With Iowa schools continuing to be closed, some teachers are getting creative to give students unique educational opportunities.

Prior to Governor Kim Reynolds announcing school closures to be extended through the end of April, Greene County High School Band Director Wes Anderson says his students have used an internet program called SmartMusic from MakeMusic. Anderson tells Raccoon Valley Radio the company has lots of band music in its library that students can choose to play into their computer’s microphone, which it records and gives a score out of 100 for how accurate they were. Anderson adds, the program is free due to the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Middle school students can also use the program by browsing by their favorite composer, style or difficulty level. Additionally, Anderson says the program can subtract the student’s part out of the recording and you can put on your headphones and pretend you’re the first trumpet player in a professional wind band.