Audacity

**General Information**
Name: Audacity Author: Audacity Development Team Publisher: [|Audacitystore.com] Copyright: 2009 *version1.2.6 Platform: Macintosh, Wintel, and Unix Peripherals: Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers, Microphone (if recording directly) Grade/Age: All ages Type of Class: Band/Orchestra/Choir, Music Listening, Music History

Teacher Support
There is no teacher-specific support at this time, but since it is an open source program, the help section is very efficient and quick with responses. Check [|this] link for access to various documentation and help forums.

Instructional Content
This program lets you edit midi, mp3, and wave files and then convert them to any format of audio file. There are additional loop and effect tracks that you can download to create your own compositions.

National Music Standards Addressed
2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. 3. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments. 4. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines.

Instructional Design
With Audacity, a teacher can make small samples of a piece in an ensemble setting to give students as an example that is not excessively big in size. Also, students can use the loop tracks to create their own compositions along with creating background tracks for jazz improvisation studies. Audacity can also be used as the main recording program for teachers on a budget looking to capture their own ensembles' performances. It is incredibly versatile.

Record Keeping
Not Applicable

Overall summary
Audacity is a free music editing program similar to Garageband for Macintosh systems. It is perfect for use in editing, splicing, recording, or layering anything that can be captured in an audio format. It can be a little bit confusing to setup, but after everything is installed the first time the program runs flawlessly. Also, since it is free students can install this on their home computer and work on projects outside of class. Features such as pitch changing are not offered, and converting files to mp3 requires effort but it is worth the effort to set the program up.

Rating: ++++

Reviewed by: Bruce Nist Jr. 10/26/08 Updated by: Nathan Knox 11/13/09