I teach elementary instrumental music in the Parkland School District in Allentown, PA - about an hour north of Philadelphia. Like many communities at the intersection of town and country, our district population has grow dramatically in the past ten years, making classrooms more crowded. At the same time, due to the increase in mandated and elective programs and services, time during the school day has become a heavily contested-for commodity. I meet with my 4th and 5th grade band students once a week in small group lessons, but not in full band rehearsals until a few weeks before a concert. Students can set-up their band music near their computer, log on to the site and perform along to MIDI realizations of their concert as it is played back through their web browser.
Some students do visit the site to hear what a song sounds like with all the parts.
An e-mail link at the site enables me to receive their feedback. Following a very successful first full 4th grade band rehearsal last spring, I conducted an informal poll. Although I teach elementary band, a home practice site might feature general music songs for student review, or concert music accompaniments with which chorus members can rehearse, or even chord changes with which your jazz band soloists can jam. Only your imagination limits you. Although the process of creating a website with multimedia involves several facets, it can be summarized quite simply.