Other Consumer Items

• Computer Software
  • Transkriber  enhances learning by letting you slow down the music without changing pitch. Now you can play along with Charlie Parker or Eddie Van Halen at your own speed! Also transposes music and in some cases removes vocals from CD recordings. Available in Richmond, VA from Jacobs Music. Plays CD's on your computer's internal player, and digitally manipulates the sound using your computer's sound card. Slows music down from 3/4 to 1/24 speed. A fantastic product that turns your computer into a music lab! Read Transkriber's online manual to see how it works!
  • Noteworthy Composer is a cheap, user-friendly music notation program that's perfect for experimentation by students. Students can enter music either from the computer keyboard, or a MIDI keyboard instrument. The program will play back the composition, highlighting individual notes as they are played. Registration cost is $39.95, which includes a backup diskette and an instruction book. The user interface is has a great common-sense design that allows even novices to work like pros just using the mouse, 'enter' key and space bar. There are also logical keyboard shortcuts for more advanced users. I am so thrilled with this program that I have selected it to do much of the work in the Master Theory Help and Jam School sections of this website. This program also has a freeware companion called Noteworthy Player, which will provide playback and score display for Noteworthy Composer files and any other MIDI files that you choose to read. Sound good? Now let's talk support. Noteworthy Composer has a great website with an archive of tips, an active bulletin board and a Usenet newsgroup.
  • Sibelius is an outstanding and user-friendly music notation program that is gaining popularity with professinals and publishing houses all over the world.  In addition to writing beautiful scores, and printing out terrific-looking parts, Sibelius files can be read over the internet using a freeware plug-in called Scorch. Soon, you will be able to buy sheet music online from Music Sales, Boosey & Hawkes, and J. W. Pepper using this program. Most of the printable exercises and worksheets on this website will be done in Sibelius.

   

• Protection for Braces & Sore Mouths
  • Ezo denture pads are available at most drug stores. They consist of a strip of linen impregnated with wax. They work well in protecting the lips from braces and sharp lower teeth. You want to get their #15 "Lower Heavy" model. Cut the pieces into 3/4" segments. Put a segment over your lpwer teeth, close your mouth and let the wax mold. The linen core helps hold it together so it won't separate like orthodontic wax. One caveat: Don't use it all the time. Your lower lip should be exposed to your teeth enough to develop at least some toughness on the inside. Reserve the use of Ezo to times when you actually feel a need, or will be playing for a long period of time.
  • Braceguard is a more durable product which molds around the braces and can be reused. While probably not that much of a protection for sharp lower teeth on woodwind instruments, it should do very well for brass players who have brades.