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In the United States, most middle and high school students can learn to play a musical instrument by enrolling in a school performance ensemble, either band or orchestra. These classes are offered as part of the school curriculum and taught during the normal school day. The music teachers who instruct these ensembles usually have earned a bachelor's degree in music education from an accredited university and are certified to teach in the public school system. Since these teachers must learn to teach and play essentially all wind, percussion and string orchestral instruments in a short amount of time as part of their college training, their pedagogical knowledge is often limited and their performance skills on each instrument is at the rudimental level. In addition, school music instruction is based on ensemble performance with large, mixed instrumental ensembles that do not allow students to receive individualized instruction. As a result, many students fail to become advanced or sometimes even intermediate performers on their instrument. To improve this situation, students need to study privately with a professional musician who performs on their instrument and can instruct and demonstrate proper performance techniques. Unfortunately, this is not possible for many students due to their location, schedule, lack of transportation, time limitations, finances and other factors. The purpose of this study was to create a method and organize a curriculum that would allow music students to take private lessons with a professional musician via the Internet. Through the Internet, students will have access to a wide range of excellent musicians who can provide private, individualized instruction regardless of their location, schedule and other factors that could normally inhibit instruction. SmartMusic is a software, accompaniment program designed to assist woodwind, brass, string musicians and singers at all levels, in developing music performance skills and mastery of their instrument. Using the SmartMusic program, students can practice, record and email their performances with accompaniment to a professional musician via the Internet. The professional musician can then evaluate their performances and email back constructive comments along with instructional recordings of the pieces. By combining a software program that assists and encourages students in practicing, with the knowledge and skill of a professional musician and the flexibility of the Internet, students will soon become...