A&HM 4029 Spring 2008: Question #1
By jamesfrankel | September 7, 2007
What is your opinion about the past, present, and future role of technology in music education?
Topics: Main Page |
By jamesfrankel | September 7, 2007
What is your opinion about the past, present, and future role of technology in music education?
Topics: Main Page |
January 28th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Testing 1 2 3
January 29th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
What is your opinion of the past, present, and future role of technology in music education?
Past
I’ve been fortunate to have received two educations: the first, pre-computers, all the way through college. After marriage and three children, I returned to a new world for a second degree: in music. Our professors did not use technology at all for theory classes. Ear training was a guessing game, and I’ve no idea how I passed. However, study guides for music history courses used CD-ROM, and I was hurled into the twenty-first century completely unprepared. I remember the embarrassment of not being able to access the material because I hadn’t known to do the updates, and the computer needed them to accept the study guides. I still don’t even have the right vocabulary.
Present
My jobs as a substitute teacher are posted via the internet. PTA notices are on email. I receive family photos from distant relatives via the internet. BUT, I share a computer with two of my children, hold two jobs, and need to practice music. So there’s not a lot of computer time in my world. My oldest son is now a Columbia student, and he works for CUIT. He’s very computer-savvy, and has grudgingly taught me everything I know. I tried using Sibelius once, but the piece I was writing ended itself, and I couldn’t figure out how to add more measures. Every time I need to learn something new I get tense, mostly because I really hate bothering my son and I can’t figure the stuff out on my own.
Future
The past two paragraphs are my personal experiences. I really don’t know where music education is headed. I know I’d like to be able to transcribe simplified Bach for elementary strings, and to get children to write their own pieces to perform. I feel that technology is only as creative as the person using it. I love the violin because (this sounds crazy) I can access microtones and play out of tune if I wish. It’s my heart to my fingers—I can’t explain it well. Sometimes I think the computer might be too binary—either something’s this or it’s that. But there’s that funny middle that defies logic, and that’s pretty much all there is when I pick up the violin, or get the old folks or the children to sing their hearts out. Something undefinable. Sure, I’d like to be able to access all those wonderful songs. But I don’t want to get sidetracked from the real reasons I do music.
January 30th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Technology in Music Education: Past, Present and Future
Past:
My school music classes did not utilize technology. Fortunately, I grew up working in my family’s music store in Northern NJ where I had many opportunities to witness the latest in music technology. I attended NAMM (National Association of Musical Merchants) shows and worked with MIDI technology, Roland piano classes, the latest in synthesizers and more.
Our piano store, which was in business for over 70 years, was the second oldest Yamaha dealership on the East Coast. We had some of the first Disclaviers, acoustic/electric/player pianos, which had software for teaching piano skills. I also was at the unveiling of the MIDI grand piano. Yamaha was discussing a satellite performance option for owners of the Disklavier as well. The concept being that if, for example, a concert pianist is performing on a Yamaha MIDI grand at say Carnegie Hall, you would be able to see the performance live on your own Disclavier in your living room.
Present:
Presently I am not teaching. But, once I do start teaching I would like to utilize technology to enhance my classroom.
Future:
The sky’s the limit. It has become easier to produce musical projects from the classroom and from the home. Thanks to the Internet musicians are able to promote and sell their music worldwide. Students are able to use the present musical technology tools to paint their sonic canvases. Due to the ease and accessibility of this technology ethnic must be taken into account as well.
–Maureen A. Marino
January 30th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
It was interesting to sit and try and remember my technological experiences growing up. I had truly never thought about it. Technology in some form is such a daily part of my life as a mom and a teacher now, I guess I felt as if it had always been there. When I actually began recalling technological memories, I made a discovery that shocked me - I HAD NONE! We never had a computer in our home until my parents purchased one after I went to college in 1994. I remember learning word perfect on my roommate’s computer and saving papers on a floppy disc. I do have a distinct memory of someone showing me how to go on the internet in my freshman year of college. I also remember not quite getting it… Up until college, my Aiwa cassette and CD player in my bedroom was my technology vein – used daily as a singer – but there were no other experiences that I can remember. (Do writing college applications on a typewriter count?)
In my first year of teaching in 1998, I remember being thrilled to have a brand new Mac in my choir room office. In my school district, you had to take a 10 hour computer course on everything Mac in order to get a computer in your room. After groaning for the first few classes, I was really enjoying learning how to maneuver through the different applications. If we are being completely honest, I really LOVED learning how to “make things pretty” with different fonts and colors. And don’t get me started on the drawing documents – oh, the pretty things I could create! Completing my first concert program that year was like the Mona Lisa of the middle school choir world to me. (Looking back, it was not so impressive…) Still, until the past two years, I hadn’t used the computer other than for myself as a teacher. I used it for everything administrative – Word, Excel, email, internet and various gradebook software were a part of the daily routine. In the past two years, I have just begun to allow my students’ technological expertise thrive in the general music classroom, adding more power point projects and internet researched information and listening. Yet, it still has not become a true tool in planning lesson instruction and delivery.
For the future, I truly feel that if I don’t begin running a lot faster after the vehicle of technology in the music classroom, I will be left behind. My middle school students already surpass me in their knowledge of music on the internet, ipods, podcasts, downloading, burning, etc. That is such an important part of their everyday lives and will only continue to grow. Especially for my general music students, I see music technology as a way to capture their interest and pull them into the beautiful and powerful world of music history, composition, and exploration of new genres. I believe that this will only grow to be more true in the future and it will very soon be vital that we reach students through their “technology vein” if we are to connect music with their daily lives and other interests.
February 1st, 2008 at 9:22 am
My opinion about the past, present and future role of technology in music education:
I don’t really know much about the role of technology in the past. No technology was used in any of my classes in my college. I have taken a course on how to use music technology such as Finale. However, none of the professors actually used technology in their teaching in the class. Outside my own personal experience, I don’t know much about the use of technology in music education.
I now use Sibelius for my teaching. I make exercises, short tunes or do arrangements for my students. My husband have recently bought Mac. It was his dream to buy a Mac computer for a while and we finally got one. It’s great. After buying this computer, I really want to be more computer savvy and use this computer to its full capacity.
I still really don’t know too much about how technology is used on classrooms to teach music or any instrument. For me, as I mentioned before I use a software such as Sibelius to compose something that I can use to teach my students. However, that’s still a personal use. I want to know how I can use technology in my classes or my lessons to enhance students’ learning.
I think that it’s very important to incorporate technology into our teaching now and in the future. It’s part of our life and it’s big part of young people’s lives. I agree with Sarah that especially for general music classes and for instrumental classes, the use of music technology can make it really interesting for students and encourage and motivate them more.
I want my teaching to be well rounded. I want to keep the traditional way but incorporate music technology to improve my teaching.
February 1st, 2008 at 2:34 pm
I didn’t have a computer growing up. When I was an assistant principal at a kindergarten, I attended the seminar that was required by my school. It was during that time when I saw a computer for the first time. It was difficult for me to learn about using computers because there was too much information given by the instructor in a short period of time. The school that I worked for had no computer labs on campus, so after the seminar, I had no place to practice the skills that I had learned. Naturally, I lost all the knowledge that I had learned from the seminar. I am used to writing lesson plans on paper and am more comfortable using a tape recorder/player, and CD player rather than an iPod or MP3.
Since I had first accessed a computer, technology has developed rapidly. Products such as an iPod, cell phones, PDAs, and musical software helps students to be involved with technology. Software programs such as Garageband, Finale, and Sibelius helps students with creative compositions. Students can also download music, lecture, and they can even participate in online discussions. It is amazing how much technology is integrated into our lesson plans.
I imagine that after five years, we will see, even more classes being offered online. Even elementary school children will be bringing in laptops to the classroom to take notes. There will probably be less and less paper-based documentations. Most of the homework and class assignments will be done and submitted electronically. There will be less spelling errors and teachers will have to worry less about having to read students’ bad handwriting. Development of future technology will benefit the education industry because each student will be able to explore the Internet world and learn at a pace that is characteristic of this world.
Children adapt to technology fast. Sometimes children have more advanced knowledge than teachers in our own classroom. However, it is also a reality that more and more children are becoming too dependent on technology. I worry that children are growing up in a virtual world-Internet and they are becoming less social in the real world. It is important that the teachers are aware of the dangers of technology. Children should grow up taking advantages from a wonderful technology, but they should not grow up like robots. It is a teacher’s job to differentiate between taking advantage of and abusing technology in their classroom setting.
February 1st, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Past-Thinking back, my twenty years or so of music training had almost no involvement with technology. I was trained in the traditional way by traditional teachers. Theory and history classes were all written and piano lessons, ear training etc were all practical between me and my teacher. The only time I think that I had the opportunity to use technology in music was when I was college and my theory class professor requires all student to download software called Noteability Lite. Something like that I recall. We had used this software to do homework such as composing etc so that our work will show up neat and clean. That was it! All technology had to do in my years of music training.
Present-Having no technology background, I teach private piano lessons in the traditional ways. Although I know there are a small amount of teachers who actually buy software and set up stations in their studios and have their students spend part of the lesson at the different stations to work on theory and ear training etc. I want to figure out a way of setting up my studio like that and let the students use what they use most of the time at home to learn music. But my knowledge in this field is very limited and I don’t even know where to start from plus all the teachers I know and my friends who teaches piano all teach in the same traditional way. So I keep holding back this idea.
Future-I believe that most music schools or music colleges do not require students to all take a music technology course and most musicians teaches in the traditional way. However, I think there is a slow increase of interest in music technology among students these days so hopefully, in five years from now, a lot more modern teacher can use technology to teach their students to make learning ear tests, learning theory and history a more enjoyable activity for students.
February 2nd, 2008 at 4:58 pm
PAST-
I remember hearing about music technology before I encountered it. My high school finally got a computer lab by my senior year, and there was talk that they might start a “keyboard lab” whatever that was…then in college I took one group piano class where our teacher could listen in on our practicing or we could all play together or in duets, and I thought that was pretty cool. In one of my methods classes we took a field trip to the computer lab and, I felt in a desperate attempt, gave us a crash course in music software and websites we could use in our teaching. It was never reinforced and once nobody was there to explain it to me, I never tried to use the software again. When I tried to transcribe music, I would get very frustrated and I always wished and somehow knew there was a computer program that could probably help with that. If only I knew how to use it! Then…
PRESENT
I just gave up on technology and figured the kids I was teaching needed enough help without adding technology to the mix. I teach in the “traditional” way, although I do love overheads and since I work at an environmental school and consider myself something of an environmentalist, the idea of not using paper and still having an interactive exercise is appealing to me. However, just last month I used an LCD projector for the very first time and showed Amadeus for my students. They loved it! By not using technology I am definitely making my life more difficult, however. Increasingly, I teach students who have no music background and cannot practice their music at home because of that and a lack of piano/ keyboard. If I could use my new Mac (GARAGEBAND!!) and record the vocal parts for my students, that would save me time and effort and put more accountability on them.
FUTURE- I agree with Ko-chu that it is not encouraged enough for educators, and especially music educators to be prolific in technology. Music technology classes should be mandatory at the college level. Employers should want their new hires to integrate technology and should give teachers the resources in which to do it- beginning with a computer in the classroom and, in a perfect world, providing professional development specifically in that area. I hope that after this class I continue to keep myself refreshed in technology and that I use it to not only make my life easier, but to enrich my students’ learning.
February 3rd, 2008 at 9:00 am
What I’ve been grown up with Technology
Raised from the conservative family, my parents were highly concerned with the rapid growth in technology. When the internet began in 90’s, my parents really thought it would soon be the end of civilization. So I was one of those school kids, who really wished how to use computer, and turning papers with neatly typed-letters. Because I decided my road to study abroad in states in 1999, my father then taught me how to use Microsoft Words. After spending my first year at high school, I found out that it is almost impossible not using computers and internet for school assignments. After I completed my first year at school, I then asked my parents for the permission of getting a laptop; that way I can do my homework even when school library closes. Surprisingly, they said it was okay, and from then on, I used computer for typing, internet, and e-mail etc.
How I was experienced with Music Technology
It was really the college year when I experienced with music technology. I attended my undergraduate in Indiana, where the school has a various music tools. My second assignment in freshmen year was to compose music by using either sibelius or finales. The purpose was to familiarize with notation software. I remembered the software was really neat; because I was able to play my music as I compose. It makes composition very accessible. However, notating was very tricky in sibelius; sometimes, my notation would get messy even when I made slight changes. Therefore, it took me a very long time to finish 16 measures of writing. Secondly, I learn to use software, which was a so-called the drill. The software was in the computers at the music library, where we can exercise our ear-trainings. Because I was being little uptight at my first year in school, I’d go to library and play those tools to notate. It was strange at first, because of non-resonated notes, but it definitely helped me get through dictation exam. It is very easy to use, so I find it very useful as well. The third music software called variations 2, and I believe that it is invented from the school. It’s a type of music software, where the students have an access of listening music directly through internet. Therefore, people don’t have to hassle themselves by checking out CD’s, and waiting 20 minutes to retrieve. Also, everyone can prepare listening exam, and not waiting turns for the reserved CD. The variation 2 is also available at home (as long as I have school ID), so it was very convenient. There is another useful tool in this software; the users can annotate particular passage of the music or map out the form of the piece. When I first made my annotated assignment, I really enjoyed watching as well as listen to them. In terms of concerning the copy rights, the software didn’t let people download the recordings. Unfortunately, the newly updated variation is not as frequently working as it used to be; my assumption is that still, it may have an issue with copy rights.
What is my prediction to the next step of Music Technology?
It was the college year, which made me experienced with music technology. To complete presentations and assignments, I learned to use newly updated music technology (or even non-music software like power point, broacher). Almost of all of them, I find it very useful, and helping me organized. I can’t imagine what it would be like if lecturers no longer have their access for these music technology; it would be impossible to present lecture with almost 200-300 students in the hall. Interestingly enough, in the situation of big lectures, the technology creates more personal relationship between the teacher and the students in classroom; by using e-mails, microphones, power-points, online question of the day. My belief is that the music technology is on-growingly integrated in classrooms. However, I am still questioning the necessity of music technology based on my experience at arts high school; a kind of school environment where the classroom is small and everyone can play their instruments very well. Also, there is an issue for financial support in small school. Therefore, my prediction is that the teachers would adapt the new technology, based on such an aspect; the amount of financial support, familiarity of using technology and the size of class students.
February 3rd, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Past
I do have to say that being twenty-five has given me and advantage, through technology was still young, I was born into the age with computers. When I was young my father influenced me the most, a self proclaimed computer nerd, he taught me everything about computers and introduced me to dial-up internet. Throughout my school age experience I was exposed to many educational games my favorites being Number Munchers and Oregon Trail. But for the most part my music classes did not use technology or computers to aid instruction. College was a different though I was exposed to Finale and MacGAMUT and was expected to know how to navigate through them. This continued into my first teaching job in Las Vegas, where I was given the opportunity through profession development to become familiar with SmartMusic and Finale again. I feel now I have a working knowledge and can get around the computer if need be. I am also eager to learn how new and upcoming technology can assist me in teaching my band class more effectively.
Present
Currently I teach middle school band in Brooklyn. I started the program two years ago and feel that now that program is off the ground I can start to implement ideas to enhance it. Fortunately, my school has invested in a new computer lab and also takes part in an initiative from Chase that provides every student a Dell computer and internet when they enroll in 6th grade. This I think is truly remarkable because most of my students and their families would not have the means to purchase this technology on their own. Though many of my ideas are still in the infant stages, I feel that technology will bridge a gap and show students different ways music can be expressed.
Future
In the future, I believe we must be able to bridge the gap between the “old” and “new” styles of how music education is presented. An essential part of this is using all available resources such as technology. Students of today are savvier than ever before. Technology engages students and makes them active participates in their own musical lives. In the future, I hope that all schools will have the resources to do just this. Make music technology a reality for all students.
~Meghan McDevitt
February 3rd, 2008 at 6:25 pm
Experience and Thoughts on Music Technology
Past:
I attended undergraduate as a music education major in the 70’s (yes, I’m an elder). We did not use technology in our studies. We were still trying to get our Jazz studies program up and running. My experience with computers did not exist earlier because it was a different era. We were still very analog. I left school to make a record for polygram and never completed my degree in music. I was still very analog for most of my recording and touring. It wasn’t until the 80’s that I bought my first MAC. My writing partner at the time was using midi and sequencing and I was thrilled by it. I eventual was signed to a publishing deal and bought my own recording gear — but it was still midi and flying tracks to D88s. I now know DP/pro tools quite well and use it all of the time for work.
Present:
I returned to get my Edm in music because I want to teach young people the joy and empowerment of music. I have an MA in Peace Education and I am really interested in an interdisciplinary approach to music and social justice. That said, I am still doing production and my analog gear is collecting dust. Everything I do is in the computer- I record with other musicians and post the tracks on my FTP site. I never see anyone anymore!!! Although it may sound like I know a lot about technology I have learned only what I’ve needed to keep working in production. I don’t even know what FTP stands for. I’m intrigued with where the music industry is heading with digital downloads and believe music technology is essential in the production of music for film and tv. I am also very excited to see how technology can be used as a tool in music education. I’m very excited about your class.
Future:
Music education will have to become about technology. There is no stopping it. Of course there will always be the need to learn an instrument (hopefully) but unless one is on their way to music conservatory the answer to get young people motivated to take music class is all about technology! Technology can also be a wonderful tool to teach a young person how to play an instrument. I have two children who are now taking piano lessons the old fashion way but I am seriously thinking about changing that and using software to motivate them.
February 3rd, 2008 at 8:27 pm
PAST : I grew up in a house where as early as I can remember my Dad was using MIDI. (He’s a computer guy AND a musician!) I remember transcribing my piano music note by note into Cakewalk so I could hear what it was supposed to sound like. As a high school student, we used Finale in our Theory III class for composition. We also used basic tape recorders for sight singing and diction. Surprisingly, I used less technology in college music classes than I did in high school.
PRESENT: I work for a district where technology is a high priority. I have been trained on web site building, ilife, and garage band. We just received a promethian board in our library and are encouraged to use it to aid in instruction. I teach my students composition and form through garage band, we research composers and create power point presentations, and record ourselves performing. My older elementary students get hands-on music technology experience, and my younger elementary students are exposed to it in an instructional facility.
FUTURE: I see myself using technology more and more as both an instructional aid and in administrative ways. I am completely sold on its value and use in the classroom. That being said, I also am seeing the effects that music technology is having on our high school students. Enrollment in our more traditional music performing ensembles is way down, because when students reach junior high school and must choose a music elective, they are going for digital music, (or electric guitar!) and leaving their instruments or chorus behind. I think this is a shame! I believe that students should enhance their music education with technology, but nothing is a substitute for actually playing and making music. I wish, at least in this case, that it wasn’t an all or nothing choice.
On the other side of the coin, I love the way that digital music and music technology can reach students who would normally not be involved or interested in music at all. I feel that it reaches some students who traditional music have left behind.
I see great potential for music technology, I just hope it can be balanced with good old performance and practice. I think they mutually compliment each other and enhance the music experience overall.
February 3rd, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Past-
When I went to elementary school, I thought the computer was something that adult use, not for children. It’s when I went to junior high, when we had computer lab class once every week. We learned how to type correctly by using all the fingers and few “educational” programs where we had to solve math problems by using game programs. I really didn’t think about needing computer back then, partially because as long as our hand written was neat and clean, everything was given to teachers by hand written. Especially thinking about using technology in music class was something that I never thought about in back in those days.
Present-
I believe have own web-site is very important for business, teachers and for everyone. Currently we can’t really live without a computer; basically everything is related to computer. As a student, we could do research, searching faster by using Google search engines and receiving and sharing news in faster time than ever before.
Future-
The computer (technology) will never be gone for sure! In music technology, although I never had an experience in this field, I believe that this program should expand to all the schools because I think children should get involve in learning and to experience in music making, not only with an instrument but also with technology instrument, a computer. I believe that learning music technology is important for educational purposes, as an educator, sharing much information through online(web-site) for not only your class but to share with whoever has interest to visit to the web-site. Although I am not teaching yet, I am taking this class because I believe that this class will help me to develop as a better educator and since the world is rapidly growing into more technology, I want to upgrade my knowledge in technology to apply to my teaching and to become a better educator.
February 3rd, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Past
I don’t recall any professors using technology in their teaching in my college classes. Maybe technology in teaching at that time was not popular and useful. Most students were only able to use the Microsoft Word to edit their reports. Following technological progress, technology in teaching became more important and more prevalent than before. After college, I worked as a music teacher in a high school for several years. I tried to use the Power Point in my teaching because it was easy to attract students and made my teaching more clearly.
Present
I am not teaching presently in order to concentrate on my TC studying and to observe the skills of education in America. Also, I hope to acquire all kinds of music education knowledge.
Future
I will go back to my country and back to my teaching career once my study in America is over. By studying technology, I hope that my teaching will be changed to incorporate not only the Power Point but also other programs. I truly think that technology will increase the effect and the value of my teaching.
February 3rd, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Past
Technology didn’t quite play a large part in education for me until written papers required word perfect. I enjoyed playing computer games but all in all any technological effect in music was non-existent until college. I took the required orchestration and composition courses which somewhat familiarized me with Sibelius (of course I’ve forgotten everything by now). I also took a piano proficiency class where the professor was able to monitor and speak with individual students through a headset as well as singularly listen to their progression.
Present
I use the computer for schoolwork, email, and am slowly learning Garageband for compositional purposes. I feel crippled at times not being able to automatically transfer what I hear in my head onto the computer. All of my teaching is studio work so the technological idea centralizes around recording vocal/instrumental lessons as well as using cd accompaniment. I am definitely on a war path to understand more about music technology as it is such a growing interest especially with students who are mastering a new generation of musical art.
Future
I have no doubt that music technology is an ever growing necessity and will play an even larger part in the future. I too would like to find balance between traditional forms of introducing music and blend them evenly with the technological advances that are offered today. I will admit though that at times I feel insulted by what music technology can allow. Anyone who understands the click of a button can claim musicianship. I feel robbed of the thousands of dollars I have spent in music lessons and training just to watch another person’s proficiency in composition excel my own for the mere fact that they know the inner workings of a computer. Clearly I am jealous and just need to learn how to work the current compositional programs. It’s painful.
February 3rd, 2008 at 10:31 pm
Past
Through elementary I do not remember any technology that was music for music class. I only remember keyboarding skills where you had to fight off the asteroids by getting math questions correct. Middle school and high school was almost the same as elementary, except I do remember recording devices when we went to festival. In high school we actually did a recording in a studio which was a long process but exciting at the same time. Through college I started to use more music technology from recording myself on to a CD for an audition or working with Finale in one of my music education classes.
Present
:
I am making it a point to use more technology in the classroom. I have a recording device for my Ipod which is great for small recording and for the students to hear what they have performed. Being a band director for two years I have only used CD recordings, recording equipment, electric pianos and synthesizers in the classroom. I would love to start doing a podcast with my students. I think it would be a great idea for them to spend more time using Sibelius or Finale for music theory!
Future
I feel that in the future music technology will be an essential tool that each teacher must use in the classroom. Because technology is a trend I believe that all teachers will have to use technology in their classroom. Also with the internet we are able to find anything that we need. So it will be easier for us as teachers because we can tell students websites that will help them at home.
February 4th, 2008 at 12:12 am
As far as the past is concerned, I think it should be pointed out that music, education and technology are historically intertwined. Just as much as musicians have historically been teachers and students of music, they have also been technologists by necessity. Any musician who has ever taught a student how to tune or replace a string, or has explained how to strike a key, has already entered the world of educational technology. Of course, it all depends on how you define “technology,” but I’m using the word in its broadest sense.
In that broad sense, music technology has really been around since the beginning. When the ancient problems of tuning were revisited during the Baroque era, new solutions and advances in technology set the stage for the evolution of tonal music; during the late Classical and early Romantic eras, the industrial revolution led to significant advances in instrument design which, in turn, changed the way music was composed and played. Today, it’s largely computer technology that is influencing the way music is played, composed and taught, but the fact that technology is a factor in how things are changing is nothing new. The unfortunate fact that technology is approached with fear and skepticism from traditionalists and the technically illiterate is nothing new either.
It’s interesting to note that the ancient Greeks grouped music together with mathematics and the sciences in their own breakdown of teachable knowledge. Although it may seem like a strange choice to us today, our most recent understanding of the “musical brain” seems to corroborate this original instinct.
Presently, I’m a music technology teacher at a pubic high school in the Bronx. I work mostly with underprivileged kids–many of whom have never established any meaningful connection to what goes on the classroom, or have ever achieved any level of academic success. In the past year, I have witnessed the amazing and dramatic effect that technology can have in the classroom and on individual lives. Many of my students sign up for digital music production class because they want to “make beats.” They want to make rap or hip-hop tracks, and they are lured by the promise of luxuriant lifestyles portrayed by today’s popular artists. Instead, they often find a different kind of wealth. For many, the experience of learning to use the computers in a lab environment is the first time they are ever significantly engaged or experience “flow” in any classroom activity. Once students start to successfully interact with music production software like Reason, GarageBand and Logic, they quickly gain satisfaction and confidence in their work, their demeanor changes and often times, everything else begins to change and follow. I’ve seen students with serious criminal and behavioral backgrounds with low test scores and academic averages find their first positive creative experience with music technology, and subsequently transform everything else in their lives. At the end of one semester, one such student actually went from a 40 average to making the honor roll. This, I believe, is an example of how powerful music technology can be in the classroom today.
In the coming years, I predict that teaching digital music production will be understood and embraced as a powerful and effective strategy to reach and inspire otherwise inaccessible student populations. I also believe that more studies will be done to quantify those changes and as a result, administrators will be more willing to provide the necessary money and resources necessary to keep technology current in classrooms and labs. Sadly, most classrooms and labs I’ve seen outside of my teaching situation are usually about five or more years behind the times. Beyond that, I believe many of us will see a different kind of technological revolution effect music, which will arise from a greater understanding of the human brain. As researchers learn more about how the brain processes music and accounts for our perception and experience of music, we are able to make modifications and improvements to existing music technology. The psycho-acoustic principles behind MP3 compression is a wonderful case-in-point. I believe we can look forward to more discoveries and break-throughs in this field in the coming years.
February 11th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Past- In my early childhood, my father bought for me children’s music video tapes that taught me vocabulary and musical notes. I danced and sang to the music while trying to vocalize the words that the tapes was teaching. I enjoyed and I learned a lot.
Present- Current time, I use a Midi-Disk player when I go to my voice lessons. I record my voice and later I listen critically. I look for ways to improve.
The technology is vital to my learning. I also listen to classical music on a CD player.
Future- I envision technology as increasingly vital to my music education teaching. I foresee the children learning vocabulary through musical video tapes and acquiring musical skills through computer programs. I also expect my students to create their own music through synthesizer.