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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Best Tool for Improvisation
Definitive Piano Improvisation Home Study Course
www.yokewong.net
Best Innovative Tool
BodyBeat Compact Pulsing Metronome
www.petersonemp.com
Best Time Saver/Assessment Tool
SmartMusic Gradebook
www.smartmusic.com
Best Eco Friendly Tool
Wheatware
www.wheatware.com
Best Gadget
Jammit app for iPhone
www.jammit.com
Honorable Mentions
Rhythm Ring
www.rhythmring.com
Guitar Hands Cleansing Lotion
www.truemoisture.com
Sound Disk Beanies
www.www.aerial7.com
Mixcraft 4, Spin It Again
www.acoustical.com
iZotope RX
www.izotope.com
