Reminders are good. We're all busy people, and we need them—so we don't forget the important things in life. Appointments. Paying the dog sitter. Eating all the veggies in your fridge before they go bad.

MOTHER'S DAY!

(Yes, folks, it's this Sunday. Pop a card in the mail today and you'll avoid a, ahem, "prickly" greeting when you call.)

In other reminder news, we have some great new webinar topics this month that just may appeal to you or a colleague:

1. Using SmartMusic in Your Summer Program
2. Dollars and Sense: Helping Students Get Home Subscriptions
3. Secrets to Success with SmartMusic
4. Training Students to Use SmartMusic
5. SmartMusic in Your Band and Orchestra Program
6. Sending Assignments and Documenting Student Progress

See the complete schedule on our website, and click on a topic to register. (They're free.) It's that simple.

Plus, attendees can get a half-price educator subscription and a free mic, or 10 free mics when they buy 10 student subscriptions. Great deals either way!

So how are you celebrating Mother's Day? Leave us a comment and tell us all about your plans!

We're excited to announce our new partnership with Drum Corps International, the world leader in producing events for elite student marching ensembles! This summer, DCI fans will notice a SmartMusic presence at performances and events around the country -- including DCI's new INpact project, in which our technology will help 1,000 Indiana middle-school band students learn the music they'll perform at the DCI Championships in August.

“This is a unique sponsorship as MakeMusic is also providing us with SmartMusic technology that will be integral to the success of DCI programs,” said Daniel Acheson, executive director and CEO of DCI. “The ability of students to prepare and perfect music before they come together to rehearse and perform is part of the huge advantage SmartMusic offers, and this will be a critical component of programs like ‘INpact Indiana’s Future – Band.’ Gone are the days of simply sending students sheet music and hoping for the best.”

We're happy to support an organization that inspires such passion for music and performance in students. If you'd like to spread some drum corps excitement to your marching band students, check out the DCI website and consider attending an event this summer!

(Photo credit: Drum Corps International)

This blog, and our SmartMusic Facebook page, are focused on you -- SmartMusic educators. Oddly enough, educators represent a minority of SmartMusic users: Students outnumber you by far. So it only makes sense that we should be in an online conversation with students, too. Maybe even give them a place to have fun, and connect with other students who share their passion for music.

Introducing I <3 SmartMusic, the new Facebook page that's "only for the young, hip, and musically passionate." (Don't get why the "less-than" sign and a "3" are doing in the previous sentence? Before you give up and ask your texting-savvy students, try tipping your head to the right... and envision a heart! Now you're with me.)

The page will feature plenty of drum corps content this summer, reflecting our exciting new partnerships with DCI, Michael McIntosh, and The Cavaliers. And over time, we'd like the page to reflect students' wider musical interests -- choral, band, orchestral, and beyond.

Keep an eye out for:

• Videos (like the McIntosh "Epic Stick Tricks" series, updates from The Cavaliers, and more)
• Student video uploads of their own killer performances
• Video contests
• Quizzes and prizes
• Giveaways (cool SmartMusic swag)
• Hot new artists
• Accomplished musical groups

We hope to see lots of SmartMusic students over at the new page. After homework and practicing their music, of course.

(Hint: If kids have trouble finding it, you can advise them to type in https://www.facebook.com/ILoveSmartMusic. Or simply search Facebook for "SmartMusic" -- no spaces.)

We’re excited to announce a new, three-way partnership with acclaimed percussionist and composer, Michael McIntosh, and The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps!

Michael, one of two percussion designers for The Cavaliers, has agreed to share his percussion arrangements for the 2012 Cavaliers performance season—in SmartMusic!

“There’s been some buzz about the fact that we’re doing this,” says Michael. “Our goal was to share the music in a way that’s fun and educational. We want fans to come along for the ride this summer, and see what it’s like to be a Cavalier!”

(The first and second movements for the Cavaliers’ 2012 percussion music are now available in SmartMusic. Note that you’ll need SmartMusic 2012 to download.)

We had Michael in the studio last week, recording video lessons for both beginner and intermediate-level percussionists (“Mike’s Epic Stick Tricks”). While we had him pinned under those hot lights, we asked how the Cavaliers percussion section planned to use SmartMusic down the road.

“Our goal is to get the guys practicing along with the Cavaliers’ percussion arrangements in SmartMusic,” says Michael, noting that the Cavaliers hoped to help members practice efficiently between camps, and track their progress via audio assessment.

“The cool thing is that they can slow down the tempo to practice the more challenging parts, and record and listen to their own practice sessions,” says Michael.

While we’ll let you know as soon as the video lessons are available, I thought I'd share some home video I shot of Michael warming up in the studio. Check out the video above and let us know what you think!

Rippling water. New repertoire. What’s the connection?

The answer lies in the newly released Elements (Petite Symphony) from FJH Music Company—one of 46 titles released in SmartMusic this month.

The often-requested Elements is a short, 4-movement work in which each movement depicts a specific element: air, water, earth, and fire. The second movement, Water, is “impressionistic in nature,” according to the composition notes in SmartMusic. (Composer is Brian Balmages.)

Expanding Repertoire: Closing in on 3,000
Our repertoire development team just added 46 more ensemble titles, all of which are listed below. Our new ensemble total is 2,987… we should hit 3,000 soon!

Concert Band:

Jazz Ensemble:

String Orchestra:

As always, you can search for these pieces by title, composer/arranger, publisher, skill level, and more, both online as well as from within SmartMusic. You can also request future titles and view other recent blog posts highlighting repertoire additions.

Did this batch include a title you've been waiting for? Let us know by clicking on "Comments" below.