Creative Practicing:
With Automatic Accompaniment Generating Software/Hardware Applications
by John Kuzmich, Jr. with Special Assistance From
Dave Hawley of MakeMusic
February 18, 2006 at 3 p.m.
Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas
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 |
Prominent Features New In Band-In-A-Box 2006
Special Jazz Ear Training Options with Band In-A-Box at: http://www.kuzmich.com/handouts/Band_In_A_Box.html
- 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.
Finale 2006 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 2006. 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 - 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. You can use the program's 12 jazz styles to create variations by mixing styles, writing bass pedals, transposing measures, using turnarounds and writing blank fills. Then you can export your song as a standard MIDI file and open it in a notation program mto create and print out parts; turn the song into a digital audio file; and burn it onto a CD for student practice. Five excellent tutorials in the user's manual. For an on-line tutorial, go to: http://www.kuzmich.com/handouts/MiBACJazz.html.
MiBAC Jazz Features
- MiBAC JAZZ generates an authentic sounding jazz rhythm section, based on chords you type into the program
- 12 jazz styles available. All styles have a high quality "swing" feel in the generated accompaniments.
- The program ages well. There is enough variety and enough swing feel to keep the accompaniments "fresh" after years of use.
- Easy to use. A lot of power is hidden behind a clear and uncluttered user interface.
- Flexible song forms. Songs can use an intro of up to 16 measures, a chorus of up to 96 measures that can be repeated multiple times, and a coda of up to 16 measures. The total number of measures counting repeats is 480.
- The accompaniments are varied. You can write a 12 bar blues with 40 choruses, and all 40 choruses will be different.
- Mix and match styles. You can change from Swing to Latin (or other style) anywhere in the song. You can have the piano, bass, and drums each play in a different style.
- Transpose individual measures or choruses. It would be possible to write a 12 bar blues with each chorus moving up a half step, or each chorus modulating through the circle of fifths.
- Turn off any instrument at any point in the song.
- Use the play multiple songs feature to load up to 10 songs to be played sequentially. Press the space bar to stop the current song. Continue your class lecture. Press the space bar again to play the next song. Great for working on ii-V's in different keys and rhythms.
- Export songs as standard MIDI files
- Print lead sheets; turn songs into digital audio files and burn them onto a CD for student practice.
- Note: the jazz plug-in found in Finale is basically a limited version of MiBAC JAZZ (e.g. fewer jazz styles in the plug-in than in the complete program).
- 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.
"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
- 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.
- 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.
- Brand new sound engine which has the most realistic slowed down music and clarity on very slow speeds. All percentages of slow down (no limit to how slow) and speed up (up to 2x) supported. Slows the music down/up keeping the same pitch.
- Note grabber. You can now focus on single notes or chords within a larger section you are transcribing.
- Remember functions. You can remember various sections or notes/chords for later review. These sections can be named .
- Many useful features for playing along with slowed down music and/or learning a part directly from ones instrument. Too much to explain in one post.
- Many methods for controlling slow down (or speed up of music). You can type in exact amounts, change the current setting by percentages, 1%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 50%. You can create your own presets or use our built in presets.
- Transpose up/down by semitones and/or cents.
- Continuation of our popular method of selection and modification of loops.
- Vocal/Lead eliminator. This will substantially reduce the lead instrument/vocal on most stereo pop recordings. A more advanced version than in version 1.2. Great when you are trying to figure out a background part.
- Left/Right balance and mixing adjustment for best clarity.
- Fretted instrument control (windows only). Define any imaginable fretted instrument, # strings, tuning, doubling of strings (i.e. 12 string or mandolin), capo, bending notes, muted strings, chord creation, chord plucking, strumming, arpeggiating. Use this to try out chords, tunings, and such while transcribing. In conjunction with the notegrabber, you can quickly use this to figure out the exact voicing. We have a large set of predefined instruments but you can create and save your own.
- Keyboard Control (windows only). Define keyboards with any number of keys or select from our predefined set. Play chords. In conjunction with the note grabber this can easily be used to zero in on the proper voicing.
- Staff Control (windows only). Create one or two staffs. Define default key center and deal with transposition. This can be used to check notes or chords against concert pitch. Very intuitive and easy to use interface.
- MP3 import. (windows only though soon on mac).
- Support for machines with multiple CD players/sound cards.
- Built-in CD ripper (windows only).
- Adjust playback quality to coincide with machine strength.
- Alternate slowdown for old machines
- 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.
- Superscope PSD 300 and PSD 340 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. The PSD 340 offers more creative practicei options. Go to: http://www.superscopetechnologies.com/products/psd340/index.shtml. For PSD 340 feature enhancements over the PSD 300, go to: http://www.kuzmich.com/handouts/Buyersguide.pdf. PSD 340 Features: Recording
- Record directly to CD-R or CD-RW discs as easily as using a tape recorder, but with professional results.
- One-button recording and instant review makes it easy to record and immediately listen to the last recorded track.
- Mix live recording with CD accompaniment in real-time. Reverb and delay help match room ambience with CDs.
- Two fully independent drives for simultaneous playback and recording and spot duplication
- Copy just a few beats or measures of a song from a CD.
- 15dB mic input attenuator and automatic record level switch.
- Built-in 48V Phantom Power.
- Mix/Split/Stereo recording
- 4 position headphone/speaker selector allows for monitoring of the audio in 4 different locations within the unit
- Independent Aux Input and Line Output controls
- 3 independent duplication modes
Rehearsal
- Plays CD, CD-R, CD-RW, CD-MP3 and CD+G discs (text/graphics can be sent to a CD+G decoder box)
- Change the tempo of any music CD or MP3 file on disc in real time -75% to +50%.
- Change key as much as an octave up or down in half steps. Also fine tune CD accompaniment to match your instrument.
- Select A-B practice loops or record a part of a song.
- Remotely control record, volume, balance and all music manipulations.
- Chromatic tuner and 440Hz tone.
- Metronome with accent beat.
- Create customized music accompaniment CDs.
- Reduce lead vocals from CDs to create singing accompaniments.
- Program a playlist
- Record segments of tracks for producing looping practice recordings
- Record soloist with play-along recordings
- Use this portable system to: Record live direct to blank CD-R (write once) or CD-RW (rewritable) discs. (Listen to a recording made on the Superscope PSD300)
- Plug microphones directly into the unit for stereo recording without the need for a separate mic preamp and mixer. Or use the built-in microphone.
- Play any music CD and manipulate the key and tempo, create practice loops, or reduce lead vocal tracks all on the fly.
- Plug instruments or microphones into the PSD300 and mix live musicians with CD accompaniment including innovative CD manipulation controls.
- Record the mix to the CD-R/RW drive. You can use data/computer discs instead of the more expensive consumer music discs.
- Duplicate CDs at 2X speed.
- Convert a CD to half speed as a duplication option. Each note will be exactly one octave lower, at half the speed. A great tool for music transcribers.
CD Player Features
- Change key in musical half steps as much as an octave (Also features simultaneous key and tempo change)
- Change tempo -33% to +50% without changing key
- Reduce lead vocals
- Create A-B practice loops
CD Recording Features
- Built-in microphone and speaker
- Stereo XLR & 1/4” mic/line inputs
- Programmable mic/line EQ and filtering
- Automatic record level control
- Computer CD-R/RW disc compatible
- Convert to half speed
- Superscope PSD 230 CD Playback Systems
. 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:
- Voice reduction for vocalist practice
- Built-in speaker with on/off switch and volume control
- Digital output (RCA jack)
- AC adaptor
- Infrared remote eye (hand held remote optional)
- CD-Text read capability
- Left/Right balance control
- 3 band EQ controls
- Mix/split for instrument or mic play-along
- Mic/Line input is XLR and ¼" input (vs. ¼" and 1/8")
- Analog output is RCA stereo jacks (vs. 1/8")
- Headphone output is ¼" (vs. 1/8")
- Other factors for you to consider are ease of use, range of key & tempo control, and accuracy of key & tempo for all types of instruments.
- Superscope PSD 220 CD Playback System
. Web: http://www.superscopetechnologies.com/products/PSD220/index.shtml. The PSD220 portable CD Player provides great sound output and these specialized music practice features:
- Professional tempo control only
- CD player with many of the Superscope features mentioned above (3 band EQ
controls- Built-in speaker with on/off switch and volume control
- Professional outputs, and remote control capability
- Alesis PlayMate Guitarist. Web: http://www.alesis.com/products/PlayMateGuitarist/about.html
- Full-range guitar effects processor with 80 editable multi-effects
- Play guitar along with your CDs, in any key, at any tempo
- Built-in CD player with independent control over key, pitch, and tempo
- Transpose music ±7 semitones, or half-steps
- Fine-adjust pitch ±8% to tune music to your guitar
- Adjust tempo from 50% to 150%
- Hi-Z 1/4" guitar input
- 1/4" stereo direct input (bypasses effects processing)
- 1/4" stereo line output
- Two 1/4" headphone outputs
- Guitar/CD balance control
- Easy looping of song sections
- Compatible with CD, CDR, and CDRW discs
- Internal power supply
- Alesis PlayMate Vocalists. Web: http://www.alesis.com/products/PlayMateVocalist/about.html
- Alesis Playmate Vocalist: Reduces vocals from any CD
- CD player built in
- Sing to all your favorite music that you already own
- Never buy a specialty karaoke CD again
- Adjust the pitch of the music without affecting tempo
- Transpose music ±7 semitones (or half-steps)
- Adjust pitch ±8%
- Sing in key that is optimal for your range
- Practice singing in different keys
- Adjust the tempo of the music without affecting pitch
- Adjust the tempo of the music from 50% to 150%
- Practice singing in different tempos
- Change the mood of the music
- 32 high-quality DSP algorithms built in
- Add reverb to your vocals to match the ambiance of the music
- Try different vocal effects
- Flexible connectivity
- One microphone input
- Two headphone outputs
- Balanced line outputs
- Tascam CD-VT1, CD-GT1 and CD-BT1. Web: http://www.tascam.com/Products/CD-VT1.html
- Cue button automatically returns you to the last playback starting point
- Roland CD2: CD/CF Recording System at: http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.aspx?ObjectId=711 . Professional quality that can record audio and make CDs to present a performance or composition for evaluation, to advance your playing skills with the help of high-tech learning tools .
- Stereo recorder for creating audio CDs
- Record direct to CD or store to Compact Flash
- Effects for guitar, vocals, and mastering
- 2 XLR inputs, built-in stereo mic and speakers
- Practice tools with tempo/key change, tuner, and metronome
- 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.
- 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.
- Music Minus One Corporation. Web: http://wwwmusicminusone.com. Created the play-along market in 1950 and now offers more than 835+ jazz play-alongs. Categories of play-alongs include: top 40's, film scores, jazz/fusion, rock/funk, and pop/country. Includes a compact disc featuring a complete version, and a "minus" version of each piece with removable click-track on one channel; and music book.
- Alfred Publications: Web: http://www.alfred.com. Offers a variety of play-alongs for band and string players
- Fiddlers Philharmonic by Bob Phillips and Andrew Dabczynski. Books and Play along CD. No software
- Fiddlers Philharmonic Encore! by Bob Phillips and Andrew Dabczynski. Books and Play along CD. No software. Not a second level. Just another set of fiddling materials.
- Jazz Philharmonic by Randy Sabien and Bob Phillips. Books and Play along CD
- Jazz Philharmonic Second Set. by Randy Sabien and Bob Phillips. Books and Play along CD
- MasterTracks (Blues, Jazz, Latin and Fusion)
Alfred SoloTracks Dixieland- Gordon Goodwin Big PHAT Band and CD.
- Theodore Presser Company. Web: http://www.presser.com. Offers an excellent Klezmer play-along for wind and string players by Yale Strom.
- Mel Bay Music. Web: http://www.melbaymusic.com. The Jazz Fiddle Wizard by Martin Norgaard has 188 excellent jazz play-along tracks for string player
- Paul Carman Music. Web :http://www.paulcarman.com/ (to hear audio examples, order discs or order downloads) and 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:
- Vol: 2 - 3/4 Straight Ahead Swing: Now available
- Vol: 3- 5/4 and 7/4 Straight Ahead Swing: Now available only as a download
- Vol: 4 - 7/4 Straight Ahead Swing
- Vol: 5 - 4/4 Latin (featuring a 3 piece latin percussion section)
- Vol: 6 - 6/8 Afro-Cuban
- Vol: 7 - 4/4 Hip Hop
- Vol: 8 - 3/4 Hip Hop
- Vol: 9 - 4/4 Funk Vol: 10 - 4/4 Free Jazz (where's 1?)
For more information: contact John Kuzmich, Jr. at jkuzmich@earthlink.net