MyJamz

1. CITATION AND GENERAL INFORMATION • Title - MyJamz • Author - roxmedia • Publisher - [|themusicinteractive.com] • Copyright Date - none given • Platform - Macintosh, Windows • Peripherals - speakers, mouse • Grade/Age - Early Childhood, Early Elementary • Type of Class - General Music

2. TEACHER SUPPORT • Documentation - There is a help guide tab on the game which provides one page of directions. No other instructional materials are provided. • Objectives - The program helps students create their own music.

3. INSTRUCTIONAL CONTENT • Specific Musical Content - This program is a simple starting point for creating your own music. Different instrument sounds are available allowing students to experiment with the pitches of a major scale. • National Music Standards that could be addressed through this software: 3. Improvising melodies, harmonies, accompaniments, and 4. Composing and arranging music within specific guidelines

4. INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN AND PEDAGOGICAL SOUNDNESS MyJamz is a discovery program that provides a fun, interactive way to start students on a path to creating their own music. Students click on bizarre colorful creatures (called YamaMonsters) to make the 8 different sounds of the scale. The sounds can be changed using an instrument bank of 8 different instruments at the top of the screen. Only one sound will play at a given time, and the duration of the sound cannot be controlled. Young students will be able to grasp the concept right away, but there is a help button if needed.

The students have the option to record a melody on one instrument and have it played back to them. You cannot change instruments while recording or the recording will stop.

In addition to giving the students the opportunity to create a melody, the software does provide a limited opportunity to discuss instruments and the scale.

• Sequence of Materials : There is no sequence. It is just one activity. • Pace of Instruction : There is no instruction. It is a discovery based program. • Quality of Interaction : Excellent • Motivation for Students Good

5. RECORD KEEPING There is no record keeping in this software, and although you can record a melody there is no way to save the recording.

6. OVERALL EVALUATION

MyJamz is a discovery based program of limited scope. The interactive monsters are the best part about this software. They become animated when clicked upon, and the animations are different when using different instruments. There is also a "rock out" button which gives the YamaMonsters a chance to take a break and boogie down to a hip beat. This would be a good program to use with young students if there are a few minutes left in class or as a reward. The interface is really entertaining, but the program itself is probably best used in small doses.

• Rating -- ** fair

7. REVIEWERS NAME AND DATE OF REVIEW: Matthew Fitz 06/15/2011