Electronic Music Stands Can Improve Learning for Students

An educational concern that has only been around for a generation but continues to be discussed when adults evaluate how students learn is “screen time.” For the most part, performance ensembles have not been a part of that discussion as bands, orchestras, choruses and even small ensembles and solos have continued to use printed music as their teaching resource.

Like the publishers of printed resources used in many other classes, music publishers first began offering their products in e-music versions, downloadable for a fee. E-music allowed customers to receive their purchases almost instantly and offered a way to easily replace missing or lost parts. And it saved the publisher the costs associated with printing and shipping their products, often passing on those savings to the end user. And the student musician’s music folder looked almost the same, albeit filled with all white letter-sized parts instead of the occasional off-white 9x12s provided previously.

Students now access a wide variety of educational resources without ever seeing a hard copy. Outside of textbooks, many of which are available online, classwork is presented on a screen – assignments, assessments, related documents, supportive videos – all on devices that students have in front of them and are actively engaged with through the keyboard, mouse or touchscreen.

The move to do the same in music has been slower to be developed because student musicians are already “actively engaged” creating music. Using your hand to move a mouse, touch an icon or press a key is impossible when you are fingering a Bb on the clarinet, bowing a violin or playing a long roll on a snare drum. The screen has to be able to not only display the music for the performer to read and interpret, but it has to be able to change the page when the music dictates and operate hands-free for the most part.

Several companies are now providing products that solve that problem, and the use of electronic music stands is increasing across the country and world. These devices and their associated software, like all other types of technology, come in various platforms, configurations, features and physical shapes. Some are designed to be used for a broad spectrum of musical ensembles – band, orchestra, chorus, jazz ensembles.

Many use the student’s own device as the display and provide the appropriate stand to hold it and software to manage it. Others are a complete device that include the screen, device, software and accessories. And publishers are providing their new listings and old standards in formats that can be used on all of these options. And like other educational technology investments, it can be expensive to initiate and maintain, especially for large programs that are looking to provide the complete electronic music stand for their students.

So why spend the money? Some might argue that the use of technology in education should be done to make things easier, but educators would disagree. The purpose of using technology in any educational situation is to improve the student learning through access, equality, diversity and reinforcement. The use of electronic music stands, whether complete units or just the software, can do that for students and their program. And using them does not mean that your band, orchestra or chorus director needs to throw out their extensive music libraries nor purchase new versions of those pieces. Your old music stands will still work.

One of the significant values of electronic music stands/software lies in its ability to provide students with access to a huge library whenever they have the time to practice or rehearse together. Whether on a separate device or software using devices the student or school already has, the portability, flexibility and searchability allows the musician the opportunity to view, review, practice and consider a much broader spectrum of music than any hard copy library could. Not only can the software for these devices present the music, but in many cases it can transpose it for each student’s use, allowing players to try pieces not written for their instrument or to join colleagues in playing such music together. And for the director, the ability to make sure that everyone is on the same page, ready to begin together is invaluable.

Technology changes every day so do your research before you buy. Make a list of what your expectations are for the software and the devices (if you decide to go with the complete units) and work with the provider to match your purchase to your needs. Ask for a trial device to try within your building and involve your school’s IT department in making that work with the infrastructure you have in place. Do your homework and then enjoy the rewards that having an expanded, portable, manageable library provides you and your program.