Abstract
As technological access continues to expand, teachers are expected to use the technology available to enhance learning in all classrooms. This article discusses three technological options for staff notation that are free, easy to use, and produce a quality end product.
Keywords
Technology is constantly and rapidly developing for all, and educational field is not an exception. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the goal of the Office of Educational Technology is to have 99% of American students connected to “next-generation broadband in their schools by 2018” (U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Technology, n.d.). Herold (2016) states that U.S. schools provide one computer for every five students, with schools spending over 3 billion dollars in educational content. More than 23 million devices were purchased in 2013 and 2014, primarily iPads and Chromebooks, and standardized testing was technologically administered more than it was traditionally administered using pencil and paper during the 2015–2016 academic year (Herold, 2016). As technological access continues to expand, teachers are expected to use the technology available to enhance learning. Teachers respond to this challenge by searching for inexpensive, yet reliable options for use in the classroom.
One software typically used in the music classroom is notation software. Notation software can be an investment for an individual, with a new Finale academic subscription priced at $350. Sibelius offers a monthly subscription of $8.25 for up to a year or a perpetual license for educators costing $299. However, these are individual pricing and do not include licensing for multiple devices in the classroom. It can be challenging to find inexpensive to free options for notation software that works as well as the paid versions. The options listed below are the result of Google searches and many conversations with college students. Based on students’ testimonials and some Web exploration, here are three options to consider.
Finale NotePad
NotePad must be downloaded onto a device; although available for both Mac and PC, this software is not tailored toward mobile devices such as iPads or Smartphones. For those familiar with Finale, NotePad looks very similar. The primary differences between the paid version of Finale and NotePad include the amount of tools available and the ease of use. Although interactions are similar for adding notes and rests, adding measures, and other common functions, it is essentially impossible to add a staff into an existing composition or change the instrument names attached to each staff. Those who are familiar with the full version of Finale may find these shortfalls frustrating. However, NotePad is very quick and fairly easy to use. A student who is writing a 16-measure composition could easily compose, playback, and edit the composition. Because there are fewer tools, the focus is on composition and playback. If another staff becomes needed to enhance the composition, it is possible to copy and paste existing notation into a new file with the correct number of staff. The only version of this software available is the 2012 version. It is unknown how frequently updates are available. An online handbook is available on the Finale website with detailed instructions.
MuseScore
Similar to NotePad, MuseScore is also available for either Mac or PC and must be downloaded to the device. This means the software is also not available and/or tailored toward mobile devices such as iPads or Smartphones. There is a MuseScore app available for $1.99; however, it can only open scores from MuseScore and has no notational capabilities. MuseScore is known as an “open-source” project, which means the source code (i.e., the code used to create the software) is made available for others to modify. Hence, anyone with the ability or interest to make changes or contribute to MuseScore can do so in an effort to develop the software further. MuseScore has premade score options available, all of which can be adjusted quickly and easily to different specifications if needed. There are many tools available, but the labels are fairly intuitive. Minimal instruction would be needed for basic notation entry. Once note input has begun, it is still possible to move staff order and add additional staff. Music created with MuseScore can be shared with the rest of the MuseScore community, but it is not required to do so. An online handbook is available on the MuseScore website with detailed instructions and pictures to show how to use the software efficiently.
Noteflight
Noteflight is a Web-based notation platform, meaning it can be accessed with any device that has an Internet connection, including mobile devices. My initial interest in Noteflight hinged on being able to access the program from both my laptop and my iPad. Noteflight is slightly more intuitive on a laptop compared to an iPad. Interactions on a laptop are similar to the other notation programs described above. A mouse can be used quickly to input and move notes on the staff; an on-screen keyboard is also available for note input if preferred. Many tools are available to add staff as necessary, which can be done at any point in the project. An on-screen keyboard is used to input notes on the staff on a mobile device. It is not possible to use a finger to input notes for small touchscreen devices, but it may be possible to use an Apple Pencil or stylus of some type if available. Similar to MuseScore, scores can be shared online if wanted, but it is not a requirement to do so. However, all users must have an online account opened prior to creating a new score on Noteflight. An online handbook is available on the Noteflight website with detailed instructions and pictures to show how to use this platform as well.
With the expansion of technological access, many tools are available to enhance student learning in the classroom. Sometimes finding the right tool can be a challenge. Hopefully the information above opens possibilities and provides additional opportunities for students to interact with music and technology in the music classroom.
Footnotes
Declaration of Conflicting Interests
The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Funding
The author(s) received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.