Music Labs 101: What Kind of Music Lab Is Right for You? George F. Litterst PianoBench@gmail.com
Two Important Questions... 1. What are you teaching? 2. How are you going to control sound in the room?
Problems with Sound practicing an instrument bothers other people in the room practicing an instrument bothers other people in the school talking to one student means talking to the entire class
The perfect acoustic space is one in which you only hear what you need to hear.
Some example scenarios... students only hear the teacher students only hear the teacher and their own instrument students only hear their own instrument and their duet partner
There are many kinds of labs... piano-focused general purpose (keyboard skills, theory, notation) music production string/wind/percussion general music
Things that you need Headphone-capable instruments, such as digital pianos or MIDI keyboards Audio control system, such as the Yamaha LC3 Teacher computer or ipad Projector Student computers or ipads Appropriate software
ipads in the Classroom
ipad (ios) or Android or Another Type of Tablet? Apple (ios) commands the largest share of the tablet market. Many more quality music apps available for ios than other platforms. MIDI is particularly well supported on ios and not so well on other platforms. These differences may narrow in the future.
How will you use an ipad in the classroom? There are many things to consider!
Scenario 1: Teacher Has an ipad How does the teacher project the ipad screen for the class to see? Can this be done wirelessly? How does the teacher use the ipad interactively with the teacher s digital piano? Can students interact with the teacher s ipad from their seats?
Scenario 2: Teacher Has a Computer Can the teacher control computer software wirelessly from the ipad? Can the teacher user the ipad as a secondary monitor for a computer? Why would the teacher want to use the ipad as a secondary monitor?
Scenario 3: Each Student Has an ipad How do the students connect an ipad to their keyboards? Are there any advantages to connecting the student ipads to the student keyboards? Does the ipad promote independent study on the part of the students?
Other ipad Issues How do the teacher and/or the students manage files on the ipad? Which apps facilitate creative teaching? Which apps engage the students? How should the room be wired?
Best Way to Project an ipad (or other ios device) Wirelessly Connect Mac or PC to projector or monitor. Make sure computer and ios device are on the same network. Run Reflector on the Mac or PC www.airsquirrels.com/reflector or AirServer on Mac or PC www.airserverapp.com Turn on AirPlay with mirroring on the ios device.
To Turn on AirPlay... Swip upwards from the bottom of your ios device s screen. Tap the AirPlay button and choose your computer. Be sure to turn on mirroring.
The AirPlay Feature... sends audio to the selected AirPlay device (i.e. your computer running Reflection or AirServer or to your AppleTV). mirrors your ios screen if you turn on the mirroring option. NOTE: The mirroring option is not available on the original ipad nor on the early iphones and ipod touches.
Alternative Way to Project an ipad Wirelessly Connect AppleTV to projector or monitor with HDMI cable. Make sure AppleTV and the ios device are on the same network. Turn on AirPlay with mirroring on the ios device.
ipad as Wireless, Montitor/ Touchscreen for Computer Install Air Display on both computer and ios device. www.avatron.com Activate Air Display on both devices. Use Air Display on computer to select the desired ios device.
MIDI Connections for ios Devices There are several ways to connect a technologyequipped piano to an ios device. Choose your cables accordingly: 1. Get an appropriate cable to connect to either the USB MIDI port of the piano or the MIDI In and MIDI Out ports. 2. If the other end of the cable does not plug directly into your ipad, get the necessary adapter(s).
MIDI Keyboard USB device cable Option 1 Connect the piano and ipad using USB cables and ipad camera kit adapters (using the dock or lightning type as appropriate). Dock connector Lightning connector
MIDI Keyboard Yamaha i-ux1 MIDI interface Option 2 Connect the piano s USB MIDI port to the ipad using an ios MIDI interface, such as the Yamaha i-ux1. Lightning adapter may be necessary.
MIDI Keyboard Option 3 Connect the piano s MIDI ports to the ipad using an ios MIDI interface, such as the Yamaha i-mx1. Yamaha i-mx1 MIDI interface Lightning adapter may be necessary.
MIDI Keyboard Option 4 Connect the piano s MIDI ports to the ipad using a traditional USB MIDI interface, such as the Yamaha UX16. Yamaha UX16 MIDI interface Dock connector A camera kit adapter will be necessary. Lightning connector
App MIDI Settings Make sure that your app knows to receive MIDI input from your piano and/or to send MIDI data to your piano. HINT #1: Look for the Gear icon and choose your MIDI Input and Outputs. HINT #2: Your keyboard must be plugged in and turned on before clicking the Gear icon.