2008 Woodie Awards
Jamstudio.com allows students to create own music
Lindsay Panzica
Issue date: 10/5/07 Section: FUSE
Originally published: 10/4/07 at 10:05 PM EST
Last update: 10/4/07 at 10:03 PM EST
Writing music can be a complicated process.
It entails putting notes together, using different instruments and playing sections over and over until everything sounds just right.
Now, technology is making it possible to accomplish all of this right at your own computer.
While sites with this technology provide convenient access to this type of software, there is doubt that it can provide students with proper instruction in music composition.
In the last few years, many computer-based music software and online music sites have emerged.
These sites and software packages make it possible for students to write, mix, record and play back their own music right at a computer.
One of the most recent sites to emerge with this type of technology is Jamstudio.com.
Jamstudio.com is billed as the online music factory, a site which allows students to use various instruments and music styles to create songs online.
The site uses technology from the music software program called GarageBand.
At Jamstudio.com, users are given the option of using instruments such as guitar, drum, bass and piano.
They are also provided with the ability to choose multiple versions and styles of each instrument depending on the mood of the piece being written.
Here, you can create your own song by entering chords you want to play, what instruments to play and where you want them to play. You can then choose the tempo and volume of each instrument. The site even allows you to enter lyrics, as well.
Sites such as Jamstudio tend to receive mixed reactions from music professionals who feel that the site works well for basic music jam recordings but is not adequate in teaching the user about proper music composition.
"If there are students interested in this kind of thing, then it is an advantage," Karen Becker, assistant professor of music, said, "[although] this kind of 'American Idol' type jamming has nothing to do with actual theoretical music construction."
It entails putting notes together, using different instruments and playing sections over and over until everything sounds just right.
Now, technology is making it possible to accomplish all of this right at your own computer.
While sites with this technology provide convenient access to this type of software, there is doubt that it can provide students with proper instruction in music composition.
In the last few years, many computer-based music software and online music sites have emerged.
These sites and software packages make it possible for students to write, mix, record and play back their own music right at a computer.
One of the most recent sites to emerge with this type of technology is Jamstudio.com.
Jamstudio.com is billed as the online music factory, a site which allows students to use various instruments and music styles to create songs online.
The site uses technology from the music software program called GarageBand.
At Jamstudio.com, users are given the option of using instruments such as guitar, drum, bass and piano.
They are also provided with the ability to choose multiple versions and styles of each instrument depending on the mood of the piece being written.
Here, you can create your own song by entering chords you want to play, what instruments to play and where you want them to play. You can then choose the tempo and volume of each instrument. The site even allows you to enter lyrics, as well.
Sites such as Jamstudio tend to receive mixed reactions from music professionals who feel that the site works well for basic music jam recordings but is not adequate in teaching the user about proper music composition.
"If there are students interested in this kind of thing, then it is an advantage," Karen Becker, assistant professor of music, said, "[although] this kind of 'American Idol' type jamming has nothing to do with actual theoretical music construction."
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Andrew
posted 4/30/08 @ 3:22 PM EST
Excellent article. Well written, informative and a great website all together. Good work!
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