I ordered Smart Music last weekend via the ABRSM. When the disc arrived (very promptly) it installed OK, but I can't activate the account because it won't accept the code I got from the AB - it says the code is already associated with an existing account.

Has anyone else managed to install and use it successfully? If so, what am I doing wrong?

I've emailed the suppliers' help desk, but can't get them on the phone until later on.

I had enough problems just getting it to recognise that I had a valid applicant number. I hope you get the problem resolved easily - let me know how you get on.

Well in Flutewise, I can get it at a special rate because I am a member for £21.99, is this worth it?

It's worth it at the level you are playing, Nicki. You can have a browse through the Smart Music website and look at which pieces are included. There are complete accompaniments for the Bach and Handel sonatas, the Godard, the Hindemith, the Poulenc, the Prokofiev and the Martinu. Also the complete Peck 36 Repertoire pieces and the complete Flute Music by French Composers.

A helpful chap from the ABRSM Publishing marketing department is helping me sort out my problem. (Thanks, Ben ).

Oh it sounds good. Especially since I have that 36 Repertoire Pieces book, and am doing a lot of music by French composers at the moment. I'll have a browse

Just a reminder to everyone with an ABRSM applicant number than you can gain access to SmartMusic for £21.99 - a discount of more than £50 from the retail price. For further information, see the September issue of Libretto or visit http://www.abrsm.org/?page=newsArticles/item.html&id=299.

Ben Selby
Marketing Manager
ABRSM Publishing

SMARTMUSIC FREE DOWNLOAD to try out:
http://www.smartmusic.com
(at the moment the above news article doesn't link to it as directly as it seems to imply it does)

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EDITED 13.30 ON 7-10-05 TO DEAL WITH THE ABOVE - THE ABRSM SMARTMUSIC PAGE DOESN'T HAVE THE FREE DOWNLOAD LINK ANYWHERE OBVIOUS (ALTHOUGH THE NEWS PAGE SAYS IT DOES), SO YOU MIGHT LIKE TO LET YOUR PUPILS KNOW, IF YOU'VE USED THIS:
Here's some info I've put in a letter to some of my pupils, which includes the answer to the ACTIVATION CODE problem, as well as some other info. Hope it's useful.

A free trial copy of SmartMusic can be downloaded from www.smartmusic.com. If downloading is a problem, your teacher may have the program on disc which can be loaded onto your computer, to try out, and then a discounted subscription could be bought in the usual way, if desired. For information and to order a subscription at the special price, and to find out which Associated Board syllabus titles are available for your instrument, visit www.abrsm.org/smartmusic. The UK distributor for SmartMusic products is Et Cetera Ltd, where you will be redirected during the process.
To buy Smartmusic, you’ll need a discount code from your teacher. Your code will be just 8 digits long. You then need to go to www.etcetera.co.uk/smartmusic and click on the appropriate link. When you actually activate your account (when you’ve bought the program at Et Cetera), it’s NOT your discount code that you use on the “Let’s Activate Your Subscription” screen (it would come up with a message to say that it’s “in use”) – instead it’s your Et Cetera log in details that you need to enter on the right hand side of the screen, and that activates the account.
ACCESSORIES: A CLIP-ON MICROPHONE – need. At the same time as ordering at Et Cetera (to save the extra £2.95 postage), do a product search for “Smartmusic” (ignore the usual prices for the SmartMusic program itself) to see the SmartMusic clip-on instrumental microphone (if you don’t have a clip-on) [the “Strings microphone” is the same one] or the Smartmusic vocal headset microphone for singers – either for £9.99. For Mac users, notice the Pre-Amp or USB Microphone adaptor necessary. The pedal is very much optional - never needed really.
P.S. VITAL HINT FOR TRYING THE TRICKY MUSIC WHEN USING THE PROGRAM!: To make the speed slower than the slowest speed on the slider on screen, use your keyboard Down Arrow (the SmartMusic video has this and lots of other hints).

I've just spoken to the expert on SmartMusic at Et Cetera (from whom the ABRSM discount is bought) and he said that the reason why the discount code doesn't work on the left side of the screen, is that it's already been used to set up the Et Cetera Account, so it is correct to enter the log in details on the right hand side, and that will work for the teacher, and also the pupils (using their own log in details from when they bought their copy of SmartMusic at Et Cetera).

Incidentally, if one did put the activation code in the left side BEFORE buying, it would just redirect one to the Et Cetera site to start the process!

Post 7 has been edited - in case you've used it for your pupils:
I've added the link for the free download, which doesn't seem to be where it says it is on the ABRSM Smartmusic page. Here's what I've added/changed: