Use of Music Technology Software in Junior and Senior Cycle

Finale Notepad  is an example of a free notational program that many teachers and students use, and like Sibelius, it has a lot to offer in its simplicity of use. Even though Notepad does not open or save as midi files (it saves as its own file format but paying for the upgrade provides midi functionality) it still possesses all the tools for even the most complex of music notation tasks. As it can be downloaded free from the Finale website, it has the advantage of students being able to use it at home without any cost while still meeting the music technology requirements at Leaving Cert. It is Windows and Mac compatible.
   

Cakewalk music software such as Cakewalk Express, Music Creator and Sonar Home Studio 4 has proved popular with music teachers and while they may not be dedicated notational packages, they still provide enough notational functions to cover the current requirements for the Leaving Cert music technology exam. The three Cakewalk packages mentioned are examples of sequencers and they have the advantage of being able to record external analogue sounds such as the voice using a microphone, electric guitars etc…in a multitrack recording environment. They also provide a virtual mixer to balance instrument volumes, add panning, equalisation, effects and save the performances as wave files. You can also write music on a virtual stave, play it back, and change the pitch, tempo, and instrument. Students can connect a midi keyboard to the computer and record their performances track by track, download midi backing tracks from the internet and permanently delete the lead instrument line so that students are left with a backing track that they can transpose and edit to their own requirements. These backing tracks have become a valuable resource for schools as they can be accessed and edited quickly by students for junior and leaving cert practicals not to mention school concerts. Prices range from around ¤80 to ¤150 for the entry level versions.
   

Keyboard

Ejay is another piece of software that has been very well received not only by teachers but by students too. It’s an ideal program for post-primary students to start with when it comes to composition and creating a piece of music. Students can combine musical instruments such as drums, bass, and keyboards and add chords and melodies to a song, in a very easy to use interface. Ejay has the advantage of using modern music as its medium which makes it very appealing to all students at post-primary level. Students encounter dance and hip-hop music styles and can build complete tunes using samples and simple drag and drop principles. Developing musical concepts such as structure, dynamics, pulse, texture and style can be addressed with this program from first year onwards. Ejay can also be used as a stand alone multi-track recorder to record student’s voices or instruments using a microphone and layer them with other sounds. The resulting compositions can then be saved and uploaded to a school website or integrated in to a PowerPoint presentation as many schools have done. Some schools have recorded their compositions on to CD, designed the artwork for the CD sleeve and sold them to raise funds for their schools as transition year projects. These same files can now be used for podcasting which has become a very popular activity or to accompany dance routines or PE exercises. There are quite a few versions of Ejay to choose from ranging from ¤29.99 to ¤79.99 and with the newer editions providing more features each year it can make a considerable contribution to composition and understanding certain musical concepts.
   

Read Teachers' Evaluations of software mentioned in this article.

Evaluation   Finale Notepad  Cakewalk Ejay
<< previous 1 2 3 next >>

NCTE Use of this site is subject to our copyright notice, privacy & security policy