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- By John Kuzmich, Jr.
- Presented for School of Music
- Arizona State University
- April 10, 2004
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- Band-In-A-Box by PG Music at:
http://www.pgmusic.com
- SmartMusic by Makemusic at: <=
/span>http://www.makemusic.com/practice_tools.asp
- MiBAC Jazz: by MiBAC M=
usic
at: http://www.mibac.c=
om
- Jammer by Soundtrek at=
: http://www.soundtrek.com
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- Find out why Automatic Accompaniment Generating software applications
are “King” among music technology software applications =
for
classroom music teachers.
- Band-In-A-Box is primo among this software applications.
- Enhanced creative practice is possible for both reading jazz charts =
and
improvisation for creative instruction.
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- No question about computer applications accelerating and electrify
creativity levels in your music classes.
- Automatic accompaniment generating software applications are perhaps=
the
most congenial software applications for music and jazz educators
regardless of ones “computer chops.”
- Find out how easy it is to create practice exercises for ensemble and
improvisation practice by just identifying the chord progression.
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- Learn the market of leading automatic accompaniment generating softw=
are
and then learn why Band-In-A-Box was designed for the classroom music
teacher.
- In BBB, there are thousands of musical styles available with just a
click of the mouse in jazz, Latin, blues, classical, country/folk,
waltz, pop/rock, ethnic, alternative and many others.
- Its ability to view and print out all rhythm section parts along with
melody, strings and guitar is important pedagogically for students to
both analyze comping techniques and able to practice “liveR=
21;
with the accompaniments.
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- The ability to change playback speed and modulate is essential in
enhancing traditional play-along accompaniments.
- Its single most instructional feature that can’t be duplicated=
by
any other software product is the ability to generate improvised sol=
os
in over 250 different styles of landmark jazz artists: Charlie Parker, Miles Davis,
Herbie Hancock, etc. and without any copyright restrictions for
duplication to audio tapes and CD’s for students to actually
listen to, analyze and play-along at home.
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- BBB also has good sequencing capabilities for creating full composit=
ions
plus the ability to creatively analyze the melody in nearly 50 sty=
les of
famous ensembles such as Nashville, Paul Shaffer, Supersax, George
Shearing, Glen Miller, Big-Band brass, Count Basie, Tom Scott and
others.
- You can record students “live” with acoustic and /or MIDI
instruments which makes for powerful compositions and improvisation
practice because the entire composition can be burned to a CD for
distribution via .WAV files and then even converted to MP3 and poste=
d to
the Internet in just minutes.
- All accompaniments can be freely duplicated for distribution to stud=
ent
use at home which makes this product very desirable for jazz educati=
on
purposes as well as being so user-friendly to use.
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- Better understand the market of automatic accompaniment generating
software applications and in particular, what their individual stren=
gths
are.
- Learn how to open files, playback, create accompaniments in a myriad=
of
music styles and at tempos and keys of your choice.
- Learn how to View Notation of all parts created.
- Learn how to create improvised solos.
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- Learn how to print lead sheets.
- Learn to enter chords.
- Learn advanced chord functions.
- Learn how to choose the style/soloist/harmonies
- Learn how to add a melody.
- Learn ho to add lyrics.
- Learn how to save BB files as MIDI files and how to import MIDI file=
s as
well.
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- Learn how to burn a practice CD.
- Learn how to use Band-in-A-Box in a Power Application mode for creat=
ing
larger composition.
- Step-by-step guidelines on how to convert .WAV/CDA audio files to MP3
file format.
- Step-by-step guidelines of how to audio stream audio files on the
Internet.
- Step-by-step guidelines of how to post audio files to ones web site =
with
cost-effective solutions.
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- How to Take a BBB file with or without a “live” recordin=
g from
Band-In-A-Box and post it to the Internet with audio streaming, go t=
o:
- http://www.kuzmich.com/handouts/digital_magic.html.
- http://www.superscopetechnologies.com/press/IAJEcolumn.htm
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- Middle/High School Jazz band program:
- Develop soloists
- Practice accompaniments for jazz band charts
- Listen to and analyze soloists created by BBB.
- Transpose play-along accompaniment to any key, any tempo
- Create loops to practice certain chord progressions.
- Develop Jazz Band
- Practice and test entire jazz band charts
- Compositions
- Create rhythm section parts
- Add melody via MIDI or Record input
- Harmonize melody parts
- Add solo section
- Harmonize melody with MIDI or recording input.
- Export to notation application
- Import notation file and add rhythm section parts
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- Sight-Reading
- General Music applications
- Get students to play melody of a given piece.
- Teach students different musical styles from rock to Latin to Blues=
to
Jazz and beyond.
- Sample project:
- 1 computer with piano
- Programmed chords for about 15 songs
- Students had to play the melody to fit the beat established by BBB=
- Experimented by playing their melody in a number of music styles.<=
/li>
- Band & Orchestra students would bring their music in and ask to
input the chords so they could play along with BBB.
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- Ear Training
- Chords
- Intervals
- Guess a New Root
- Replay Root
- Guess a New Chord
- Guess Chord and Root
- Replay Chord
- Arranging - Practicing
- Piano Chord Solos - Practicing
- Guitar Chord Solos - Practicing
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- Twelve BBB Tutorials in their Help Pull-Down Menu
- Setting Up MIDI/Sound Card
- Loading and Playing Songs
- Inputting New Songs
- Custom Patch/Drum .DK File
- StyleMaker – Editing styles
- StyleMaker – Making new styles
- Notation, Printing
- Using the Soloist Feature
- Using the Melodist Feature
- Using Audio and Guitar Features
- Using the Guitar Styles
- Using the Chord Wizard and Embellisher
- Using the Style Sheet and Leadsheet Harmony
- Using the New Features of Version 2004
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- Two CD-ROM Video Set:<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Band-In-A-Box Video Tutoria=
l Pak
(comes free with version 2004)
- Incredible product overview and QuickStart practicing music with BB=
B.
- Article: BeBop Bass So=
lo
with Band-in-a-Box
by Tobin Frank http://www.band-in-a-box.com/article_june21.ht=
m
- Band-In-A-Box Group at: http://www.biabgroup.com/
that focuses on:
- Exchange and Share BIAB files
- Get to know other BIAB members
- Exchange hints and tips
- Build and Maintain a File Repository of BIAB Files
- Band-In-A-Box Related Web Sites at:=
http://www.nortonmusic.com/links.html#box
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- Band-In-A-Box Introduction: <=
/span>http://www.kuzmich.com/band-in-a-box.html
- Band-In-A-Box Basics: =
http://www.kuzmich.com/band-in-a-box2.html
- Band-A-Box Tutorial: h=
ttp://www.kuzmich.com/band-in-a-box3.html
- Feature article: Septe=
mber,
2004 issue of School Band & Orchestra magazine at: http://www.sbomagazine.com/=
technology.html
- Technology: Music Software Music Lessons Through the Computer by John
Kuzmich, Jr. at: http:=
//www.pgmusic.com/review38.htm
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- Working with Song Files
- Opening files
- Select File | Open to open songs by file name.
- Click on the Song button to open the Song Titles box – this
allows you to open songs by title instead of file name.
- Note that you can also search by title in the Song Titles box
- If you want to see the song titles for a different directory:
- You must first close the Song Titles box
- Use File | Open and open any song in the directory you want to u=
se.
- Go back to the Song Titles box by clicking on the Song button
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- Click on Play to start the song.
- Use the FROM button to start in a particular bar number.
- Instead of pressing stop, you may press the HOLD button to pause the
song.
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- Playing along
- You may play-along on the MIDI keyboard at any time.
- You may also use the computer keyboard:
- Turn the “Wizard” on by selecting it from the Play men=
u.
- Use the two rows of keys starting with “A” and
“Z”
- You can also use the “Smart Notes” feature found in the
Play menu. This will=
cause
the bottom row of keys to play only “right” notes and =
the
next row to play “wrong” notes. (Try it!)
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- Changing song settings
- Changing the instrumentation
- Note that any part can play any instrument. The Piano part, for examp=
le,
can be performed by a banjo, etc.=
Click on the part you want to change and then select the in=
strument
from the instrument box.
- Muting instruments
- You can mute any number of the parts by clicking your right mouse
button over the part name.
The name of the part will turn red when it is muted. Click your right mouse bu=
tton
over it again to turn it back on.
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- Changing the tempo
- Using numerical values
- You can type a new value in the Tempo box
- Tapping on the mouse or keyboard
- You can tap on the =3D key to have BIAB start automatically –=
; tap
for four beats and it will come in at the tempo you tapped. This will also allow you =
to
change the tempo during a song.&n=
bsp;
If you want to tap the tempo without the song starting
automatically, use thee – key. This can be useful for te=
sting
your ability to tap certain tempos. The tempo will be indicat=
ed in
the tempo box after four taps.
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- Transposing
- You can transpose the entire worksheet by selecting a new key from =
the
key box, right beside the tempo box.
- You can transpose part of the your song by selecting the bars you w=
ant
to affect first.
- Changing styles.
- Click on the STY button to see a list of the styles available.
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- Changing melody harmonies
- Choose Melody Harmony from the harmony menu to select a new harmony=
.
- Note that the Allow Melody Harmonies must be on in the Harmony
Menu. (If you donR=
17;t
want harmony, this is where you can turn it off).
- If your music sounds strange – try changing or turning off the
harmony –this is often the cause of strange sounds.
- Changing thru harmonies
- The thru harmony harmonizes what you play on the MIDI keyboard. (The thru instrument dete=
rmines
the instrument played on the MIDI keyboard).
- The thru harmony works in the same manner as the melody harmonies.=
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- Viewing the Notation
- Turning on the notation window.
- You can switch to the notation window by pressing Ctrl-W or by
clicking on the first item in the Notation menu.
- Selecting the part
- BIAB doesn’t allow you to view more than one part at a time,
although you export the score to a notation program such as Finale
2004. To select the =
part
to view, use the B D P G S M S buttons above the notation. B is bass, D is drums, et=
c.
- Selecting the Chord view
- Clicking on the IIL button will cycle you through the various chord
nomenclatures available.
- Looping the screen
- Click on the LoopScn button to have BIAB loop the bars on the scre=
en
(you will have to click on PLAY before it will start looping.)
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- Using the Soloist
- Selecting a soloist
- Click on the SOLO button to try out some of the soloists. BIAB looks at the chord
structure for the whole song before building the solo, so it may t=
ake
a few minutes to build the solo.&=
nbsp;
You can view the solo by clicking on the S button farthest =
to
the right in the notation window.
- Printing the Song
- View the notation window and switch to the part you want to print<=
/li>
- Choose File | Print Song
- You may change any of the settings before printing
- You can print a fake book of everything that is on your
computer. I
wouldn’t recommend it, however, since you will get about 18=
00
songs!
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- Creating Your Own Song
- Choosing the Key/Time Signature
- Setting the song information
- Use Edit | Song Settings to set your song first.
- Use the number of bars settings in order to control how your song=
is
repeated, etc.
- Entering Chords
- Using chord names
- You may type in the chords desired onto the chord worksheet. See the on-line help for=
a
complete list of chords.
- Using the chord reader
- You can play a chord on the MIDI keyboard and press ctrl-enter to
enter it onto the worksheet.
- Clicking on Options |
MIDI Chord Detection gives you more control over how the chords up
play get entered.
- Copy/Paste
- You can mark bars and use the cut/copy/paste features to save tim=
e.
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- Advanced Chord Functions
- Entering rests/shots/holds
- Click on the C7 button to control rests, shots or holds within the
current bar.
- You may also use the following to control rests, shots or holds:=
li>
- C. indicates a C chord that is a rest
- C.. Indicates a C chord that is a hold
- C… indicates a CD chord that is a held chord
- You may exempt instruments by typing the letter of the instrument
after the dots:
- For example, C.bd forces all instruments except the bass and rums=
to
rest.
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- Choosing the style/soloist/harmonies
- Experiment – use the STY, the SOLO button and the Harmonies m=
enu
- Adding a melody
- Recording
- You can record to either the melody or the soloist track. Use the Melody menu or the
Soloist menu to find Record.
- Note that after you have finished recording you have the choice
of “takingR=
21;
the recording.
- Step entering
- Please see the manual for more details
- Importing from a MIDI file
- You can import melodies from a MIDI file by choosing Melody | Impo=
rt
from MIDI file.
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- Note: In many case is =
it
more efficient to first record a melody using a sequencing or notati=
on
program such as Finale, Sibelius or Home Studio. Save the melody as a MIDI f=
ile
and then import it to BIAB.
- Adding Lyrics
- Open the Notation windows (Ctrl-W)
- Type the lyrics above the music in the beige box between the notati=
on
and ;the toolbar.
- The lyrics can be printed above or below, depending on the options =
you
choose when printing.
- Saving as a MIDI file
- Choose File | Make a Standard MIDI file
- Choose Save to File and give it a file name.
- You can now open the file in any notation program for further editi=
ng.
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- Burning to a CD
- You can easily create a save file of your Band-In-A-Box song to bur=
n to
a CD.
- First, confirm that Windows is set up to record from the SD-90.
- Go to Start – Control Panel – “Sounds, Speech, =
and
Audio Devices”, and then click on “Sounds and Audio
Devices.” Go =
the
“Audio” tab and choose “Edirol SD-90 IN” =
in
the Sound Recording section, then hit OK and close the control pa=
nel.
- Then, in Band-In-A-Box, click the “.wav” button, or ch=
oose
“Record MIDI to Stereo .wav file etc…” From the “AudioR=
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menu.
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- Click the “(Rec)-Render to WAV file…” button and ;it will play th=
rough
your entire song, while recording a wave file. When it is done, you can cl=
ick
the “Test wAV” to make sure that your recording worked.<=
/li>
- You may want to clear the “Include 2 bar lead-in” and
“Include Drum Count-In Sound” If you are creating play a=
long
CD’s, otherwise, these are useful give them tempo.
- You can also use this window to burn a CD or convert to WMA for post=
ing
on the Internet. Please
consult the on-line help or printed documentation for further
information.
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- It can be done easily.
- It can be done on a minimum budget.
- Multiple teaching applications:
- Improvisation
- Composition
- General Music
- Ear Training
- Sight-Reading
- Arranging – Practice
- Piano Chord Solos - Practice
- Guitar Chord Solos - Practice
- It can change your relationship with your students, parents,
administration and community especially posted on a school web site.=
- It offers great practice opportunities at home.
- Music must be included on your website.
- E-mail at: jkuzmich@je=
ffco.k12.co.us
and good luck!!
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