2010 Best Tools for Schools

As presented by SBO

The 2010 NAMM Show in Anaheim, California offered music educators a unique opportunity to participate in the music industry convention featuring hundreds of instrument, accessory, and software manufacturers, publishers, dealers, and artists. For the first time, School Band Orchestra, CD’s sister magazine, invited educators to walk the NAMM exhibit halls in search of the most useful products for use in the classroom and with student musicians. Teachers and school administrators in attendance filled out specially designed ballots indicating their top choices in 13 different categories. On Sunday, January 17th, a panel of five educators, along with SBO and CD publisher Rick Kessel, presented the winners of the 2010 Best Tools for Schools.

Best Recording Tool

SoundSoap Pro

Bias’ SoundSoap Pro is an advanced noise reduction and audio restoration program that can remove individual frequencies, eliminating hums, crackles, rumbles, and clicks from a recording.

www.bias-inc.com

Best Tool for Music Theory

Essentials of Music Theory, Vol. 1-3

Essentials of Music Theory, Volumes 1-3 is an all-in-one series that includes concise lessons with short exercises, ear training activities, and reviews. It is available in three separate volumes or as a complete set.

www.alfred.com

Best Notation Tool

Noteflight

Noteflight is an online music writing program that allows users to write, view, print, and hear music notation right in a Web browser.

www.noteflight.com

Best Web Tool

YouTube in Music Education by Tom Rudolph and James Frankel

Noted educators and authors Tom Rudolph and James Frankel have published this handy volume which takes educators on an exploration of how to best utilize YouTube in the classroom and beyond.

www.halleonard.com

Coolest Game

Muzundrum: the Game of Musicians

Muzundrum is a music-theory crossword game featuring 12-sided musical dice that are used to form scales and triads.

www.muzundrum.com

Best Rewards Incentives

AIM Musical Gifts

AIM Musical Gifts offers over 10,000 musical gift items, including music-themed pins, magnets, toys, stickers, and key chains.

www.aimgifts.com

Other Winners

Best Tool for Beginners
Sound Innovations Method Book
www.alfred.com

Best Tool for Intermediates
Guitar and Piano for Dummies, 50 Guitar Licks You Must Know
www.emediamusic.com