FEATURE ARTICLE: Look Inside the Box - Tips for Using Band-in-a-Box Software With Beginning Instrumental Music Students

By Susan E. Basalik

Have you ever found yourself:

• Needing accompaniments in keys other than those found in a method book?
• Lacking space in your classroom for a piano?
• Wishing that you were free to work with each student instead of being an accompanist?
• Trying to quickly adapt accompaniments to fit your students' abilities?
• Looking for a means to give practice materials to all of your students?

One piece of computer software can easily solve all the challenges listed above. This software, Band-in-a-Box by PG Music, offers a quick and easy way to create accompaniments. Band-in-a-Box is a unique program, although it has many features found in notation and sequencing software. Notational features include the ability to create lead sheets where melodies can be placed over chords. Sequencing features include the abilities to create and playback fully orchestrated accompaniments using general MIDI and to record a solo track along with accompaniment by means of using a MIDI compatible instrument attached to a computer's soundcard or a microphone attached to a computer's line-in jack. Band-in-a-Box can be used by any kind of musician and for any type of musical situation. The premise of Band-in-a-Box is that combo accompaniments (i.e piano, bass, drums, etc.) can be composed quickly by creating a list of harmonies that are found in your music. Harmonies are entered by using a computer keyboard. You are free to choose the accompaniment instruments. Band-in-a-Box supports General MIDI a standardized set of 128 computer generated sounds. I've been using Band-in-a-Box as a means of creating accompaniments for my beginning string students. Allow me to show you how Band-in-a-Box has helped my beginner students become more enthusiastic about playing their instruments.

My students are beginners. Can I really use Band-in-a-Box with them?

The answer is an absolute yes. In 1998 my colleague, Maryellen Caldwell, and I developed a book for our beginning string students (most of whom are third graders) to use during their first year of lessons. Our approach with beginning string students incorporates elements of Suzuki, Kodaly and Gordon's learning theory. We developed a repertoire of short, easy rote songs for our beginners to learn and perform. We teach our students to play rote songs on all four strings so we need accompaniments that could be easily transposed. Our beginner classes are also rather large; we sometimes see as many as eight students in a 3O minute lesson. Sitting behind a piano to accompany is not always practical when working with a large group of students whose level of ability and commitment (read 'practice time') are varied. The "standard accompaniment" keys and tempi of method books may not ensure success for the very beginner student. The beauty of using Band-in-a-Box during lessons is that tempo and key can be easily adjusted by clicking the mouse. My students have offered me valuable input regarding the accompaniments that I have created for them. As their levels of proficiency have increased, I have been able to adjust accompaniments accordingly I am also now more able to offer individual reminders about intonation tone, etc. because I am free from accompaniment responsibilities. Accompaniment files are also excellent means for preparing repertoire for school district wide concerts. Our beginning students will perform their first formal concert in April and all of them will now be able to practice the accompaniment tempi and keys that will be used in performance. My students often say to me "Could we play along with the computer today, please and can we play the song differently?"

How else can I use this software?

Why not let your students do some arranging with it? As your students become more proficient, allow them to choose the tempo or style of the accompaniment. Let them tell you why they've made their choices. My students are delighted when I ask them for input regarding style. Enter a twelve-measure blues pattern and teach your students how to improvise with the pattern. My students are preparing to perform C Jam Blues in an upcoming concert. We're practicing improvising very easy melodic and rhythmic patterns over a blues accompaniment. Even my shyest students are now enjoying playing for others. Use of Band-in-a-Box will enable your lessons to achieve many of the National Standards for Music Education. Standards One, Two, Three, Four, Six and Seven are easily met when using this program.

My students want the folks at home to hear them play with an accompaniment. How can I get these accompaniments "out there"?

Band-in-a-Box files can be saved as MIDI files. Save your MIDI files to a floppy disk and play back the flies using a Windows Media Player (found in the programs menu, entertainment section). Band-in-a-Box version 9 allows you to save MIDI files as .wav files. .Wav files can later be used to create an audio compact disk suitable for use in any CD player. The newest version, Version 10, contains a means of allowing you to create an audio CD within the program, provided you have a CDR or CD~RW drive. You can then create multiple CDs or cassette tapes of your accompaniments. .Wav files can also be placed on the Internet. Your students will now have a variety if options to choose for receiving accompaniments and you have created an excellent home practice tool. Make certain when creating files that you have chosen songs that are in the public domain or that you have received copyright permission.

I'm sold on this program. Where can I find it? What else is in it?

PG Music makes Band-in-a-Box. You can visit their website at www.pgmusc.com to view this program. You may purchase the program directly from the manufacturer. Many Pennsylvania music dealers including JW Pepper are also selling this program. Current retail price of Band-in-a-Box is $88.00. The cost is certainly worthwhile. Yearly updates cost $49.00. There are many other features built into the program. I have only discussed those features that I am currently using with my students. I enjoy sharpening my arranging skills by listening to the jazz styles found in the program. I also enjoy analyzing the classical and pop files to hear which musical selections were the inspiration. Version 10 aIso contains an ear-training window to help strengthen aural skills. Band-in-a-Box is available in both Mac and Windows formats and is compatible with most sound cards. I am using this program successfully with a laptop computer and a MIDISport 2*2 USB MIDI Interface.

I like the idea of creating my own accompaniments. Now my beginners can really sound like musicians! The possibilities are endless. For examples of what my students are using as accompaniments please visit www.methacton.org and click on the beginner orchestra page. Band-in-a-Box offers you and your students excellent opportunities to become more creative musicians. Open the "Box". You and your students will be pleasantly surprised.

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Susan E. Basalik is an elementary school string teacher in the Methacon School District, Norristown PA. She is currently teaching and conducting orchestras in Arrowhead, Eagleville and Worcester Schools.

Originally printed in PMEA News Volume 65, No.3 Spring - March 2001. Posted with permission of PMEA News, The Official Journal of Pennsylvania Music Educator Association.

The accompaniments referred to in this article can currently be found at: http://music.villanova.edu/IWP/CDSue/