Band Methods from HLC and Alfred Embrace Technological Possibilities

“EEi introduces powerful technology tools for online teaching, learning, assessment, and communication, all in a web-based, secure environment that users can access anytime, anywhere, and from any device,” says Lavender, VP of Instrumental Publications, explains. “There is no software to hassle with, and upgrades are automatic. And EEi features an incredible amount of additional web-based content that really complements and expands the printed books.”

The “cloud” aspect is the big news. It gets around the need to load software onto your computer and the complications of different platforms and versions and the like. “And we are expanding to tablets and mobile phones too.” 

Hal Leonard is quick to trumpet the success of their Essential Elements methods launched in 1991 and 1994 (band and strings respectively). As EE’s managing editor and co-author, Lavender says they’ve been the leading methods in the market for decades, as in “the books are being used by thousands of music programs each year.” They’ve kept up with the evolving technology, enhancing their method first with CDs, then DVDs and CD-ROMs. 

But EEi has moved Essential Elements to the next step – or rather maybe even beyond steps up into the cloud. In development for several years and beta tested by education majors at the University of North Texas as well as selected teachers, EEi is now in its first full year of classroom use by teachers and their students and also features a connection for parents. Music programs everywhere are quickly learning about the ease, efficiency and unique benefits EEi has to offer.

Those benefits are many, such as allowing teachers pressed for time to have students continue the curriculum at home. “It really helps the teacher extend their teaching beyond the classroom. For example, the teacher might announce that he or she didn’t get through everything that day, and give an online assignment for page 17, which could include a learning video the teacher has posted. The students could also be assigned to record themselves playing a particular exercise with their favorite background track. After uploading that recording to the secure site, the teacher can listen to it later.”

The online music studio aspect is something Lavender is especially excited about. A professional player performs each exercise, and students can choose from seven different background tracks, which provides additional incentive to practice. Recording is simple, and the student can record five takes, select their favorite, and save it to the EEi cloud. The teacher can then review student recordings on any device and give feedback. “It’s a powerful assessment tool.”

All this interactivity is essentially “free” with the purchase of an Essential Elements book from a music dealer. EEi and all this enhancement is only available if you own the printed book, so our retailers are thrilled about it.”  The director book is $34.99 (strings) or $39.99 (band) and the student books are $8.99. The books still include a CD-ROM with the core audio content, but it’s becoming clear that the ease and depth of EEi will change how audio, video, and other supplemental content is delivered in the future.

There’s also a lot more space up there in the “cloud: “We already have ten times more audio and video in EEi than what was on the discs.” Another advantage is software-based programs require a lot of updating, and there can be kinks depending on what computer, what program, and what system you’re using. “We’re still at the mercy of what web browser is being used, but it’s a minimal problem.” The cloud-based nature of this site allows the EEi Development Team to add new content, videos, and tools for teachers and students, creating the first-ever constantly evolving method book. EEi also allows teachers to upload their own curricular materials to their EEi cloud, incorporating their personal “best practices” with the EEi-provided materials.

Another perk of EEi is the multitude of communication tools, connecting teachers, students, and parents. By incorporating technology and allowing the flow of information to happen intuitively, in a manner that kids today are comfortable with, Hal Leonard hopes to help music programs achieve higher retention rates.

For all their work (they’ve been beta testing for two years), Lavender still sees this as just the beginning. “This is just phase one, and we’ll always be adding new features.” And he sees this as giving them an edge, particularly with teachers and school systems who have invested heavily in technology and in many cases, have provided students with iPads.

Next in EEi’s line-up are Essential Elements books two, three, and four, as well as the Essential Elements series of jazz, guitar, and classroom recorder books.

Kids may not like one part of it, though: “They won’t be able to use the excuse, ‘my dog ate my homework,’ because now it’ll be always uploaded on the site!” he laughs. 

 

 

Andrew Surmani, chief marketing officer of Alfred, first acknowledges what every band director knows: “No matter how much a band director loves a method, somebody is unhappy about something,” he laughs. He proceeds to shout out examples: Why start with this pitch? Why introduce this note value here? Why this song here? “They all think they can do at least a little bit better because, well, they can!”

With the novel ideal of providing a customized band method that allows every director to create and print his or her own version of a method, Sound Innovations was begat. Surmani says it took many years of research with an outside research firm and included focus groups that involved Alfred executives viewing behind a one-way mirror observing educators work through the possibilities. The result is a method that is based on the work of four well-respected authors (Robert Sheldon, Bob Phillips, Peter Boonshaft, and Dave Black).

“Sound Innovations does come in a standard edition, which is the authors’ preferred version,” he explains. “But also available is the ability for the director to make decisions on their own. If you’re tired of some public domain songs, you can add pop songs [for an additional fee]. And you can work with certain genres – we offer Christian, Patriotic, and others.” The full list of genres also includes African American, Alternative Strings America, Classical, Latino, Movie/Broadway, Pop/Rock, and those slanted to Canada and Texas. “The director can even publish a personal note inside the book – words of encouragement or whatever they want.”

The method is set up as a three-tier price point at $9, $11, and $13, and the price is based on whether a director wants the “basic” with no or minimum customization, or wants more pop songs, and up to 32 additional enrichment pages. “In addition, there’s a free disk in every book, but instead of a CD it has mp3 files which allows us to put more music into the students’ hands – basically all the audio examples available.” There’s also a DVD that offers lessons and examples by expert teachers and musicians in a master class setting. 

The book also includes technology from SmartMusic music practicing software. After the band director has built the material to his or her liking on the Sound Innovations section of the Alfred website, it’s digitally printed. The director can then have it shipped through their favorite music store.  Debuted in 2010, Books One through Three are now out, and Book Four will be revealed next month at the Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic. A Class Guitar Standard Edition of Sound Innovations is also now available.