This week on my PLN I discovered a way for music educators to stay on their toes. eHow makes learning instruments easy.
I know that there will be times in my career that I do not remember some fingerings, or slide positions, so having the eHow recourse will be very helpful. eHow is essentially a search engine for instructional videos. So if I need a refresher on how to hold mallets, I just search "different mallet grips" and a list of videos will pop up.
I know that it seems silly that this may be the only use for eHow, but I got to thinking that the videos could help students too. Since the how to videos are free, thee student does not have to pay for lessons. This way they can still learn their instrument, while not having to pay an exorbitant amount for private lessons.
At the end of the day I feel that eHow will become a wonderful "quick fix" for music educators. It is readily available and cheap. After all we are all starving artists aren't we?
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Thursday, September 10, 2009
PLN for the Week
But Wait, That Wasn’t In My Job Description!
That is the title of the article that I read. Having two teachers for parents I understand that educators always go beyond the call of duty. And from my work with bands (both high school and college) music educators are expected to go that extra mile.
This article deals with a hardship that many music teachers face; students that have no interest and desire to be in a musical group but are. The article gives a few examples of what an educator must do with this situation. The main thing that I got from the article was that you have to be flexible, and find ways to get kids interested.
This either means taking things very slow, picking music that your students enjoy, and dealing with a few hardships like a bad sound.
The article says that it would be easier to quit, but if you hang in there, you will be rewarded greatly. I feel that no matter what, a music teacher's job is to instill a love of music in every person that they can touch. Once students start to have a love of music they will start to sound better because they want to become better. Once a student starts to love music they will be more motivated to try new things and get their friends involved. That is why is it is so important not to quit. Give your students a chance to discover a passion that they never knew they had.
That is the title of the article that I read. Having two teachers for parents I understand that educators always go beyond the call of duty. And from my work with bands (both high school and college) music educators are expected to go that extra mile.
This article deals with a hardship that many music teachers face; students that have no interest and desire to be in a musical group but are. The article gives a few examples of what an educator must do with this situation. The main thing that I got from the article was that you have to be flexible, and find ways to get kids interested.
This either means taking things very slow, picking music that your students enjoy, and dealing with a few hardships like a bad sound.
The article says that it would be easier to quit, but if you hang in there, you will be rewarded greatly. I feel that no matter what, a music teacher's job is to instill a love of music in every person that they can touch. Once students start to have a love of music they will start to sound better because they want to become better. Once a student starts to love music they will be more motivated to try new things and get their friends involved. That is why is it is so important not to quit. Give your students a chance to discover a passion that they never knew they had.
Music Tech Readings: 9/7 - 9/11
This week our readings were on music notation software. The software includes programs like Cakewalk, Sibelius, and Finale. I thought that the readings were very uniform and spat out the same information. I felt as though I was rereading the same article three times.
However the article by Dr. Tom Rudolph, I really enjoyed. I thought that it explained the programs well and how an educator could implement them in his classroom. I do not know if it was the tone or the style of the article, but I felt as though I connected to it better.
I enjoyed how Dr. Rudolph gave many different examples of how to implement software. I think he understood that since there are an infinite amount of ways to teach; therefor he gave a myriad of examples to compliment many teaching styles.
Personally, I feel like music notation software is a must for a music educator. Beyond having your musically inclined students work with software, it is a good way to get non-musically inclined students interested in music. With software like Sibelius, it is easy for a non music student to compose and analyze music.
Before I end I just want to stress how fun it is to work with a computer accompanist. I tried it out when I was in high school, and it really helps out your playing. Of course it cannot replace a piano, but it does let you hear how your music should fit in.
I would definitely use music notation software in my classes, I feel as though it would be very beneficial for my band, and my mental health. However I am still not sold on fully relying on technology for my classroom. There are just some things that humans need to go over with other humans.
However the article by Dr. Tom Rudolph, I really enjoyed. I thought that it explained the programs well and how an educator could implement them in his classroom. I do not know if it was the tone or the style of the article, but I felt as though I connected to it better.
I enjoyed how Dr. Rudolph gave many different examples of how to implement software. I think he understood that since there are an infinite amount of ways to teach; therefor he gave a myriad of examples to compliment many teaching styles.
Personally, I feel like music notation software is a must for a music educator. Beyond having your musically inclined students work with software, it is a good way to get non-musically inclined students interested in music. With software like Sibelius, it is easy for a non music student to compose and analyze music.
Before I end I just want to stress how fun it is to work with a computer accompanist. I tried it out when I was in high school, and it really helps out your playing. Of course it cannot replace a piano, but it does let you hear how your music should fit in.
I would definitely use music notation software in my classes, I feel as though it would be very beneficial for my band, and my mental health. However I am still not sold on fully relying on technology for my classroom. There are just some things that humans need to go over with other humans.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
So you want to teach?
On my PLN I subscribed to a blog named "So you want to teach?". I was really impressed by how the site was set up. I think that it will end up becoming a wonderful resource for me.
One post that I liked was one called "Laying Out a Legacy". The post was about what kind of legacy, or impression, that you ( a teacher) would like to leave after you retire.
I think that this topic is on all educator's minds. I know that it is on mine. I see all these great music programs around me, and I say to myself, "I wish that I could do this one day." I really hope that someday I can truly figure out what I want to accomplish. In a perfect world, I would have the best band in America. But I know that I should have more realistic expectations.
Anyway, this blog already seems very good to me. I know that what is on my mind, is on other educator's minds as well. This sight is more than just a good resource; it is a place to feel included and to know that in the world of education you are not alone.
One post that I liked was one called "Laying Out a Legacy". The post was about what kind of legacy, or impression, that you ( a teacher) would like to leave after you retire.
I think that this topic is on all educator's minds. I know that it is on mine. I see all these great music programs around me, and I say to myself, "I wish that I could do this one day." I really hope that someday I can truly figure out what I want to accomplish. In a perfect world, I would have the best band in America. But I know that I should have more realistic expectations.
Anyway, this blog already seems very good to me. I know that what is on my mind, is on other educator's minds as well. This sight is more than just a good resource; it is a place to feel included and to know that in the world of education you are not alone.
Bicycle Built for Two
Here is a link to the piece "A Bicycle Built for Two" that I rewrote using Noteflight.
Noteflight
I am so happy that I was introduced to the Noteflight website. For what it is, a free website where you can write your own music, it is fantastic. It was very easy to use, and accessible to anyone with the internet.
Like I said, the site was not that hard to use at all. In fact it was very easy to start, and then got even easier when I learned the "shortcuts". I had a fun time using all the functions that the site had to offer. I think that having a website as simple as this is excellent.
My only qualm with Noteflight is the lack of slurs. You are able to write in ties, but no slurs. A lot of music that I would put on this site has slurs. So when I hear the site play my composition back to me, I am a bit disappointed. However other than this one thing, I am so excited to have this site at my disposal.
P.S. I will add what I wrote later, as it is not finished yet!
Like I said, the site was not that hard to use at all. In fact it was very easy to start, and then got even easier when I learned the "shortcuts". I had a fun time using all the functions that the site had to offer. I think that having a website as simple as this is excellent.
My only qualm with Noteflight is the lack of slurs. You are able to write in ties, but no slurs. A lot of music that I would put on this site has slurs. So when I hear the site play my composition back to me, I am a bit disappointed. However other than this one thing, I am so excited to have this site at my disposal.
P.S. I will add what I wrote later, as it is not finished yet!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Music Tech: Week 1
After my first class, I realized how dumb I am when it comes to technology. I really only know the bare minimum about, well, everything. So after reading Dr. Bauer's articles, I start to realize why music educators have trouble incorporating technology in their curriculum.
What struck me first was how much music and technology have to walk hand in hand. I mean without electronic technology a lot of great things in music could have never happened. I never actually recognized how important technology affected me as a performer and an educator.
This got me thinking about what it means to use and apply technology. I remember when I was in my percussion methods class, Mr. Bassett played us an excerpt of a song from his iPod. He wanted to show us how to properly play the symbols. Rather than attempting to show us himself, he found a recording where the cymbal crashes were rather exquisite. I know that Mr. Bassett can play the symbols quite well; but he took the time out of the class to show us just how grand that instrument can be. And I can tell you, whenever I think of playing the symbols, I think of that crash.
So why don't more educators do this. Why cannot all music teachers use technology in this tiny manner. In Dr. Bauer's "A Conceptual Framework for Technology..." he talks about how little music educators use technology in their classrooms. Many of the percentiles were under 10%! And I believe I know why this occurs.
I believe that it is safe to assume that at the time that the surveys were taken that many of the teachers were in the "older" part of their lives. If this was true many students that are learning how to become teachers are not exposed to technology the way they should be. This is because the "older" teachers did not have the technology when they were taught how to teach.
Dr. Bauer also touched on this subject. The older the teacher, the less likely they are to use technology. As he put it, they are "technology immigrants". They have to learn how to use all the new things that come out every year. Thus a cycle is born where young teachers who grew up in a technilogic-less environment, end up teaching in the same fashion.
I think that there is a solution. The PLN that was mentioned in the other article is a great way for educators to stay on top of the latest material. I believe that if our "older" educators utilize the PLN, things will start to look up.
The PLN makes finding information very, very simple. Updates on new teaching methods, instruments, musical groups, and technology are all brought to the user. It makes searching the old way of doing things.
If all educators use this tool, they will start using technology in no time. I feel that the PLN will broaden the minds of its users. Educators will get a look at a world that they might not be able to without it.
All in all I feel that technology has its place in the class room. Does it need to be as heavy as it is in some of the examples, no. Does it need to control the classroom environment, no. Should it be implemented as an aid, absolutely. I feel that with the way our society works, having a way to keep up is wonderful. However a music educator should never lose sight of what the main goal is, and should always be. Passing a love and appreciation of music to everyone.
What struck me first was how much music and technology have to walk hand in hand. I mean without electronic technology a lot of great things in music could have never happened. I never actually recognized how important technology affected me as a performer and an educator.
This got me thinking about what it means to use and apply technology. I remember when I was in my percussion methods class, Mr. Bassett played us an excerpt of a song from his iPod. He wanted to show us how to properly play the symbols. Rather than attempting to show us himself, he found a recording where the cymbal crashes were rather exquisite. I know that Mr. Bassett can play the symbols quite well; but he took the time out of the class to show us just how grand that instrument can be. And I can tell you, whenever I think of playing the symbols, I think of that crash.
So why don't more educators do this. Why cannot all music teachers use technology in this tiny manner. In Dr. Bauer's "A Conceptual Framework for Technology..." he talks about how little music educators use technology in their classrooms. Many of the percentiles were under 10%! And I believe I know why this occurs.
I believe that it is safe to assume that at the time that the surveys were taken that many of the teachers were in the "older" part of their lives. If this was true many students that are learning how to become teachers are not exposed to technology the way they should be. This is because the "older" teachers did not have the technology when they were taught how to teach.
Dr. Bauer also touched on this subject. The older the teacher, the less likely they are to use technology. As he put it, they are "technology immigrants". They have to learn how to use all the new things that come out every year. Thus a cycle is born where young teachers who grew up in a technilogic-less environment, end up teaching in the same fashion.
I think that there is a solution. The PLN that was mentioned in the other article is a great way for educators to stay on top of the latest material. I believe that if our "older" educators utilize the PLN, things will start to look up.
The PLN makes finding information very, very simple. Updates on new teaching methods, instruments, musical groups, and technology are all brought to the user. It makes searching the old way of doing things.
If all educators use this tool, they will start using technology in no time. I feel that the PLN will broaden the minds of its users. Educators will get a look at a world that they might not be able to without it.
All in all I feel that technology has its place in the class room. Does it need to be as heavy as it is in some of the examples, no. Does it need to control the classroom environment, no. Should it be implemented as an aid, absolutely. I feel that with the way our society works, having a way to keep up is wonderful. However a music educator should never lose sight of what the main goal is, and should always be. Passing a love and appreciation of music to everyone.
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