Creative Practicing:

With Automatic Accompaniment Generating Software/Hardware Applications

by John Kuzmich, Jr. with Special Assistance From
Leigh Kallestad of MakeMusic and Dr. Ray Smith of Brigham Young University

January 7, 2005 at 4 p.m.

2005 IAJE International Convention
Long Beach, California Convention Center


Four Workshop Topics: Click On Any Of These Four Links Below
Software Solutions      
  Transcribing Software Solutions for Play-Along Recordings    
    Hardware Solutions: Variable Pitch/Tempo CD Players/Recorders  
      Play-Along Repertory


Software Solutions
  1. Band In-A-Box 2005 by PG Music: Web: http://www.pgmusic.com. A perfect example of an automatic generating software application that is user-friendly going far beyond its play-back options with many specific music education advancements for teaching. Some of the new features in Band-in-a-Box 2005 for Windows include: a new fully-featured Piano Roll Window, Alternate Guitar Tunings, new 3, 4, and 5-part Jazz Harmonies voicing in fourths, easy patch list conversion from PowerTracks Pro Audio or Cakewalk patch lists, "Jazz Chord-Symbol Graphics," a new "Vocal Wizard" that displays and transposes to the best song keys for your vocal range, non-destructive Audio Track Editing, TC-Helicon Audio Harmonies enhancements, multiple sound card support, stereo or mono support has been added for the Audio Track, new VU meters to monitor the Audio Track, Multiple lines of Lyrics for the Fake sheet and Printout. And much more. Below are the music educator features that help make this product so practical and mportant for music education both for home and school use.

  2. SmartMusic by MakeMusic. Web: http://www.smartmusic.com. Why is SmartMusic such an important practice tool? Eighteen Wynton Marsalis video streaming demos at: http://www.smartmusic.com/video.aspx . SmartMusic is the complete music practice system that makes practicing music fun. SmartMusic Studio is an interactive, computer-based practice program for woodwind, brass, string and vocal musicians. Everything singers and instrumentalists need to practice efficiently From first year beginner to professional musician SmartMusic makes playing, learning and teaching music more efficient, productive, and enjoyable. Its accountability is the single most important music educator feature as it promotes intelligent home practice beyond anything in the entire music technology industry.

  3. Finale 2005 works seamlessly with SmartMusic in producing SmartMusic files with full assessment accountability for any and every piece of music being performed in the class's curriculum with regards to marching, jazz band/jazz combo, concert band/wind ensemble, choir, orchestra, chamber music and more. Here's what's new in Finale 2005. For more info, go to: http://www.finalemusic.com/finale/features/new/

    Finale Performance Assessment™ Launch Window
    Expanded Setup Wizard SmartMusic® Wizard and More
    Engraver Tuplets & Spacing Controls Intelligent Repeats
    Row-Loff® Marching Percussion Sounds Third-Party Sound Font Support
    More Human Playback Grace Note Spacing Improvements
    Transportable Staff Lists Advanced Hyperscribe™
    New TG Tools Plug-ins FinaleScript version 1.5
    Mac/Win Hybrid CD Upgraded Simple Note Entry
    Better View and Navigation Controls  

  4. MIBAC Jazz by MiBAC Music. Web: http://www.mibac.com/ and http://www.mibac.com/Pages/jz.html. With MiBAC JAZZ you can quickly and easily create exciting practice materials for your students. MiBAC JAZZ generates an authentic sounding jazz rhythm section (piano, bass, and drums) based on chords you type into the program. Five excellent tutorials in the user's manual.


  5. Jammer Pro 5 by Soundtrek. Web: http://www.soundtrek.com/content/index.php. At the heart of JAMMER Pro 5 is the all new "Real Feel" composition engine. By analyzing and compiling the tonality and dynamics of live MIDI recordings, JAMMER is able to compose original music that captures the feel of your playing and that of professional musicians around the world. There are several other products available: JAMMER Live 1, Band & Drum Styles for JAMMER Pro 5, Band & Drum Styles for JAMMER Pro 4, and JAMMER SongMaker 5. Jammer Pro 5 can create music compositions very creatively.
  6. "Real Feel" composition engine Split and combine tracks
    New musician and band style editors User settable snap for chord entry
    New graphic chord voicing editor Compose full or partial measures
    New graphic riff editor Customizable track colors, font size, and row height
    New riff compiler with factory presets Customizable measure colors, hash marks, and measures per line
    New measures view with cut and paste New measures view toolbar
    Open multiple songs at the same time Mouse wheel support
    Cut and paste from one song to another

    Over 500 new guitar and keyboard chord voicings

    Enter chords anywhere in a measure (8ths, 16ths, 32nds etc) Over 190 new "Real Feel" band style files
    Set punch in/out to anywhere in a measure (8ths, 16ths, 32nds etc) Over 200 classic JAMMER band style files
    Set drum fills to any length in a measure (1/4, 1/2, 3/4 etc) Over 500 groove style files
    Change the time signature of any measure Over 50 transitions style files
    Multiple level undo Over 200 drum style files
    Compatible with JAMMER Pro 2, 3, and 4 files Compatible with JAMMER LIVE files
    256 Track Multi port Sequencer Configurable mixing console layout with graphic faders and controls
    Configurable Drummers Configurable Drum Fill Composers
    Configurable Percussionists Configurable Bass Players
    Configurable Rhythm Players Configurable Melody Players
    Configurable Harmony Composers Configurable Effects Composers
    Configurable Chord Progression Composer Drag & drop song arranging, chord arranging and track arranging
    Graphic Piano Roll Note Editor Graphic Controller Editor
    Event List Editor Quantize Note Times
    Humanize Note Times and Velocities Tempo Change Markers
    Automatic Tempo Sweeps Velocity Compression
    Velocity Expansion Controller Fills
    Chord Previewing Multiple Styles Within Songs
    Load and Save Standard MIDI Files Tutorials
    Plus much more  


    Transcribing Software Solutions for Play-Along Recordings

  7. SlowGold and SlowBlast! by World Wide Woodshed, distributed by Hal Leonard Corp. Web: http://www.worldwidewoodshed.com/. Do you want to learn how to play the hot licks from any CD, MP3 file, or Wave file? With the World Wide Woodshed's acclaimed music software, it's easy! With just a couple of mouse clicks, you'll be playing along with a loop of any phrase from any CD, MP3 file, or Wave file at any speed, at the original pitch, with great sound quality. Download the free demo and see for yourself!

    SlowGold and SlowBlast! make it simple for anyone to play along with (or transcribe) lightning-fast riffs by starting at a modest pace. You will hear nuances of playing technique that you have never heard before. And you will start playing along at a comfortable speed and improve quite noticeably in just a few short sessions.

  8. Transkriber by Reed Kotler, published by Reed Kotler. Web: http://www.reedkotlermusic.com/rkm/default.htm.

    Learn By Ear From Your Favorite Recordings. You can bet your favorite players learned this way. Figuring things off recordings yourself is one of the best ways to improve your playing. Slow the music down but keep the same pitch. These products are used by many top transcribing professionals.

  9. Transcribe! by Seventh String Software. Web: http://www.seventhstring.com/, Transcribe! was first written in 1998-1999 for Windows. It was (like most programs) initially a reasonably clean design, but gradually became messier with the addition of new features which the original design had not anticipated. Now available for both Macintosh and Windows platforms.

  10. Hardware Solutions: Variable Pitch/Tempo CD Players/Recorders

  11. Superscope PSD 300 CD Recording Systems. Web: http://www.superscopetechnologies.com, http://www.superscopetechnologies.com/press/IAJEcolumn.shtml and http://www.superscopetechnologies.com/products/PSD300/index.shtml. The Superscope PSD300 is the world’s first CD Recording system for the performing arts that combines a professional CD-R/RW recorder with a CD-R/RW player featuring innovative CD manipulation controls. This portable stand-alone system is designed specifically as a valuable portable music rehearsal and performance tool. In addition to its recording drive, the unit’s CD player features the same performing arts controls found on the popular Superscope PSD230 portable CD player. These special controls allow musicians to practice with their favorite artist or a specialized music accompaniment CD and manipulate the key or tempo of that music in real time.


  12. Superscope PSD 230 CD Playback Systems
  13. . Web: http://www.superscopetechnologies.com/products/psd230/index.shtml. This professional CD player will let you easily change the key and tempo of any music CD, reduce lead vocal tracks, and loop portions of music to continually repeat--all at the touch of a button. It's the ideal tool for music practice. The PSD230 provides dedicated controls for:


  14. Superscope PSD 220 CD Playback System
  15. . Web: http://www.superscopetechnologies.com/products/PSD220/index.shtml. The PSD220 portable CD Player provides great sound output and these specialized music practice features:

  16. Alesis PlayMate Guitarist. Web: http://www.alesis.com/products/PlayMateGuitarist/about.html


  17. Alesis PlayMate Vocalists. Web: http://www.alesis.com/products/PlayMateVocalist/about.html


  18. Tascam CD-VT1, CD-GT1 and CD-BT1. Web: http://www.tascam.com/Products/CD-VT1.html




  19. Play-Along Jazz Repertory: 1,000+ Albums!

  20. Jazz Books: http://www.jazzbooks.com. Contains over 110 CD play-along albums produced by Jamey Aebersold providing the basic repertory library of many prominent jazz artists that is the "standard" in the entire play-along industry. Artists represented are literally the who's who in jazz: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Cannonbal Adderly, Herbie Hancock, David Liebman, Horace Silver, Duke Ellington, Joe Henderson and 60+ more.
  21. Hal Leonard Corp. Web: http://www.halleonard.com and hal_leonard_summary. Offers play-alongs for vocalist, bassist, guitarist and instrumentalist in a variety of jazz styles. Fiddle Jam by Geoffrey Fitzhugh Perry is an incredible string improvisation play-along material that must be used to believe how innovative it is.
  22. Music Minus One Corporation. Web: http://wwwmusicminusone.com. Created the play-along market in 1950 and now offers more than 835+ jazz play-alongs.
  23. Alfred Publications: Web: http://www.alfred.com. Offers a variety of play-alongs for band and string players.



  24. Theodore Presser Company. Web: http://www.presser.com. Offers an excellent Klezmer play-along for wind and string players by Yale Strom.
  25. Mel Bay Music. Web: http://www.melbaymusic.com. The Jazz Fiddle Wizard by Martin Norgaard has 188 excellent jazz play-along tracks for string players.


  26. Paul Carman Music. Web: http://www.kuzmich.com/handouts/IAJE_workshop.html. Must demo their CD Metronome. Offers great drum metronomic tracks designed for instrumentalists and vocalists in practicing scales and licks from 50 to 400 beats per minute that authentically "swing" at any tempo because it features a real drummer "swinging" correctly at those tempos! Plans to bring out a CD Metronome series for drummers that will be walking bass lines at different tempos.

    Upcomming volumes of the regular CD Metronome will also include:


For more information: contact John Kuzmich, Jr. at jkuzmich@earthlink.net