MakeMusic has released SmartMusic 2010 (http://www.smartmusic.com),
an update of the music learning software for band, orchestra and
choir. Compatible with Mac OS X 10.5 ("Leopard"), the software adds a
new Home Screen designed to make getting started even easier.

Music titles, assignments and all of SmartMusic's features are now
accessed from one place and downloading additional titles is
purportedly faster and more efficient. The stand-alone digital
recorder can now record anything (with or without a metronome) and
SmartMusic 2010 is fully compatible with files created in Finale 2010.

MakeMusic CEO Ron Raup says searching for repertoire in SmartMusic is
faster and more efficient, allowing users to filter results by
instrument, skill level, state list and genre. Educators and students
will enjoy improved playlists with method books, exercises and
Finale-created files, he adds.

The SmartMusic Gradebook and student assignments can now be accessed
from within the SmartMusic application. Students can view their
assignment status, grades and teacher feedback. Teachers have better
visibility of the music that students have performed because the
assignment results now include up to an entire page of music.

Assessment is improved, especially when students play legato or
rapidly articulated notes on the same pitch, says Raup. Low
microphone levels are better supported, freeing students to perform
wide dynamic contrasts without sacrificing assessment results, he
adds.

And now one microphone setting works for both assessment and
recording. SmartMusic 2010 also offers better feedback when students
play out-of-tune notes. Finally, Repertoire Additions include more
than 300 new band and orchestra titles, as well as jazz ensemble
titles from Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band.

SmartMusic 2010 is a free upgrade for all current SmartMusic
subscribers. For new users the cost is US$30 per year for students
and $130 per year for educators.