Music Software, Networks, Labs and Licenses

By G. David Peters, Director, School of Music Indiana University - IUPUI

An amazing increase in the use of music software has occurred during the last three years. Schools, private music teachers, parents, and individual students have turned to instructional software to improve their skills, increase their music knowledge and to have fun learning the basics. The increased usage has required schools and private studios to turn to expanded use of software and consequently to licensing multiple copies of software for student and learner use.

What options are open to schools expanding use of software titles?

Most software publishers have adopted a plan for expanded use of their products. Three types of applications are available; network licenses, site licenses and/or lab packs. Each can be recommended for different school or studio situations. Each has different pricing and guidelines for usage. Although no industry rules have been applied to pricing by various companies, general approaches are similar among publishers.

The network license is the simplest to understand, in that software can be loaded onto a network server and made available to all students connected to a local-area-network (LAN). Most common network licenses cover one computer with a specific number of computers attached to the server computer. Pricing varies widely between companies from a set multiplier price of retail (say five times retail) to a computed price of software based upon the number of computers attached to the network. For instance, one company charges retail (say $500) for the first copy to be loaded into the system and an additional $100 for each additional computer attached to the network. If 16 computers are attached to the server, the charge would be ($500 + $1500) $2000. This allows for schools to use software in a network setting that would cost ($500x16) $8000 if purchased for each computer separately.

Network use of software offers a major savings when computing per/student or per/computer costs. Having 500 music students use a networked music application can cost as little as 10¢ per student per year or just fractions of a penny if used even once per week. Even more expensive software will cost less than $1.00 per student if used for two years on a computer network. The total software cost is much less than for textbooks.

Most music teachers and all computer technology specialist know that it is illegal to purchase a single copy of any software and load it onto a network for multiple student use. Most software companies offer versions available for networking which is different from the regular over-the-counter version. With the per/student cost being so low, networked software is an inexpensive solution.

Site licenses are becoming more important as schools add computers to various areas of a school building. A site license can be used to cover all computers in one physical location, i.e. one school building. Consider the high school music director who wants to load a practice software product on six computers in the band room area, three computers in the choral room, four practice rooms and the seven computers in the school library. If none of these computers are attached to a server, then a site license may be the solution. Software publishers will allow multiple installations of software at a “site” for an additional charge. The “site” must be clearly defined to allow the teachers and the company to estimate total student usage of the software.

Companies have several different formulas to determine the cost of site licenses. Electronic Courseware Systems, for instance, charges seven times the retail price for a site license at one physical location. Other companies have adjusted charges based upon number of students, number of computers, hours of usage or other logical approaches. A site license cannot be combined with a lab network license, however.

The cost of site licenses can be even lower per student than the network licenses. With availability of the software loaded on every computer at a physical site, students have access to more facilities than one or two network laboratories. In a school of 1000 students, every student could use a site-license software application. Such licenses work well for reference software applications such as dictionaries and encyclopedias. Music software of a general nature is also available which is usable by a large student population. Costs per student for 1000 students using site license software can range from 5¢ to 85¢. This assumes that the software is only used for two years and is totally replaced, not upgraded. The cost-per-session becomes minuscule if the software is used for a longer period of time, or is upgraded at lower than purchase price.

The lab pack idea was developed for schools or teaching studios with a number of free-standing computers, and before local area networks were available. In checking educational pricing of lab packs, companies will charge a lower price for multiple copies of computer diskettes or CDROMs, when bundled with one copy of the documentation. The lab pack authorizes the user to load each CDROM or diskette onto ONE computer. Most packs include the original publication, plus 4 to 9 additional disks at a lower price. Although an old idea, the packaging is a plus for schools who are using a small number of computers without network connections. Several companies still offer good discounts for multiple disk purchases. Check the software catalogs for details.

The simple lab pack is a major savings to teachers using small labs or teaching studios with 4 or 5 computers. With the cost of a lab pack ranging from $100 to $1000, teachers can save over 40% of the cost of buying separate copies of software for each of their computers. Some companies will allow lab packs including different platforms; for instance 3 Macintosh and 2 PC copies in a pack. Others only allow for single platform lab packs.

Who should be contacted for assistance with a network & site license question?

School teachers have access to district or building technology coordinators capable of answering most questions about installing and using computer software. First, contact the designated school staff member managing the network server or the computer laboratories. These staff members will know the requirements for software compatibility with the network system hardware and software. Teachers should not worry about these technical matters. District rules regarding fair-use of software can be obtained from the administrative offices. Schools are careful to observe all copyright and usage rules when installing software for general student use. Teachers must be aware of these regulations for obvious reasons.

The network coordinator or laboratory manager should be encouraged to verify with the software company or dealer the compatibility specifications for the application software intended for network use. These same staff members normally can assist teachers in securing funding for network software above and beyond the departmental funds available for instructional needs. Music teachers should look to the technology funding sources inside the school budget to add software to the school curriculum.

Lentine’s Music has an excellent line of software available for network and lab installation. Check this catalog for details or call the software publisher.