Tech Tuesday: Super Duck app

You might remember, last summer I was able to review a jazz book called Higgledy Piggledy Jazz. A fun jazz book composed by Elena Cobb. If you missed that review, be sure to check it out here.

I’m excited to announce that there is now a pretty neat iPad app that correlates directly with Super Duck, the first piece found in the Higgledy Piggledy Jazz book. This iPad app is not a game app but full of exploration, learning and improvisation all based on the piece, Super Duck.

When you first open the app there is a brief explanation on what the app includes. Then you go into the Learn mode. In the learn mode you will find audio and visuals of the following: An introduction to the 12 bar blues, 12 bar blues chords, last bar of Super Duck, end of the 12 bars, bring it all together. Remember this is all based on the piece Super Duck. Once they learn these small little clips of the piece, they can record them and self evaluate how they think they did.

Then they have the opportunity to practice in larger sections. Once they are confidant with the sections there is some improv exercises and examples. If you are familiar with Super Duck, then you know there is an opportunity for students to branch out and improvise their own melody.

The next section is to Master the sections. After they master those sections it’s time for the bonus fun! Playing along with a jazz band! They can choose to play the full score with a slow band and piano, fast band and piano, slow band only or fast band only. When you play the notes will be highlighted as it moves along.

Inside the app is also a video of Elena introducing the piece Super Duck and explaining the color chord system and the full score of Super Duck.

To get a feel of what this app is all about check out Elena’s brief introduction and performance with the app  in this video here…

Super Duck is used with the iPad and is $2.99. You can download it here. The thing I like most about this app is that it is the perfect example of how a student can break down a piece they want to learn when they are at home practicing. It is a great teaching tool on HOW they should practice at home and the success they could feel when they do it this way. The reward is to be able to play along with a jazz band! I try to think outside the box when I learn about a new app or product and think of different ways I can apply them in my studio. With this app, I instantly thought of not only using it with students during lessons, but also it would be a perfect app to use as a tool in my practice workshops that I hold every few years. In addition it would be a great tool to use when teaching about jazz and improvisation. Really it has a lot of possibilities.

Elena Cobb has graciously offered 5 free copies of this app to some lucky teachers and one lucky teacher will even get a digital copy of the Higgledy Piggledy Jazz book! Thank you Elena!

To enter, please comment below on how you see yourself using this app. Deadline to enter is by Saturday, May 10th; 10:00pm (az mountain standard).  GIVEAWAY EXPIRED

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