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David MacDonald unboxes the Odla music notation ...
David MacDonald unboxes the Odla music notation controller

forScore | Piano with Friends

Cool new app from the makers of forScore. The app is designed to work with the forthcoming SharePlay feature coming to iOS 15, which allows users to run an app in sync together while on a FaceTime call. It is designed for streaming Apple Music songs and Apple TV+ shows between two different users in sync, even if they are across the world.

Apple has announced that SharePlay will not whip with iOS 15.0 this fall and that it will come in a later update. Piano with Friends will be ready.

forScore | Piano with Friends-->

Over the past few months we’ve been working on a brand new app based on forScore’s on-screen piano keyboard, called Piano with Friends. This standalone version includes the same great features like a high quality sound bank, fine tuning, note labels, and MIDI support, but it also includes some new features that really make it deserving of its own app.

Cubasis comes to Android and receives a discount

Cubasis is, in my opinion, the app to use if you are looking to produce music in a professional DAW using your iPad.

Good news! Version 3 is currently deeply discounted and they just released an Android version!

What's New in Cubasis 3.2 | Steinberg-->

Musical ideas come when you least expect them and are often gone in a flash. With Cubasis, you always have your mobile DAW with you, because Cubasis is available for all your mobile devices. iPad? Check. iPhone? Of course! Android smartphone and tablet? Sure thing! And now we bring one of the fastest, most intuitive and complete mobile DAWs to the world of Chromebooks, too. Welcome Google (again)! Welcome Chrome OS! Cubasis is ready to capture your ideas whenever and wherever you are.

Going without a wallet

According to this other announcement from Apple last week, Maryland will be one of the first states to allow iPhone users to put their drivers license in the Apple Wallet app.

I am thrilled!

Apple announces first states to adopt driver’s licenses and state IDs in Wallet - Apple--->

“Maryland is proud to be a leader once again in safe innovation with the implementation of mobile driver’s licenses,” said Maryland Governor Larry Hogan. “As we look to the future, we are committed to enhancing convenience and accessibility while maintaining the highest safety and security standards for our state and citizens.”

Between credit cards, house keys, car keys, and drivers licenses all going into Apple Wallet now, I can see the day where all we need it a phone or a watch when we leave the house. I wonder how long it will take to get my school ID card into my phone? I have to use that to swipe into the building.

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Apple acquires classical music streaming service Primephonic

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Last week, Apple aquired classical music streaming service Primephonic. This service is very similar to [IDAGIO](https://idagio.com) which I use and have written about here before.

[Apple acquires classical music streaming service Primephonic - Apple-->](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2021/08/apple-acquires-classical-music-streaming-service-primephonic/)

CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA AND LONDON Apple today announced it has acquired Primephonic, the renowned classical music streaming service that offers an outstanding listening experience with search and browse functionality optimized for classical, premium-quality audio, handpicked expert recommendations, and extensive contextual details on repertoire and recordings.

With the addition of Primephonic, Apple Music subscribers will get a significantly improved classical music experience beginning with Primephonic playlists and exclusive audio content. In the coming months, Apple Music Classical fans will get a dedicated experience with the best features of Primephonic, including better browsing and search capabilities by composer and by repertoire, detailed displays of classical music metadata, plus new features and benefits.

Primephonic is no longer available for new subscribers and will be taken offline beginning September 7. Apple Music plans to launch a dedicated classical music app next year combining Primephonic’s classical user interface that fans have grown to love with more added features. In the meantime, current Primephonic subscribers will receive six months of Apple Music for free, providing access to hundreds of thousands of classical albums, all in Lossless and high-resolution audio, as well as hundreds of classical albums in Apple Music’s Spatial Audio, with new albums added regularly.

I would have never guessed that a company as big as Apple would dedicate resources to solving a problem like classical music metadata but I will take it. This will mean that I can use my same Apple Music account, library, and payment, and get a superior searching experience. Viewed simply as a utility, this seems like a win.

I wonder if this means that Apple is aware and working on the many other musical metadata problems in other styles. For example, in jazz, it would be great to search a recording by personnel, soloists, recording enegeniers, and more.

Blink Session Music: Because Virtual Music Lessons are More Than a Video Chat (Sponsor)

Your virtual music lessons are more than a video chat. You interact over sheet music, tabs, audio, YouTube, videos. Sound quality is more important than a chat with grandma. Using advanced settings must be easy. Then, what about homework, scheduling, getting paid? Everything is important but at times requires using multiples online tools that can get time-consuming and complicated both for you and your student.

Blink Session Music is the most advanced and easy-to-use software for online music lessons. Upgraded sound? Absolutely, but Blink goes way beyond to upgrade your entire online lesson experience and business operations.

Are you stuck using Zoom or Skype? Then you're stuck with screen share. With Blink Session Music, load sheet music, tabs (with midi), audio or videos you upload, YouTube, all without screen share. Even assign all your music resources as homework.

Using a DAW or virtual mixer to stream your guitar or keyboard? No need with Blink. Stream up to three audio sources, at up to 300kbps mono or stereo. Plus toggle noise suppression off.

Blink Session Music's features go way beyond the lesson. Schedule, self-schedule, reminders, invoices, take payments, notes, files, homework, learning management, reports, and online lessons, all in the same platform.

Sign up now for Blink's free plan or take the plunge to a paid plan with more time and features.

I'm on the iPad Pros podcast to talk about Dorico and Sibelius for iPad

I am pleased to be a guest on the iPad Pros podcast this week to talk about Dorico and Sibelius for iPad.

Tim Chaten does an awesome job with this show and has a background in composition. If you want to spend quite a bit of time with us and hear my thoughts on these two professional scoring programs for iPad, give it a listen!

YouTube version here:

Making Tunable, with Seth Sandler (Music Ed Tech Talk Ep. 40)

Seth Sandler, maker of the poplar mobile tuner app Tunable, joins the show to talk about the process of making a tuning app, developing for iOS/Mac, and more!

Subscribe to Music Ed Tech Talk:

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Show Notes:

App of the Week: BusyCal

Album of the Week: Chris Thile - Laysongs Acapella Musicals on Spotify

Where to Find Us: Robby - Twitter | Blog | Book
Seth - Twitter

Please don't forget to rate the show and share it with others!

live! —> Paperless Seating Charts

Lately, I’ve been going live at least once a month to cover some kind of way that I use technology to be more efficient in the classroom. I’m doing this mostly for fun, but also to provide Patreon subscribers with more content (the videos remain permanently available to supporters).

I’m going live tomorrow, September 4, around 11 am EST to talk about how I make and work with seating charts digitally. It should be fun! Join me on Twitch, YouTube, or Twitter to tune in. You can follow me using the social icons at the bottom of this site.

Soundtrap for Instrumental Music Teachers (HCPSS PD August 23, 2021)

I am presenting at the Howard County Public School System Music Professional Development on August 23, 2021.

These are the notes for that session...

  1. "What Do We Keep?" - This presentation is an loosely adapted from a post I wrote for the NAfME blog titled "Take, Leave, Transform! What Do We Keep from Last School Year", which was based on a presentation I gave at the Music Ed Tech Conference this past summer. Check it out for more resources and ideas, and most importantly, links to the software mentioned in today's session.
  2. "What Do We Keep?"" Session Notes - If you want just the links and resources from the blog post above, click here.
  3. Getting Your Students to Compose - Click here to read more about implementing Putting the E in Ensemble and to listen to my interview with Alex Shapiro.
  4. "Develop Performance Skills Remotely" - TMEA Presentation Notes - Some of the videos in today's presentation were taken from my TMEA presentation this past year. Click here to watch the entire thing and receive the session notes.
  5. Making Just Intonation Play-Alongs with Tonal Energy Tuner - Click here to read my blog post about making play-along tracks using the TE Tuner app.

These three podcast episodes also address the subject of using Soundtrap creatively in the performing arts contexts.

What Do We Keep? (Podcast version of the above NAfME post)

Interview with Alex Shapiro about her "Putting the E in Ensemble" Curriculum

3 Soundtrap Projects Your Students Will Love (more Soundtrap ideas for in and outside of the performing arts classroom)

Develop Performance Skills Remotely with Cloud Software - YouTube

Making a Play Along Track - YouTube

Making a Virtual Ensemble Video - YouTube

Ukulele Resources, Pedagogy, and Curriculum

I’m getting ukuleles for my general music classes this year so I thought it would be natural to have past guest Chris Russell on the podcast. He is a technology expert and maker of many online ukulele resources, amongst his many other skills.

I learned a lot talking to him. The conversation was packed with resources for teachers looking to better their ukulele skills so be sure to scroll down and check out all of the resources he mentions on the show, which I have provided links for.

Episode Description

Robby is getting ukeleles to teach general music this year. Chris Russel (tech and ukelele specialist) joins the show to talk about how to get the best use out of them. We also talk about the state of tech in music ed.

Full Topics:

  • Ukelele pedagogy
  • Where to find ukelele resources online
  • How to integrate ukelele and technology
  • The state of technology in music education
  • Apple's App-centric and native approach to education vs. Google's web-centric approach
  • Our favorite apps, albums, and tech tips of the week
  • The tools and process Chris uses to make ukelele play-along videos on his iPad (in the post-show for Patreon subscribers)

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Show Notes:

App of the Week: Robby - Carrot Weather Chris - PDF Expert / TikTok / Vegas Bowling Apple Watch App

Album of the Week: Robby - Squint - Julian Lage Chris - Safe Haven - Ruth B / The Show - Lenka

Where to Find Us: Robby - Twitter | Blog | Book
Chris - Twitter | Websites - Techinmusiced.com / Ukestuff.info

Please don't forget to rate the show and share it with others!

Find Robby elsewhere on the web