Part
of chapter two discusses other types of media that can be used within the music
classroom to enhance teaching, learning, and the playing abilities of
students. The fact is that we now teach
in a time in which students adapt and learn better with technology. It is the world that they have grown up in
and are digital natives of. It is
foreign to today’s students to learn only by pencil and paper. Some of the other media types that I use in
my classroom are: Pictures, Quality Videos, Online Music Theory Games, Online
Tutorials, and Recorded Music. I have
found all of these to productive and helpful in my classroom. It is important that students listen to good
quality musicians on their instruments and good recordings of the music that
they are playing. How else do students
know what they are supposed to sound like?
Or, know the difference between good and bad music? When choosing online aids to use in class, I also
have to take into consideration a few things that book talks about such as:
age, class, operating systems, and what materials the students will need.
Chapter
four presents us with great software and technological ideas that help with
students performing music. From the
story at the beginning the chapter about Michael, I learned about electronic
mutes and how this can help with a students living in an environment where
practice may be prohibited. I also have
students who live in apartments, or have a new baby in the house and this would
definitely benefit them. Modeling is
important for young musicians. As I stated earlier, they need to hear and
listen to great players and ensembles. Programs like Band-in-a-box and
SmartMusic are beneficial as well to the classroom and the student. I am currently raising money for new
instruments and SmartMusic. I would love
to have this in my classroom, but supported funding is limited I my district.
From
the lecture, I would like to incorporate and encourage students to use online
metronomes and tuners. I would also like
to try using Audacity to record my band classes. I usually just use a digital
recorder. It is beneficial for students
to listen and critique themselves. I
love it when they catch the mistakes themselves. Chromatik has some free music with an online
membership. Among these songs are pop
songs that students like to listen to and I feel that it is important for
students to play things that they enjoy.
Music is supposed to be about enjoyment.
Bauer, W. I. (2014). Music
learning today: Digital pedagogy for creating, performing, and
responding to music.
Bazan, D. (2016, July 26). Technology
Assisted Music Teaching & Professional Development.
Lecture.
Hi Amanda,
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more with you on the topic of listening to expert musicians. As really young students, my 4th graders probably need it most! One thing that puts me on edge about my job is band recruiting in the spring. Towards the end of the year my 4th graders have the option of switching over to band or chorus and need to decide to permanently leave string orchestra. (Band and chorus starts in 5th grade.) One of the ways I motivate my students to stick with the string program, especially my star students, is to show them what can be done on the instrument later on in their musical education. This needs to be executed outside of them hearing their teacher play. My kids know I'm a classical violinist as well as a versatile fiddler. I give them their first taste of this during 3rd grade recruiting. So as you can see when I show them videos on YouTube I like to expose them to alternative styles of music. I show my fiddle player little Carson Peters. He's only 11 or 12 and is already big on the bluegrass scene. He is amazingly talented. I show my cellos Rushad Eggleston who has many videos available and a website who is really "out there" in terms of his own musical style and mainly uses a strap to play standing up! I show my basses Edgar Meyer, who is world class and has completely expanded the boundaries of the double bass.
I also enjoyed the fictitious Michael story. I have many jazz friends who have used band-in-the-box as they were learning to improvise over standards. This is a relatively ancient program but has been adjusted and updated over the years. After doing the "bart" assignment, I remember how easy Audacity is! For dynamics I think it would be great to show students where they are fluctuating and if they are really playing their pianos, fortes, and everything else in between. If time permitted during the school year, lesson plans involving manipulations of their own recordings might be a fun idea. Thanks for sharing.