it's full extent. They will then record a Flipgrid on whatever section they worked on that week and send it to me. I will record a video response walking them through positives, and what they can do to improve (while utilizing Songsterr). At the midterm and the end of term, they will perform their song in it's entirety with the accompanying track provided on Songsterr, muting the guitar track they are actually playing.
Love this, Tyler, what a fun, powerful program. I've enjoyed seeing all of your work with guitars over the course of this class, and it looks like you'll have some great ideas going into this coming school year. I forget if you mentioned this in your presentation, but does Songster work with other instruments outside of guitar?
This was a super neat tool to see in action! As an elementary teacher I am not super familiar with a lot of the technology being used in music. We are fortunate enough to have a music teacher, but she is part-time and I am not aware of any technology that is being integrated into instruction. I am familiar with Flipgrid and that seems like the perfect tool for students to use to demonstrate their learning/practice with you. Awesome post!
Very nice to see this tool in action! As a math teacher, I am learning a lot about music and the technology available to students.
This is great! It seems similar to Smart Music. Both are extremely interactive AND assist students with self-directed learning! They are definitely "simulation" tech tools for instrumental music students.