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Originally Posted by fingers  Well specifically using it to grade students. He feels that first it is lazy on the part of the teachers to have the students graded by computer and also that computers reduce music to quantitative measures ( cents out of tune, milliseconds in duration) and don't measure nuance and 'feel'. |
That is valid but I haven't heard of one teacher (I am a music ed student) who uses it that grades strictly on what smart music grades. They all require the student to use the record function and send a recording along with the smart music assessment. That way they can assess exactly what you're talking about.
I think its a great tool, one among many, for a teacher. It helps students by giving them some sort of immediate feedback. Also the student can practice with accompaniment every time they practice. Finally, a teacher in a band or orchestra program can lighten his or her load by using it the way I mentioned above.
I think it is in no way meant to replace a teacher when it comes to assessment. Also, I think its a lot more useful to a band or orchestra director than in private lessons. It does have its uses in the private studio, but with weekly lessons it doesn't take too long to be able to hear weaknesses and address them. In the band or orchestra students can get away a lot longer by "hiding" in the ensemble. With some programs having hundreds of kids involved with only one or two teachers at the head, it seems to be a good tool.
It isn't perfect. We use it in many classes and the technology is best for winds and brass, then strings, then percussion and finally voice. I think its primary usefulness is in motivation for the student. If you present the program in a way that the kid perceives it as fun, maybe like a video game, then they'll be motivated to practice. For me that is one of the hardest challenges in being a music teacher. All my opinion.
