Katy ISD implemented the Music Prodigy tool as its district-wide musical instruction tool this summer. The program gives students immediate feedback, allowing for a shorter learning curve and more efficient use of instruction periods.

By Landan Kuhlmann

With the growth in its music program mirroring the city it sits in, the Katy Independent School District (KISD) now faces the need for advanced technology in all music classrooms.

The Music Prodigy is a new cloud-based assessment and practice tool for musicians. More than 5,000 Katy ISD students can now use any device--computer, tablet or smart phone--to evaluate their instrumental or singing performance.

First introduced to students and instructors this summer, Music Prodigy "listens" to a performer and gives immediate feedback to right and wrong notes.

"The program assesses a student’s performance by highlighting the notes played or sung as correct (green) or incorrect (red) notes and rhythms," said KISD Executive Director of Fine Arts Michael Ouellette. "A report is then sent from the program to the instructor with an assessment of how the student did as well as how long the student practiced assigned materials."

The instructor can also listen to the work completed by the student and provide a typed critique through the tool.

Ouellette said 2014-2015 was the year designated by the state of Texas to adopt new instructional materials for fine arts.

"Each fine arts discipline came together as a team to evaluate all possible resources to be used for the fine arts TEKS-based curriculum," he explained. "After reviewing many sources of textbooks and digital materials, the teachers of all three music disciplines decided Music Prodigy was the most useful and innovative product available."

Rather than purchasing one textbook for uniform use throughout KISD, Ouellette said Music Prodigy allows for diversity in each school by allowing teachers to access multiple sources for materials as well as provide a tool for student self-assessment.

The program can be utilized in any classroom setting, from large group sight reading to individual musical assessment. Ouellette explained that Music Prodigy will streamline the learning and assessment process by creating a more efficient classroom setting.

"It will allow for students to practice and take individual playing tests while the teacher continues to work with a larger group," he said. "The assessment process can be done more efficiently while allowing the teacher to continue working with all students."

Music Prodigy provides two ways of uploading content for student use. There is a marketplace where teachers and students can upload material licensed by publishers, or instructors can create and upload original content.

Beck Junior High band director Brenden Steber said he has chosen to implement soley original content for his students in the early stages of using Music Prodigy.

"In the early going, I have strictly implemented teacher-created content. This includes technique exercises and music etudes," Steber said. "The benefit of uploading original content is that it allows us to tailor each student's learning based upon their needs."

By utilizing Music Prodigy, KISD hopes to bring its students a competitive advantage as well. The program will allow students to practice solo, ensemble and region or state music with immediate responses to correct notes and rhythms. According to Ouellette, the instantaneous feedback equates to a much shorter learning curve for performers.

Steber says his students have already seen an instant impact in their practice time.

"Students are able to drill challenging measures at different tempos with the real-time feedback,” he remarked. “Students can count and clap, count and "position" or even play on their mouthpiece--which is very helpful for pitch recognition for brass players--with the reference playback option."

By correcting the basics through Music Prodigy, Ouellette says students and instructors will be able to advance more quickly into the creative and expressive aspects of the music.

"The program will reduce the amount of time needed to learn a piece of music and allow for every student to master their work,” he explained. “Students will be able to get some of the same feedback they would get from one-on-one sessions with a teacher at any time and for as long as they want."

Ouellette noted that by Music Prodigy will allow instructors the ability to give their students more detailed creative and musical critiques.

"Music Prodigy is truly learner-centered so that a teacher can monitor a student’s progress and advancement on fundamental notes and rhythms," he said.

"The underlying goals in our band program are to develop the individual player and develop the ensemble. We strive to empower the students to take responsibility for their own learning," Steber said. "Music Prodigy will provide the extra set of ears all developing musicians need in their individual practice to achieve these goals."

With Music Prodigy being new for Steber just as it is for his students, he has decided to pilot the program with one of the school’s 7th and 8th grade performing bands.

Based on their feedback on how Music Prodigy best serves their practice needs, Steber says BJH plans to implement the program with all students in grades six through eight.

The KISD Board of Directors approved the implementation of Music Prodigy as its district-wide musical instruction tool at their April 20 meeting.

Original publication: www.YourHoustonNews.com

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