astro.temple.edu

http://astro.temple.edu/~swatson/

The domain is a .edu, it is a Temple University website. It was copyrighted to Scott Watson in March of 1998. The site still links to a Temple University email address although Watson does no appear in their current faculty directory. The link to the college speaks volumes about the website’s credentials.

The focus for this site is ensemble rehearsal. The author offers warm-ups for all band and string instruments covering various concepts such as rhythm, intonation and things such as slurs, bowings and articulations when the instrument calls for it. The warm-up link is part of the Private Lesson page which also includes fingering charts, rudiment reviews and even instrument maintenance videos. The other rehearsal links are there so that instructors can post recordings of their performance pieces. Students then are shown how they can go online and practice along as though they are in rehearsal. The standards addressed are playing or singing a variety of styles alone or in a group, listening to and analyzing music, and reading and notating music.

This page is for sharing. There is no evident bias, although the site offers a certain selection of ideas for things such as warm-ups and practicing, it does not seem to feel negatively towards other, different ideas. Watson maintains and sponsors the site with the help of the Parkland School District. The only thing that is really discouraging is that it is not dated.

The site is linked to http://odeo.com/show/91374/view, and also linked to a Temple University email address. Home Practice Online also thanks publishers such as Carl Fischer, Alfred Publishing, Forte Publication, Curnow Music Publications, Neil A. Kjos, Queenwood, and Warner Bros.(Belwin/CCP) for granting them permission to post midi files of their publications to use for practice.

This page is an excellent resource for supplementary instruction. It offers warm-up exercises, maintenance tutorials, fingering charts, practicing recommendations, recordings to rehearse with as well as many other educational ideas. Home Practice online is not flashy or extravagant but it is easy to use and suits its purpose. The only negative is the lack of a date which is not awful because much of the site is devoted to individual instructor’s usage. I would give it three stars, I would like to see it updated more frequently. ***

Jeremy Gorin 4-6-06