Are you one of the over-sixty percent of music educators who doesn’t use music technology?  Maximizing the potential of software is a high priority in the business world. Fortune500 companies frequently budget as much for technology training as they do for software purchases.  In the education world, this still is rarely the case and, consequently, the technology expectations are nowhere near the high level found in the business world.  It is true that we may have a few strikes against us with budget constraints, lack of qualified trainers, and now technical support no longer available at toll-free phone numbers. 

The solution comes in the form of third-party tutorial books, on-line how-to guides, and DVDs. These tools are readily available and offer in-depth instruction using the software products in the classroom and home. It’s time to build your confidence, and these resources are designed to do just that. Your students will readily absorb this instruction, especially for the more complex sequencing applications.

This installment will introduce specific sequencing applications; MIDI, sequencing, and recording instruction; books on ear training, multimedia, recording studio, and music marketing; on-line tutorials for most areas of music education; podcasting; and copyright information. And best of all, the DVD tutorials are perfect for class presentations, and a wealth of free on-line tutorials are available for 24/7 instruction both in and outside of class. Also, YouTube [www.youtube.com] and MySpace [www.myspace.com] are becoming good resources for finding free music technology tutorials for your students.

More Sequencers
Cubase 4 Tutorial DVD Levels 1, 2 and 3 by Steve Kostrey, published by ASK Video, 2007 [ www.askvideo.com ].

This video tutorial is a must for every Cubase user, whether you’re just starting out or a seasoned pro. A unique narrator adds a personal touch introducing each of the 97 videos tutorials in over 7 hours of exceptional instruction. And the video and audio quality are excellent. Although made for Cubase 4, it’s also good for Cubase LE, Cubase AI, Cubase SX3 and Nuendo users.

Cubase SX 3.0, beginning level published by BCI Media and distributed by Hal Leonard Corp, 2007 [ www.halleonard.com ].
This 104-minute DVD focuses on getting you up and running with the Cubase interface and feature set. The topics covered include how to record audio and MIDI, working with the Arpeggiator and building up an arrangement by duplicating and layering racks. Details include the on-board mixer, and how to create and route effects to your tracks.

MIDI Editing in Cubase by Steve Pacey, published by Thomson Course Technology [www.courseptr.com], distributed by Hal Leonard Corp, 2007.
MIDI editing is complicated but important to know. Cubase makes it easy with excellent editing capabilities. With the Skill Pack source files found on the book’s companion CD, you’ll learn skills taught through hands-on exercises that range from entry to expert level. Topics include how to edit MIDI notes and events, using MIDI effects, creating a MIDI score, quantizing MIDI and how to export your MIDI as digital audio and as a MIDI file.

Pro Tools Tutorial DVD Three-Pack published by ASK Video, 2006/2007.
This video set is a must-have for Pro Tools users with 85 videos in seven hours of instruction. Level 1 has 29 videos, level 2 has 29 videos, and level 3 has 27 videos. Highlights of level 1 include audio editing, automation, bussing, setup and recording. Level 2 highlights include dynamics, looping audio, loop recording and mixing. Level 3 features advanced audio editing, advanced MIDI editing, side chaining, tips and tricks.

Pro Tools published by Thomson Course Technology.
This publication offers a comprehensive approach to the fundamentals of Pro Tools HD, Pro Tools LE, or Pro Tools M-Powered. It focuses on building multi-track recordings of live instruments, MIDI sequences, software synthesizers and samplers, and audio looping with REX files with hands-on tutorials, and developing essential techniques for recording, editing and mixing. An included DVD-ROM features tutorials files and videos, plug-in installers and Pro Tools sessions.

Pro Tools LE 7, beginning level published by BCI Media and distributed by Hal Leonard Corp., 2007.
This 100-minute, easy-to-use beginning guide to Pro Tools shows you everything you need to know to take your song from start to finish using the hardware and software components of the system. Specifically, you’ll learn how to set up your Pro Tools studio, how to work the Mbox and similar audio interfaces, how to use the entire Pro Tools LE 7 feature set, integrating the FXpansion VST to RTAS adaptor, recording audio and MIDI into Pro Tools LE 7, mixing audio and MIDI using real-time effects and exporting your song to a master recording.

Sonar 6 Power! by Scott R. Garrigus, published by Thomson Course Technology.
A comprehensive guide that picks up where the manual leaves off, teaching you how to dig deep into the program with step-by-step examples and exercises. From initially customizing Sonar 6 to creating and producing a surround sound mix, you’ll learn just about everything you need to know to make your composing and recording sessions run smoothly. It really gets into audio and MIDI effects and how to use them in offline and real-time situations. For more content, go to the companion Web site [ www.courseptr.com/downloads ].

Books on MIDI, Sequencing, Recording
Alfred’s Music Tech Series, Book 1: Playing Keyboard by Tom Rudolph, Floyd Richmond, Stenfani Langol, and Lee Whitemore, published by Alfred Publishing, 2007 [ www.alfred.com ].

This book is designed for late elementary to high school students who are learning the piano in a group-lab setting. You will like how it integrates a variety of performance activities to enhance the learning process and includes challenging activities for students who have more advanced playing experience. Its five units include progressive and supplemental activities for practice and reinforcement, and the topics left-and right-hand melody, two-hand melody, C and G7 chords with the left hand, improvise percussion parts, C, F and G7 chords with the left hand, and variations of 12-bar blues progression.

Ear Training
Performing Ear by Tomasz Spiewak and Jenni Hillman, distributed by Rising Software [ www.risingsoftware.com ].

The Performing Ear is a resource book of practical aural exercises that augments the already comprehensive Auralia ear training application (distributed in the USA by Sibelius) for classroom, music studio, or personal use. It is the only in-depth resource that properly aligns with an ear training software program. Its 178 pages are divided into four broad categories: rhythm, intervals and scales, pitch and melody, and chords. Since it is a collection of resources, the teacher can choose exercises from all parts of the book at any one time. There is a wealth of instruction for daily classroom instruction and practice. The teacher’s guide and sample curriculum help implement a progressive and cumulative aural program that matches the enormous scope of Auralia’s 41 topics and 10 levels.

Music Technology Curriculum
Technology Guide for Music Educators edited by Scott Watson, published by Artist Publishing.

This great resource for music educators is clearly organized into six core technology areas that teachers need to be competent in as they teach music in the 21st century. These areas are: electronic musical instruments; music production; music notation software; technology-assisted learning; multimedia and productivity tools; and classroom and lab management. Highly recommended for music educators at all levels of instruction.

Getting Started in Computer Music by Mark Nelson, published by Thomson Course Technology, 2007.
This must-have publication for newbies gets you started from scratch, covering just about everything needed for entry-level music technologists. This is not a technical or operational manual, but rather an introduction to applications that can be used to create, learn, perform, manipulate, write, and record music. Its contents range from buying and setting up computers to choosing music software, determining audio hardware needs, recording at home, selecting and using microphones, and getting the best sound from a setup.

Musicianship in the Digital Age by Brent Edstrom, published by Thomson Course Technology, 2006.
Music making is changing rapidly and this book will help you keep up. It explains technological concepts and provides insights into how to use technology to create music. Organized in three parts, the first of which covers the technical aspects of music production such as setting up a project studio, using computers and MIDI, sequencing digital audio recording, synthesis, loop-based production, and computer-aided notation. Part 2 covers relevant musical concepts such as chords and scales, the linear process, creating bass and drum grooves, keyboarding techniques, music composition, arranging and orchestration. Part 3 features scores and an audio CD with commentary detailing both the musical and technique aspects of each production.

Multimedia
Camtasia Studio 3 by Daniel Park, published by Wordware Publishing, X [www.wordware.com]. 

Camtasia Studio is an industry-leading screen video recording and editing tool for the PC platform. This publication starts at the beginning of the process with developing goals and determining the core audience, and proceeds to story boarding, recording, editing and production. It is appropriate for users at all levels and comes with a companion CD with a trail version of Camtasia Studio along with data files to help complete the chapter exercises.

Recording Studio
Mixing With The Pros by James Tuttle, published by ASK Video, 2006.

Learn EQs, compressors, limiters, reverbs, delays, amp simulators, automation, and mastering plug-ins; all of which are used to craft a mix that has charity, depth, punch, pop, and sizzle. It is great to see how to mix as a whole rather than simply through independent techniques. The concepts in this tutorial can be applied to any software or hardware-based effect unit. These 36 videos also highlight guitar delay, organ distortion, radio voice and wet/dry comparison.

The Everything Home Recording Book by Marc Schonbrun, published by Adams Media, 2004 [ www.everything.com ].
This book is a great primer for setting up a home recording studio. It covers the essentials of four-track to digital and more, and teaches what it takes to be literate in designing and using a home studio. The vocabulary is simplified, making it easy to become conversant with four-track and digital recording with microphones and the necessary equipment as well as how to tweak sound, mix and master it, and more. It uses Cubase to explain operating procedures. Users will like the kindness with which it introduces newcomers to music technology.

Marketing Your Music
MySpace for Musicians by Frances Vincent, published by Thomson Course Technology and distributed by Hal Leonard, 2007.

MySpace is one of the most popular sites on the Internet today. This book is written for every band, soloist, side musician, record label, publisher, music manager, and entertainment-affiliated company who wants to use MySpace to its fullest potential. This publication is a unique marketing tool for musicians.

Online Tutorials
Free online tutorials that provide 24/7 instruction with articles and step-by-step tutorials. Finale, Sonar, Cubase, GarbageBand and Pro Tools have the most on-line tutorials. To find on-line tutorials for your favorite software applications, search Google, with “free online tutorial Sonar” as an example. You will find many free Sonar tutorial videos at My Space and YouTube. Here are some examples for Finale.

The Finale School - Free video tutorials online for notation and sequencing, with an excellent Web site [ www.northernsounds.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52909 ].

Finale NotePad 2006 Review and Tutorial - Music Composition Studio gives you a better understanding of how to input notes into Finale Notepad [ www.music-composition-studio.com/finale-notepad-2006-review-and-tutorial.html ].

How to Create Finale Practice Files by Tom Rudolph [ metmagazine.com/tutorials/creating_finale_practice ]. Take advantage of Finale’s powerful scoring program to prepare practice tracks for your students.