Week 4

This week was a good reminder of how well we generally have it when it comes to technology in the music education classroom.  Even though there may be limitations to what we can use or have access to, developments in free materials on the internet make things even more reachable than ever. 

The text discussed a variety of programs that are available, most of which I have the ability to use in my classes.  Music notation software, SMARTMusic, YouTube, Metronomes, Tuners; these things are used regularly in many schools across the country.  Something as simple as a metronome/tuner is considered technology, even though it seems almost "silly" to think that. 

Although I did not make mention of this program in my discussion post this week, we also use a piece of online software called "Rhythm Bee" in our beginning band classes.  This is something that does cost money and must be renewed each school year, but is accessed through the internet and provides a multitude of lessons about counting rhythms.  I am not sure if this is being used outside of Texas, but we have been using it for the past three years, and it does seem to be effective.  I would like to see it used past the beginner level, but to my knowledge, there is not an upper tier set of lessons. 

The project for the week focused on using Audacity to create remixes of sound files.  This program is simple enough for a novice to use with a little bit of training, and while not entirely expansive with production tools, certainly provides adequate means to be creative.  I have used similar programs in the past to write/mix/produce electronic music with some colleagues, but those were far more advanced and required a lot of tutelage.  But with the experience that I have, I was able to quickly manipulate the files to produce my project(s).  In the Lynda chapters, there was lot of information that was certainly geared toward some of the more advanced vocabulary.  Understanding sound waves and frequencies is not exactly the easiest thing to do, but having a basic grasp of how to look at those on the program is definitely needed. 

Ultimately, we have a wealth of performance-based technology at our fingertips.  Some of it is free, some of it costs money, but ALL of it is educationally valuable.