Computers for Music Majors Overview Since the Fall of 1998 Longwood has implemented an aggressive student laptop program. From that date forward all freshmen were required to have a laptop computer at Longwood. In an effort to provide a resource to students and parents and consistent support on campus, Longwood formed a partnership with Dell Corporation. Dell is a proven leader in technology offering consistency in quality, service, and delivery. Each semester, Longwood, in collaboration with Dell, chooses configurations for the Longwood/Dell laptop. These laptops ship complete with the software that Longwood supports preloaded and network drivers already installed that will allow users to plug in their computer and begin working without delay. What this means for Music Majors Certainly in the world of music recording and MIDI, the Apple Macintosh is the platform of choice. While obviously a generalization, often musicians prefer the Macintosh because of its design, friendly interface, and ease of use. Longwood University's computer music/MIDI lab is a Mac lab, and the faculty in the department use the Macintosh. Obviously this is at odds with the University's Dell laptop program. We have had many students say they wished they had bought a Mac instead of the Dell. Our department agrees, and we recommend that students planning on studying in the music department purchase an Apple Macintosh laptop. There are positives and negatives to this. Positives • Students will have the ability to work with their laptop on class projects, when the lab is not open or is unavailable because a class is being held. • The Macintosh can do anything the Dell can do–Email, Internet, Powerpoint, Word and Excel. It also works best with the recording and loop construction software used in MUSC 119, the arranging projects in MUSC 412 and 444, and many other assignments and projects throughout the student’s music career. • The Macintosh is much less vulnerable to viruses. • As a Music major, you will use your Apple more than you would use your Dell for music notation, audio and MIDI recording, loop composition, intelligent accompanist software and CD and DVD listening, watching and burning. Negatives • You have to purchase your Apple and the software, and, while it is improving, there is less tech support on campus. We recommend purchasing the AppleCare extended warranty which is required to receive the education store discounted prices. • You will have to take your computer to the Help Desk and pay to have software installed which will allow you to access the Longwood wireless network. You also have to pay this for a Dell, but it is included in the purchase price. The bottom line is this. If you have a computer of any brand which you will bring to campus, keep it. If you are going to purchase a laptop for college, and you know you are going to be a Music Major, buy a Mac. If I want to buy a Mac, what would you recommend? The computer industry is always changing, and it is virtually impossible for anyone to keep up with the changes. Any new computer that Apple current sells will work for these musical situations, but you will always be happier with a faster processor and more memory. After you have enrolled at Longwood and have received your LancerNet ID, you should visit the Longwood University Apple Store - http://www.longwood.edu/helpdesk/apple/ to see the current prices and options being offered by Apple. A printer and a good pair of headphones and/or speakers are also recommended. A music synthesizer is not required, but would be helpful to the student. Software recommendations - listed are the current versions which may be updated at any time REQUIRED: Apple iLife ’09 (including iPhoto, iWeb, GarageBand, iMovie, iTunes, and iDVD) - this probably is included at no extra cost if you purchase a new Mac. Microsoft Office 2008 Home and Student Edition (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Entourage and Messenger) - can often be purchased at a discount if bought at the same time as the computer. OPTIONAL: Finale 2009 - http://www.finalemusic.com - music notation software. All computers in the Wygal MIDI Lab have Finale 2009 already installed. Finale can be purchased at a much reduced price by using the purchase code which is included with the workbook that students will use in Music Theory class. Other possible sources of Office 2008 and Finale are http://www.academicsuperstore.com or other educational discount software stores. SmartMusic - http://www.smartmusic.com - intelligent accompanist software. $35, (contact the Music Department for more information)

Computers for Music Majors

Overview

Since the Fall of 1998 Longwood has implemented an aggressive student laptop program. From that date forward all freshmen were required to have a laptop computer at Longwood. In an effort to provide a resource to students and parents and consistent support on campus, Longwood formed a partnership with Dell Corporation. Dell is a proven leader in technology offering consistency in quality, service, and delivery. Each semester, Longwood, in collaboration with Dell, chooses configurations for the Longwood/Dell laptop. These laptops ship complete with the software that Longwood supports preloaded and network drivers already installed that will allow users to plug in their computer and begin working without delay.

What this means for Music Majors

Certainly in the world of music recording and MIDI, the Apple Macintosh is the platform of choice. While obviously a generalization, often musicians prefer the Macintosh because of its design, friendly interface, and ease of use. Longwood University's computer music/MIDI lab is a Mac lab, and the faculty in the department use the Macintosh. Obviously this is at odds with the University's Dell laptop program. We have had many students say they wished they had bought a Mac instead of the Dell. Our department agrees, and we recommend that students planning on studying in the music department purchase an Apple Macintosh laptop. There are positives and negatives to this.

Positives

•Students will have the ability to work with their laptop on class projects, when the lab is not open or is unavailable because a class is being held.

•The Macintosh can do anything the Dell can do–Email, Internet, Powerpoint, Word and Excel. It also works best with the recording and loop construction software used in MUSC 119, the arranging projects in MUSC 412 and 444, and many other assignments and projects throughout the student’s music career.

•The Macintosh is much less vulnerable to viruses.

•As a Music major, you will use your Apple more than you would use your Dell for music notation, audio and MIDI recording, loop composition, intelligent accompanist software and CD and DVD listening, watching and burning.

Negatives

•You have to purchase your Apple and the software, and, while it is improving, there is less tech support on campus. We recommend purchasing the AppleCare extended warranty which is required to receive the education store discounted prices.

•You will have to take your computer to the Help Desk and pay to have software installed which will allow you to access the Longwood wireless network. You also have to pay this for a Dell, but it is included in the purchase price.

The bottom line is this. If you have a computer of any brand which you will bring to campus, keep it. If you are going to purchase a laptop for college, and you know you are going to be a Music Major, buy a Mac.

If I want to buy a Mac, what would you recommend?

The computer industry is always changing, and it is virtually impossible for anyone to keep up with the changes. Any new computer that Apple current sells will work for these musical situations, but you will always be happier with a faster processor and more memory. After you have enrolled at Longwood and have received your LancerNet ID, you should visit the Longwood University Apple Store - http://www.longwood.edu/helpdesk/apple/ to see the current prices and options being offered by Apple. A printer and a good pair of headphones and/or speakers are also recommended. A music synthesizer is not required, but would be helpful to the student.

Software recommendations - listed are the current versions which may be updated at any time

REQUIRED:

Apple iLife ’09 (including iPhoto, iWeb, GarageBand, iMovie, iTunes, and iDVD) - this probably is included at no extra cost if you purchase a new Mac.

Microsoft Office 2008 Home and Student Edition (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Entourage and Messenger) - can often be purchased at a discount if bought at the same time as the computer.

OPTIONAL:

Finale 2009 - http://www.finalemusic.com - music notation software. All computers in the Wygal MIDI Lab have Finale 2009 already installed. Finale can be purchased at a much reduced price by using the purchase code which is included with the workbook that students will use in Music Theory class. Other possible sources of Office 2008 and Finale are http://www.academicsuperstore.com or other educational discount software stores.

SmartMusic - http://www.smartmusic.com - intelligent accompanist software. $35, (contact the Music Department for more information)