Episode #44: Off Bench Matters: Top Tools for Your Workbench
In this episode I’m back to the Off Bench Matters theme with a slight twist because I veer pretty far from the teaching bench and I don’t really touch on off bench activities either.
Instead, I share my WORK bench tools.
I understand that not everyone may know about or know how to make the tech tools work for them. And so, I’ve scripted this episode in a way to help you come to terms with where you’re at and where you want to be with technology in the future.
But first…about your summer plans
Summer Camp Headquarters: find camp plans and resources to supplement your camp activities.
Summer Composium: If you are interested in learning more about the summer composiums for you or your students, please complete this short form.
Links to resources and tech tools
You don’t rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems.
Atomic Habits by James Clear
▶️Studio Administration
My Music Staff is a studio management software that helps me manage my schedule, website, billing, online payments, communication with parents and much more.
▶️File Organization
Google Drive/Docs is a cloud-based storage solution that includes options to generate and save files on the web and access them across your devices. Within Drive you can create documents, spreadsheets and forms and easily share them with others with a link.
NEW Digital escape room game! Level 3 with a baseball them and free sheet music to “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”
▶️Assignments and Lesson Notes
Tonara is a platform for creating and sharing multimedia assignments. It also tracks student practice and includes a chat feature to message students between lessons.
Blog post of why I finally gave into using Tonara. here.
Use this affiliate link and use coupon code viss20 for 20% discount for 12 months.
▶️Reminder Videos
Loom lets me record a tutorial or reminder video and instantly generates a link that can be shared via email, text, Tonara, etc.
▶️Sheet Music Reader
ForScore, It provides a library for digital sheet music and much more. After I scan sheet music with an app called TurboScan, or purchase a digital download, I organize the PDFs in the app on my iPad Pro. ForScore is available for desktop but I have not used it yet.
ForScore is a paper-free way to organize sheet music and it works with a bluetooth page-turning pedal. After pairing the pedal with the iPad, a tap of my toe will turn the page for me. I use ForScore, my iPad Pro and my Page Flip Dragonfly Bluetooth pedal every week at my church gig.
▶️Score Reader
PlayScore 2. It’s really is one of those apps that you hoped would become a reality. Now it’s here. After taking a photo of sheet music with a smartphone or tablet, PlayScore 2 immediately plays back the score with stunning accuracy. This scan and playback can be shared with others who download the app for free. With a professional subscription, the app can export the scan as an XML file to score editors like Finale. With a couple of swipes, you can transpose and even orchestrate the playback with 19 different MIDI voices.
Head over to my Instagram account @ leilaviss BEFORE March 22, 2022 to win a code for a free one-month pro subscription in which you can take a picture of any score and immediately export it as a MIDI or XML file.
▶️Educational Apps
In my studio, students spend 30 minutes of time on the bench with me and then another off the bench reviewing theory concepts, music history, terms, etc. Learn more about my Off Bench Time here.
Want some help? Maybe it’s time for a consultation?
How to find me…
Website: LeilaViss.com
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Email: hello@leilaviss.com
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