SmartMusic
The Associated Board has established a partnership with MakeMusic Inc, the makers of SmartMusic, an exciting new computer-based accompaniment tool that listens and reacts to soloists as they play or sing. The program offers many benefits to teachers and students preparing for Associated Board exams and in the wider context of music education.
SmartMusic provides accompaniments for over 30,000 pieces across a wide range of instruments and voice, styles and levels. Repertoire from Grade 1 standard through to Grade 8 and beyond is included, with basso continuo and full orchestra parts as well as piano accompaniments.
SmartMusic’s Intelligent Accompaniment listens to the soloist’s performance and follows the player’s spontaneous tempo changes, slowing down and speeding up according to the interpretation. Many scale, arpeggio, interval and rhythm exercises are included, as well as a range of innovative features for teaching jazz and improvisation. SmartMusic enjoys a special relationship with the outstanding jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, and many of the jazz features of SmartMusic were specially recorded for the program by Marsalis’ own rhythm section.
The Associated Board fully supports SmartMusic, recognising that it provides an innovative and useful resource for use in and outside lessons. It gives pupils a chance to play and practise their pieces with an accompaniment, and provides teachers with a valuable tool that can support and complement their own teaching strategies.
Clara Taylor, the Associated Board’s Chief Examiner, sees SmartMusic as “an invaluable tool for candidates at the early stages of learning a piece.” She adds that “although the unique experience of working with a human accompanist cannot be replaced, we hope you will join us in making use of this cutting-edge technology.”
MakeMusic is offering a one-year SmartMusic subscription to Associated Board applicants at the special price of £21.99 – a saving of over £50.00 on the retail price – and up to 20 of the applicant’s pupils can take advantage of this offer.
Customers should visit www.abrsm.org/smartmusic to download a trial version of the software, to order a subscription at the special price and to find out which Associated Board syllabus titles are available for their instrument.