Well, maybe I've saved the best for last! Since this is my blog, I've saved one of my favorite music websites of all time! It's a compilation of everything that has to do with music fit nicely into one comprehensive website. If you think that this is too good to be true, check it out! You will be pleasantly surprised!
Do you like musicology? This site has links for you. Do you like Rap music? This site has links for you. Do you enjoy composition? This site has links for you. Do you like C.P.E Bach? This site has links for you. Do you like the Cleveland Browns? This site DOES NOT have links for you. Who likes the Browns?
http://www.music-sites.net/
Friday, December 4, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
My PLN - Web Radio - Christmas Music
Have you been a good boy or girl this year? Are you ready for Santa Claus to come to town? Are you ready to "Deck the Halls" and "Trim your Tree with Christmas glee?" Well then, if you happen to also be someone who is constantly on your computer, boy do I have a great web site for you! Web Radio has a 24-a-day website that broadcasts all your favorite Christmas music while you work! What could be more wonderful than that?
Do you have lots of bills to pay online? Are you going to be doing a lot of on-line shopping? Do you have lots of homework for MUED 320/420 when you should be sharing the holidays with your family? Then please discover the joy of Web Radio, and go listen to Christmas music around the clock!
Merry Christmas!
http://www.web-radio.com/christmas/
Do you have lots of bills to pay online? Are you going to be doing a lot of on-line shopping? Do you have lots of homework for MUED 320/420 when you should be sharing the holidays with your family? Then please discover the joy of Web Radio, and go listen to Christmas music around the clock!
Merry Christmas!
http://www.web-radio.com/christmas/
Assisted Technology
Right from the beginning of this article, I was impressed with all the possibilities that technology can give us in life if we take advantage of all that is out there. I was especially impressed with the technology that is available to the handicapped, whether or not their challenges be physical or mental. I have to say that the video about the boy in the wheelchair made me really sad. I'm sorry, that was my honest first reaction. Even though the technology offered to him was wonderful, it looked like somewhat of a humiliating situation. But then, remembering that this was a growing experience for him, I learned to appreciate the good qualities of what was going on. He was obviously doing the very best he could to express himself, and this should always be valued in cultures across the world. It's unfortunate I think that too many people would not take something like this seriously. I know I would, but it would have to take a mature audience. I think I mostly worry about the reactions of people in high school and middle school. Would they be mature enough to handle this situation? One would hope so.
This also reminded me of "Mr. Holland's Opus," where Mr. Holland's son was born deaf. I remember that in the movie, Mr. Holland used light technology to express the music to his deaf son. I think that technology like this should be made available to people with special handicaps everywhere.
Whenever we can help people that are disabled learn and have moving experiences in the arts, it is a special bonus. How lucky we are that we live in a day and age when such technology already exists, or is in the process of developing. My father used to work for a company that helped people with scoliosis and other spinal disorders. It was amazing what they were able to do for the patient - they made a special chair with braces attached all over it to "sit the people up" so they wouldn't lay down and decay. It gave meaning to their lives and helped them to enjoy experiences that otherwise they could only dream about. My dad's job always inspired me, and I know that we can do the same thing by bringing this technology to the arts.
This also reminded me of "Mr. Holland's Opus," where Mr. Holland's son was born deaf. I remember that in the movie, Mr. Holland used light technology to express the music to his deaf son. I think that technology like this should be made available to people with special handicaps everywhere.
Whenever we can help people that are disabled learn and have moving experiences in the arts, it is a special bonus. How lucky we are that we live in a day and age when such technology already exists, or is in the process of developing. My father used to work for a company that helped people with scoliosis and other spinal disorders. It was amazing what they were able to do for the patient - they made a special chair with braces attached all over it to "sit the people up" so they wouldn't lay down and decay. It gave meaning to their lives and helped them to enjoy experiences that otherwise they could only dream about. My dad's job always inspired me, and I know that we can do the same thing by bringing this technology to the arts.
Friday, November 13, 2009
My PLN - The Mahler Archives
So, are you like me? Do you think that Gustav Mahler was the best composer ever to live? Do you think that his music will be played for time and all eternity? Me too!
So you ask, where can I go on the web to download some of the best talks given on this great composer and his works? Well the answer to this is quite simple. I would tell you to go to "The Mahler Archives." Maintained by the Chicago Mahlerites and the Colorado Mahlerfest, this is a fantastic site dedicated to scholarly writings about all aspects of Mahler's life and music. It also includes other things, like pictures, abstracts of letters, etc...
So what are you waiting for? Check out "The Mahler Archives" before you don't have any more time left!
http://www.mahlerarchives.net
So you ask, where can I go on the web to download some of the best talks given on this great composer and his works? Well the answer to this is quite simple. I would tell you to go to "The Mahler Archives." Maintained by the Chicago Mahlerites and the Colorado Mahlerfest, this is a fantastic site dedicated to scholarly writings about all aspects of Mahler's life and music. It also includes other things, like pictures, abstracts of letters, etc...
So what are you waiting for? Check out "The Mahler Archives" before you don't have any more time left!
http://www.mahlerarchives.net
Digital Citizen, Digital Photography, Gimp
I think the world has long been waiting for an article like "Digital Citizen" to come out. With changes in technology across the world mean wonderful improvements across society. However, with wonderful improvements also come some unwanted changes. As the world changes, we need to keep up with it. And being in the digital age is no excuse for bad behavior to occur with new technology.
This article talked about harmful situations like cheating on a test or texting during class, and other equally inappropriate things. As an educator in the 21st Century, it will become more important to acquaint ourselves with what is being used by the general population. Cell phones are now not only popular for calling and texting, but also for use with the internet. This has many wonderful implications, but students with such technology siting in a classroom may have too many distractions when it comes to learning. As a teacher, I cannot and willnot tolerate texting in class. Nor will I allow cheating, or forms of bad communication. I certainly think that we need to be aware of even more dangerous activities like "sexting," where sexual harrassment can lead into lawsuits and expulsion of teachers and students alike. The more technology increases and we use it in the classroom, the more potential we have to teach students in new, envigorating ways. However, we must be reminded that this technology is a privilegde, and misusing it would make it a double-edged sword.
I also loved the article on "Digital Photography." I loved it very much because I am still one of those kids living in the 90s without a digital camera. That's right! I do not yet own a digital camera, nor do I have any desire to go out and buy one. But that's not to say that I don't think that the digital technology associated with pictures isn't incredible! My brother has owned his own digital camera from the very begining, and I've always been impressed with everything he's been able to do with it. He loves "Apple" computers, and has been using "Macbooks" all throughout his life - more than he reads regular books. I was always impressed with his creations, but scared off by how expensive Adobe Photophop was. I couldn't believe it! But now, with programs such as Gimp and others, we are able to do much of the same that we would on Adobe Photoshop. I have limited experience with Gimp, but as I get into digital camera technology, I will look forward to using such a neat program.
Finally, in this day and age it is very important that we constantly review the rules of publishing information, whether it is on or off the internet. I have seen many careers come to an end with the pitfalls of plagarism and the like, so I have always been extra careful to list my sources, whatever the project may be. Because the internet is still new to some people, we have to constantly educate those who are not as familiar with it as we are. New books need to be written. It is time that as we are in the digital age, we become fully acountable in every aspect of what we do.
This article talked about harmful situations like cheating on a test or texting during class, and other equally inappropriate things. As an educator in the 21st Century, it will become more important to acquaint ourselves with what is being used by the general population. Cell phones are now not only popular for calling and texting, but also for use with the internet. This has many wonderful implications, but students with such technology siting in a classroom may have too many distractions when it comes to learning. As a teacher, I cannot and willnot tolerate texting in class. Nor will I allow cheating, or forms of bad communication. I certainly think that we need to be aware of even more dangerous activities like "sexting," where sexual harrassment can lead into lawsuits and expulsion of teachers and students alike. The more technology increases and we use it in the classroom, the more potential we have to teach students in new, envigorating ways. However, we must be reminded that this technology is a privilegde, and misusing it would make it a double-edged sword.
I also loved the article on "Digital Photography." I loved it very much because I am still one of those kids living in the 90s without a digital camera. That's right! I do not yet own a digital camera, nor do I have any desire to go out and buy one. But that's not to say that I don't think that the digital technology associated with pictures isn't incredible! My brother has owned his own digital camera from the very begining, and I've always been impressed with everything he's been able to do with it. He loves "Apple" computers, and has been using "Macbooks" all throughout his life - more than he reads regular books. I was always impressed with his creations, but scared off by how expensive Adobe Photophop was. I couldn't believe it! But now, with programs such as Gimp and others, we are able to do much of the same that we would on Adobe Photoshop. I have limited experience with Gimp, but as I get into digital camera technology, I will look forward to using such a neat program.
Finally, in this day and age it is very important that we constantly review the rules of publishing information, whether it is on or off the internet. I have seen many careers come to an end with the pitfalls of plagarism and the like, so I have always been extra careful to list my sources, whatever the project may be. Because the internet is still new to some people, we have to constantly educate those who are not as familiar with it as we are. New books need to be written. It is time that as we are in the digital age, we become fully acountable in every aspect of what we do.
Friday, November 6, 2009
My PLN - Classical.Net
This is an amazing website that gives the biographies and discographies of all the major classical composers since before the time of Bach. It is a wonderful resource to go to if you want to learn more about a specific composer, his history, and his compositional output. I don't agree with all of the suggested discography, but I will admit that most of the recordings suggested are a good starting point for most people learning about classical music.
This is a perfect website for younger students to start learning about a great array of composers, and their most famous compositions. I definitely wish I had something like this growing up! A 2nd or 3rd grader could easily reference this website in a book report or school project. They could learn about music history, and get a great start on all the amazing music in the world.
So, check it out!
http://www.classical.net
This is a perfect website for younger students to start learning about a great array of composers, and their most famous compositions. I definitely wish I had something like this growing up! A 2nd or 3rd grader could easily reference this website in a book report or school project. They could learn about music history, and get a great start on all the amazing music in the world.
So, check it out!
http://www.classical.net
Digitial Natives - Digital Immigants - Other Articles
I personally loved the article on Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants. The author seemed to group everyone in the world into one of these two categories. I'm not so sure about myself, however. I want to say that somehow I grew up in the right place at the right time where I was caught in the middle. For a large portion of my life, there was no internet (it did exist, but nobody knew about it). However, when I was in 8th grade passing over to my Freshman year of high school, the internet was all the rage. With American On-Line, Netscape, and popular websites like "Yahoo," we were all excited to get online and get something called "electronic mail." I remember exactly when this happened, and as I have commented many times before, I grabbed on to this new technology. I learned HTML and was quickly making websites. Soon, email became my normal mode of conversation and correspondence.
From this point in my life onward, I lived in a digital world. In fact if I think very hard back on the fact, I cannot remember a time in my life where the internet wasn't important. Now, part of this has to do with the internet coming of age at precisely the time where I became aware of the world around me. But somehow, I still don't fit in to one of the two "labels" laid out before me. I feel that either I was a young pioneer in the "digitally native age," or one of the last people in the "digital immigrant" age. I think that I am a transitional figure, and there are many like me who lived in my exact time. It's sort of Stravinsky, who when he was born talked about the time in his life where his main form of transportation was the horse and buggy. Then, as an adult, he talked about the invention of the automobile, and how this new technology changed his life forever. By the end of his life, he was flying in planes and even lived to see a man walk on the moon. Now this is an incredible life.
I'm not suggesting that I'm living in a world like Stravinsky's, but I do think that my generation may experience changes just as paramount in different ways. With advances in biology, technology, and in other fields, who's to say what I will experience in my lifetime much less the world my children will one day experience. It is all fascinating, but they will all be digital natives. But we will all be immigrants in some way or another.
From this point in my life onward, I lived in a digital world. In fact if I think very hard back on the fact, I cannot remember a time in my life where the internet wasn't important. Now, part of this has to do with the internet coming of age at precisely the time where I became aware of the world around me. But somehow, I still don't fit in to one of the two "labels" laid out before me. I feel that either I was a young pioneer in the "digitally native age," or one of the last people in the "digital immigrant" age. I think that I am a transitional figure, and there are many like me who lived in my exact time. It's sort of Stravinsky, who when he was born talked about the time in his life where his main form of transportation was the horse and buggy. Then, as an adult, he talked about the invention of the automobile, and how this new technology changed his life forever. By the end of his life, he was flying in planes and even lived to see a man walk on the moon. Now this is an incredible life.
I'm not suggesting that I'm living in a world like Stravinsky's, but I do think that my generation may experience changes just as paramount in different ways. With advances in biology, technology, and in other fields, who's to say what I will experience in my lifetime much less the world my children will one day experience. It is all fascinating, but they will all be digital natives. But we will all be immigrants in some way or another.
Friday, October 30, 2009
My PLN - Classical Sax
Finally! A website dedicated to classical saxophone! As a classical music enthusiast, it is nice to finally have a page devoted to the classical music world. Not that there is anything wrong with Jazz or Pop, but often when one searches the web, all you find are sites dedicated to Jazz and Pop Saxophone playing. Now there is a website dedicated to Classical Saxophone history, and a website that features some of the great players that highlighted the beginning of this genre. Everyone should check out this website because it gives you the latest happenings in the Classical Saxophone World.
Go Check it out!
http://www.classicsax.com
Go Check it out!
http://www.classicsax.com
Readings on HTML
I really enjoyed these articles due to the fact that I have been interested in HTML almost since its conception in the mid 90s. I'm fairly sure that this computer language has been around longer, but I remember in 8th grade my Science teacher told us it was the "hot new thing" in technology and we would do well to learn this language. Being interested in computers all my life, I took my teacher up on this opportunity, and soon was learning how to write this language from scratch. Before long I learned the basics and I was writing my school district's web pages. I can remember these primitive pages that people thought were really amazing at the time. I was proud of myself because I could write tables, and limited java and java script. Of course these pages are dinosaurs today, but thanks to my science teacher I got a head start on the internet, and particularly the world wide web. This enabled me to understand the web more, and I think I appreciate it more today because of my early web experiences.
Of course today we have highly sophisticated programs that can create the actual HTML for you. But even when I was younger in the mid 90s, I was aware of MIDI technology, and how I could use it in relationship to the web pages I was creating. For instance, when I created the Hudson Middle School web page in 1995, I composed a MIDI file of our school's fight song, and put it on the website. I received a lot of compliments for this back then, even though my MIDI file was also very primitive compared with the technology of today. I used to upload my MIDI compositions onto a website that I shared with the global community. I constructed this website specifically for the purpose of showing-off my compositions, and interacting with other composers. I was also able to join a network of communities that let me receive MIDI compositions from other composers.
I think that HTML and MIDI technology will have a great place in the future. I think it is very important that educators from all fields should become aware of this great technology. As this century progresses, it will only become more and more important.
Of course today we have highly sophisticated programs that can create the actual HTML for you. But even when I was younger in the mid 90s, I was aware of MIDI technology, and how I could use it in relationship to the web pages I was creating. For instance, when I created the Hudson Middle School web page in 1995, I composed a MIDI file of our school's fight song, and put it on the website. I received a lot of compliments for this back then, even though my MIDI file was also very primitive compared with the technology of today. I used to upload my MIDI compositions onto a website that I shared with the global community. I constructed this website specifically for the purpose of showing-off my compositions, and interacting with other composers. I was also able to join a network of communities that let me receive MIDI compositions from other composers.
I think that HTML and MIDI technology will have a great place in the future. I think it is very important that educators from all fields should become aware of this great technology. As this century progresses, it will only become more and more important.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
My PLN - Music Theory.net
I found this website a long time ago as I was trying to increase my skills in music theory. Basically, this website has it all when it comes to learning about both music theory and ear training. It has tutorials, exercises, games, and so many other wonderful things to get started with. Are you a beginner? No problem. This site allows you to start from scratch and move your way up. It does so by presenting intervals - up and down, chords, scales, melodic dictation, harmonic dictation, and chord progressions and inversions. Are you advanced and tired of the easy music theory trainers? No problem! This site has some exercises that Bach himself may have to listen to twice to capture everything.
From the big to the small, from the complicated to the straight-forward, this website is an educational and technological gem for all ages!
http://www.musictheory.net
From the big to the small, from the complicated to the straight-forward, this website is an educational and technological gem for all ages!
http://www.musictheory.net
Social Bookmarking with Del.icio.us
One of the things I have always loved about the World Wide Web is the ability to bookmark awesome sites on my web browser. Most of my browsers are updated enough today to make this process easy and less cumbersome than it used to be. However, with Social Bookmarking, I have found the process to be even easier. There is something ingenious about the idea of making websites that have a specific list of my favorite web sites. This is phenomenal all by itself, but there are actually more reasons that I like the use of this technology.
I love the "tabs" feature. This lets me organize my websites by keywords and special descriptions that help me find what I'm looking for faster. All I have to do is type in a word or words having to do with what I'm searching for, and it automatically comes up with the websites that are the most useful to me. What I love the most about this technology is the fact that other people also have the opportunity to look at my websites and links. And I have the special opportunity to look at theirs. It's like a thousand bookmarks all rolled-up into a network of sites.
I have found Del.icio.us to be a great way to use Social Bookmarking Technology. I think Social Bookmarking is another very useful skill that the internet can provide us with. Along with RSS feeds, we have knowledge and information from all over the world right at our fingertips. This will make being an educator so much more easier and fun. Instead of searching and searching for that favorite site I happened to come across months ago, I will be able to have it bookmarked, ready for fast access. And it is also very comforting to know that with the "tabs" feature, everything is organized by category. It's like my own personal on-line World Wide Web Library system - I love it!
I love the "tabs" feature. This lets me organize my websites by keywords and special descriptions that help me find what I'm looking for faster. All I have to do is type in a word or words having to do with what I'm searching for, and it automatically comes up with the websites that are the most useful to me. What I love the most about this technology is the fact that other people also have the opportunity to look at my websites and links. And I have the special opportunity to look at theirs. It's like a thousand bookmarks all rolled-up into a network of sites.
I have found Del.icio.us to be a great way to use Social Bookmarking Technology. I think Social Bookmarking is another very useful skill that the internet can provide us with. Along with RSS feeds, we have knowledge and information from all over the world right at our fingertips. This will make being an educator so much more easier and fun. Instead of searching and searching for that favorite site I happened to come across months ago, I will be able to have it bookmarked, ready for fast access. And it is also very comforting to know that with the "tabs" feature, everything is organized by category. It's like my own personal on-line World Wide Web Library system - I love it!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Automatic Accompaniment/White Boards/Teaching With Computers
I loved the article on automatic accompaniment, and I think that this technology is brilliant and has a bright future. I, myself, have utilized this technology before, and I have seen others use it as well. When you're a struggling college student looking for piano accompaniment, this is the best way to go. Not only is it cheap, but the technology is very effective. It is inspiring and awesome to think that the software behind this technology is so "intelligent." It will follow you just like a real piano player, and you don't have to frustrate your pianist with rehearsing difficult sections. Has anyone ever had an experience with an accompanist who did not show up or could not stay for long periods of time? These problems are things of the past with this new technology. Also impressive are the quantity of pieces you can choose to perform. I was working with some advanced saxophone students at the University of Missouri, and they were playing some pretty obscure classical saxophone literature. You should have seen the look on my face when I saw them practicing with a microphone and a computer that acted as the pianist! Very interesting and exciting stuff here!
I always love the idea of "interactive education," where students can take an active role in learning. Far too much time is spent (even in music) learning ideas, concepts, and even their own instruments passively. "Whtie Boards" and "Smart Boards" are fantastic ideas for any classroom situation, and I believe that one day most schools will be fully equipped with this technology. I was always someone who learned by "doing," by touching, feeling, smelling, observing, and then completing the task myself. It always looked easy, for example, when my chemistry teacher wrote formulas on the chalk board. But if I never had the experience of figuring the formulas out on my own, I never learned them, or the significance behind them. I think interaction with kids of all ages is usually a great idea, and fosters inspiration and motivation, not to mention creativity. As mentioned in the article, the number one hurdle most teachers and educators will face when wanting to acquire this technology is the issue of money. And while this technology may not be successfully obtained in the first two to three years of teaching, some school districts will reward teachers down the line if they are persistent and successful with the materials they already own.
While I love most of the ideas and thoughts presented in our readings this week, one thing I'm not the hugest fan of is engaging an entire classroom through the use of a solitary computer. This may stem from my own personal bad experiences in middle school and high school, but I don't think that I ever really liked the idea for a multitude of reasons. First of all, it completely takes away the human element. No matter how much teachers incorporate technology into the classroom, there will never be a substitute for a human teacher (although one may have a substitute human teacher from time to time). The warmth of the human voice, the encouragement that comes from meditated feedback, the very presense of the teacher doing his or her job - teaching - is something that is irreplacable. Secondly, I was not very convinced in the article that students would find this at all exciting and entertaining. It may be a good idea in theory to move the students around like "a spoke on a bicycle," but they will become increasingly agitated and frustrated with the teaching plan. I'll admit that when I was in elementry or middle school, I would have hated this type of excercise. I would have taken advantage of all the "moving around," and start to become much more interested in my friends than in the lesson. Having said all this, I am by no means anti-technology. In fact, I consider myself to be very progressive when it comes to integrating technology into the classroom. I just feel that this is an inappropriate way to do it. The results were not good for me; I do not think I would make my students do something that I never enjoyed.
I always love the idea of "interactive education," where students can take an active role in learning. Far too much time is spent (even in music) learning ideas, concepts, and even their own instruments passively. "Whtie Boards" and "Smart Boards" are fantastic ideas for any classroom situation, and I believe that one day most schools will be fully equipped with this technology. I was always someone who learned by "doing," by touching, feeling, smelling, observing, and then completing the task myself. It always looked easy, for example, when my chemistry teacher wrote formulas on the chalk board. But if I never had the experience of figuring the formulas out on my own, I never learned them, or the significance behind them. I think interaction with kids of all ages is usually a great idea, and fosters inspiration and motivation, not to mention creativity. As mentioned in the article, the number one hurdle most teachers and educators will face when wanting to acquire this technology is the issue of money. And while this technology may not be successfully obtained in the first two to three years of teaching, some school districts will reward teachers down the line if they are persistent and successful with the materials they already own.
While I love most of the ideas and thoughts presented in our readings this week, one thing I'm not the hugest fan of is engaging an entire classroom through the use of a solitary computer. This may stem from my own personal bad experiences in middle school and high school, but I don't think that I ever really liked the idea for a multitude of reasons. First of all, it completely takes away the human element. No matter how much teachers incorporate technology into the classroom, there will never be a substitute for a human teacher (although one may have a substitute human teacher from time to time). The warmth of the human voice, the encouragement that comes from meditated feedback, the very presense of the teacher doing his or her job - teaching - is something that is irreplacable. Secondly, I was not very convinced in the article that students would find this at all exciting and entertaining. It may be a good idea in theory to move the students around like "a spoke on a bicycle," but they will become increasingly agitated and frustrated with the teaching plan. I'll admit that when I was in elementry or middle school, I would have hated this type of excercise. I would have taken advantage of all the "moving around," and start to become much more interested in my friends than in the lesson. Having said all this, I am by no means anti-technology. In fact, I consider myself to be very progressive when it comes to integrating technology into the classroom. I just feel that this is an inappropriate way to do it. The results were not good for me; I do not think I would make my students do something that I never enjoyed.
Friday, October 9, 2009
My PLN - Wind Band FM
Finally! A radio station (or at least an internet station) devoted to playing ONLY the greatest in the Wind Symphony world. It is about time that someone created a radio station just for the Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band. When is the last time you have heard of an entire radio station devoted to just playing the most important and significant literature of the Wind Band Genre? I don't know about you out there in the virtual blog world, but I am happy and overjoyed that such a marvelous resource exists for us. Usually you have to listen to a classical music radio station for literally days before they will play something from the band world - and even then it is something that is usually watered down, and not true modern day band repertoire.
Wind Band FM will list what is playing, who composed it, and the ensemble and conductor playing the piece. It also has archives and a shop where you can purchase CDs that are important to us as Wind Band educators. Every time that I have been on this website, they have played the most significant band literature from the old to the new. From Holst to Husa, from Mozart to Maslanka, this station really has it all. I would encourage anybody to go give this site a look. It is brand new, and it is another resourse for those of us looking for recordings of particular pieces that are difficult to find.
So what are you waiting for? Go! You will not be dissapointed!!!
http://www.windbandfm.com/
Wind Band FM will list what is playing, who composed it, and the ensemble and conductor playing the piece. It also has archives and a shop where you can purchase CDs that are important to us as Wind Band educators. Every time that I have been on this website, they have played the most significant band literature from the old to the new. From Holst to Husa, from Mozart to Maslanka, this station really has it all. I would encourage anybody to go give this site a look. It is brand new, and it is another resourse for those of us looking for recordings of particular pieces that are difficult to find.
So what are you waiting for? Go! You will not be dissapointed!!!
http://www.windbandfm.com/
Audio/Visual Music Recording
These articles were very interesting because they made me realize the effort some of my music educators have put into this technology, and it made me think that I always need to do more with the latest software available. Attending high school in the late 90s, most of this technology was not yet available. Fortunately, I did have a band director who was always fond of making recordings of his band, and not just for the concerts. He would often record us in the middle of the semester to see how we were progressing on a particular work. Additionally, if we were about to go to contest, or travel and play somewhere, having adequate audio equipment was a great commodity because he would play back the recording, and we would always benefit from the experience. Usually we would be surprised in some sections saying things like, "did we sound like that," or, "Wow! We were really out of tune in this section, or not playing together." Often times, my band director would take copious notes on the recording and come prepared to discuss it with the band and make some appropriate changes. As a conductor I know that it is impossible to always hear everything, and you definitely want to hear what the microphone is hearing at the other end of the hall. It always made a huge difference, and I'm very grateful that even back then we had access to such important technology.
Recording has also been important for me personally in my development as a saxophonist. As I was growing up, I always had a cheap little recorder that I would use to tape my practice sessions. Although these were crude methods in the beginning, it did a lot to help me realize how I actually sounded. I learned early on that the tape recorder never lies. It may pick up things too loudly or have moments of distortion, but it will never lie as to how I actually sounded. And for me in my early student years, this was very important and I tried not to take it for granted. When I earned my undergraduate degree in Woodwind Performance, we used recording technology frequently. My Saxophone professor, for example, would often digitally record my lessons, and then provide a CD for me to go home and listen to. These were often humbling experiences! But they made me a better performer. We were also always required to tune to the computer, which also had the neat ability to reproduce our sound and play back what we sounded like. It also played the correct pitch and let us know how many cents flat or sharp we were. The oboe teacher in our school was known for recording herself every day. When she was a student in her younger days, she would record herself practicing and listen to the playback every morning as she was taking the bus into school. She would make notes about the things that she liked, and the things that could have gone better. But this technology really makes you aware of the evil truth about how we really sound!
I have used this technology for other important reasons too. One of the neat things I love to do as a saxophonist is play with an "artificial accompaniment" that is "smart." In other words, it will follow me and go at my pace. This is especially helpful as finding pianists who like to play saxophone literature is painful and expensive. Nobody wants to do it! The repertoire is difficult, and having this great technology has saved me hundreds of dollars in paying pianists to play for me. Now of course if I play a recital I will hire an actual, live pianist. But for rehearsal purposes, it really makes a huge difference, and this technology has been second to none in my life.
As far as visual learning is concerned, I'm still a beginner. Before this class, I really had never used software like "GarageBand" before, but I am quickly learning the benefits of it from day to day. One program that I have been familiar with is called "Audacity." This is a free program that allows you to upload sound files and manage them the way you want to create sound tracks. This program is also very intuitive and easy to use. I have created some interesting composition projects using this software, and I look forward to using it in the future. It is true what they say, "A picture is worth a thousand wordss." Looking at the actual sound waves has always been helpful, and I believe they could go a long way in teaching in the classroom. Many students are visual learners, so it is important for them to see what they are doing with sound. I look forward to incorporating this technology into my classroom, and I hope my students will have the same fun and inspiration as I certainly did.
Recording has also been important for me personally in my development as a saxophonist. As I was growing up, I always had a cheap little recorder that I would use to tape my practice sessions. Although these were crude methods in the beginning, it did a lot to help me realize how I actually sounded. I learned early on that the tape recorder never lies. It may pick up things too loudly or have moments of distortion, but it will never lie as to how I actually sounded. And for me in my early student years, this was very important and I tried not to take it for granted. When I earned my undergraduate degree in Woodwind Performance, we used recording technology frequently. My Saxophone professor, for example, would often digitally record my lessons, and then provide a CD for me to go home and listen to. These were often humbling experiences! But they made me a better performer. We were also always required to tune to the computer, which also had the neat ability to reproduce our sound and play back what we sounded like. It also played the correct pitch and let us know how many cents flat or sharp we were. The oboe teacher in our school was known for recording herself every day. When she was a student in her younger days, she would record herself practicing and listen to the playback every morning as she was taking the bus into school. She would make notes about the things that she liked, and the things that could have gone better. But this technology really makes you aware of the evil truth about how we really sound!
I have used this technology for other important reasons too. One of the neat things I love to do as a saxophonist is play with an "artificial accompaniment" that is "smart." In other words, it will follow me and go at my pace. This is especially helpful as finding pianists who like to play saxophone literature is painful and expensive. Nobody wants to do it! The repertoire is difficult, and having this great technology has saved me hundreds of dollars in paying pianists to play for me. Now of course if I play a recital I will hire an actual, live pianist. But for rehearsal purposes, it really makes a huge difference, and this technology has been second to none in my life.
As far as visual learning is concerned, I'm still a beginner. Before this class, I really had never used software like "GarageBand" before, but I am quickly learning the benefits of it from day to day. One program that I have been familiar with is called "Audacity." This is a free program that allows you to upload sound files and manage them the way you want to create sound tracks. This program is also very intuitive and easy to use. I have created some interesting composition projects using this software, and I look forward to using it in the future. It is true what they say, "A picture is worth a thousand wordss." Looking at the actual sound waves has always been helpful, and I believe they could go a long way in teaching in the classroom. Many students are visual learners, so it is important for them to see what they are doing with sound. I look forward to incorporating this technology into my classroom, and I hope my students will have the same fun and inspiration as I certainly did.
Friday, October 2, 2009
My PLN - The Midwest Clinic
Every Music educator should be aware of the greatest event of the year! This is known as the fabulous Midwest Clinic in Chicago, ILL. Taking place every mid December, this is the largest Band and Orchestra Clinic in the United States, and probably the world!
I go to the Midwest Clinic every year, and I'm glad that I have the opportunity to do so. Here you will listen to high school, college, and professional bands and orchestras from around the world. You will also have the experience of being immersed in the biggest social network that this profession has to offer. In just the last two years alone, I have met some of the greatest composers active today, and many of the great conductors, teachers, and other professionals in the field. It is a place to find old friends that have moved on to other places in life and to reminisce of times past. Since it is usually a week before Christmas, it is also a very festive time, and the feelings all around are amazing.
Are you interested in new music? Do you like the latest in MIDI software, marching band software, error detection software, and the like? This is the place for you!
Are you interested in trying out every brand of every instrument you play? Do you like to just experiment and see what it's like playing on that brand new professional model? Well now you can! Midwest is the place for you.
Are you interested in obtaining scores, recordings, and publications of the newest pieces out there in the repertoire? Do you want to read through the scores with professional ensembles playing them? Midwest is the place for you.
Do you like incredible cuisine that only a place like Chicago has to offer? Do you like going to fancy restaurants and mingling with friends and professionals? Do you like the feel of big cities, especially those as special as Chicago? Midwest is the place for you!
The URL I am posting is a direct link to the "Midwest Clinic's" official site. Be sure not to miss it this year, as they are moving from the Chicago Hilton to an new Fine Arts Center. Because Midwest keeps growing, they had to change facilities! How amazing is that!
Come one, come all! The Midwest Clinic awaits!!!
http://www.midwestclinic.com
I go to the Midwest Clinic every year, and I'm glad that I have the opportunity to do so. Here you will listen to high school, college, and professional bands and orchestras from around the world. You will also have the experience of being immersed in the biggest social network that this profession has to offer. In just the last two years alone, I have met some of the greatest composers active today, and many of the great conductors, teachers, and other professionals in the field. It is a place to find old friends that have moved on to other places in life and to reminisce of times past. Since it is usually a week before Christmas, it is also a very festive time, and the feelings all around are amazing.
Are you interested in new music? Do you like the latest in MIDI software, marching band software, error detection software, and the like? This is the place for you!
Are you interested in trying out every brand of every instrument you play? Do you like to just experiment and see what it's like playing on that brand new professional model? Well now you can! Midwest is the place for you.
Are you interested in obtaining scores, recordings, and publications of the newest pieces out there in the repertoire? Do you want to read through the scores with professional ensembles playing them? Midwest is the place for you.
Do you like incredible cuisine that only a place like Chicago has to offer? Do you like going to fancy restaurants and mingling with friends and professionals? Do you like the feel of big cities, especially those as special as Chicago? Midwest is the place for you!
The URL I am posting is a direct link to the "Midwest Clinic's" official site. Be sure not to miss it this year, as they are moving from the Chicago Hilton to an new Fine Arts Center. Because Midwest keeps growing, they had to change facilities! How amazing is that!
Come one, come all! The Midwest Clinic awaits!!!
http://www.midwestclinic.com
MIDI Sequencing
This week's articles were very thought provoking, as they forced me to answer some basic questions about what I believe the purpose of MIDI technology is, and what the future of MIDI will mean to the next generation of educators.
MIDI technology is wonderful. I have lived with it for almost 15 years. In that space of time, I have experimented a lot with sequencing - both in my own compositions, and with those of other composers. It's been a great experience, and I have learned an incredible amount from doing it. It's my strong belief that every future music educator should be familiar with this technology, and be using it on a weekly basis. There's really no good reason not too; it benefits the teacher and student alike.
Is it possible to make MIDI technology a work of art? I would say: absolutely. I have worked with professional artists who are in charge of creating very complicated MIDI sequences. It takes a lot of time and practice to have exactly what you want come to life on the computer. Some composers who write strictly for cartoon, video games, or another similar medium will have the MIDI orchestra as their only option, so over time they learn to become excellent sequencers. They learn the tricks of "melding" tracks together, they know what will sound good and what will sound bad. They have spent a great deal of time learning about MIDI orchestration, and the options that are available to them. And the results can be absolutely amazing and mind-blowing. As being one who has studied MIDI sequencing before, I can tell you that knowing how to manipulate different tracks, and knowing the positive aspects and limitations of each midi instrument is extremely similar to the composer knowing each instrument in the symphony orchestra, and knowing the ranges and capabilities of each instrument. A lot of time with the strings, you might have five separate cello tracks for example, each one of them doing different things, (arco, pizz, con lengo, etc...) Many great musicians spend their lives perfecting their craft, and MIDI sequencers are no different. It takes time and practice, but the carefully crafted outcome can be something very special.
Now, having said all of this, I don't think that MIDI will ever replace or take over the symphony orchestra. Even with humanistic elements added to the ever advancing technology, the true musician will always be able to tell the difference between a human and a computer. It really goes back to the argument of artificial intelligence. In the end, MIDI is a tool - even a great one. But I believe it is just that - a tool, a means to an end. This technology is phenomenal to have, but it will never be able to replace human emotion, human expression, and what makes a live concert special. The humanistic element is probably why most people love music to begin with. If you take that away, what are you left with? A great tool? Absolutely. Important to hundreds of professions? Without a doubt. Capable of humanistic expression? No. And that is why MIDI begins and ends in the computer lab, classroom, and home.
MIDI technology is wonderful. I have lived with it for almost 15 years. In that space of time, I have experimented a lot with sequencing - both in my own compositions, and with those of other composers. It's been a great experience, and I have learned an incredible amount from doing it. It's my strong belief that every future music educator should be familiar with this technology, and be using it on a weekly basis. There's really no good reason not too; it benefits the teacher and student alike.
Is it possible to make MIDI technology a work of art? I would say: absolutely. I have worked with professional artists who are in charge of creating very complicated MIDI sequences. It takes a lot of time and practice to have exactly what you want come to life on the computer. Some composers who write strictly for cartoon, video games, or another similar medium will have the MIDI orchestra as their only option, so over time they learn to become excellent sequencers. They learn the tricks of "melding" tracks together, they know what will sound good and what will sound bad. They have spent a great deal of time learning about MIDI orchestration, and the options that are available to them. And the results can be absolutely amazing and mind-blowing. As being one who has studied MIDI sequencing before, I can tell you that knowing how to manipulate different tracks, and knowing the positive aspects and limitations of each midi instrument is extremely similar to the composer knowing each instrument in the symphony orchestra, and knowing the ranges and capabilities of each instrument. A lot of time with the strings, you might have five separate cello tracks for example, each one of them doing different things, (arco, pizz, con lengo, etc...) Many great musicians spend their lives perfecting their craft, and MIDI sequencers are no different. It takes time and practice, but the carefully crafted outcome can be something very special.
Now, having said all of this, I don't think that MIDI will ever replace or take over the symphony orchestra. Even with humanistic elements added to the ever advancing technology, the true musician will always be able to tell the difference between a human and a computer. It really goes back to the argument of artificial intelligence. In the end, MIDI is a tool - even a great one. But I believe it is just that - a tool, a means to an end. This technology is phenomenal to have, but it will never be able to replace human emotion, human expression, and what makes a live concert special. The humanistic element is probably why most people love music to begin with. If you take that away, what are you left with? A great tool? Absolutely. Important to hundreds of professions? Without a doubt. Capable of humanistic expression? No. And that is why MIDI begins and ends in the computer lab, classroom, and home.
Friday, September 25, 2009
My PLN - David Maslanka Online!
It is now time for me to share with you the website of probably the most important living composer today - David Maslanka. Maslanka is a very spiritual composer who meditates daily and draws his inspiration from higher powers. One link to the higher powers for Maslanka has been the Chorale Preludes of J.S. Bach, which he plays daily on his own piano. To him they are a "channel" into another world, into the subconscience. Maslanka's music is often intense in rhythm, emotion, range, difficulty, and texture. It borrows from many styles of music, but when it is complete he has a musical language all to himself. I believe he is the greatest musical prophet the world has seen since Gustav Mahler, and it is so exciting because he is actually living!
When you visit his website, you will come to know a very humble man not afraid to list his actual street address and phone number. He loves talking with people that are excited about his music, and he is not afraid to share with you his ideas concerning it. There is an official list of compositions from each genre, but it should be pointed out right now that he has seemed to find his calling composing for the wind ensemble, and for wind instruments in general. There are abstracts from some of the greatest talks on his own music, including what the composer had to say in his own words about the inspiration or content of a particular piece. And last but certainly not least, there is a discography which in itself is quite extensive for a living composer.
I first heard the music of David Maslanka in 1998 as I was attending Interlochen in the summer. I shall never forget the spirit of the music I felt that day. I knew in the back of my mind that this was one composer I would need to remember for the rest of my life. Over ten years later, I am familiar with almost every composition he has available to the public. That little glimpse into the world of Maslanka eleven years ago has fostered a passion that keeps growing every day. I would encourage everyone to go to his website and check out his music. I promise you will not be disappointed!
http://www.davidmaslankaonline.com
When you visit his website, you will come to know a very humble man not afraid to list his actual street address and phone number. He loves talking with people that are excited about his music, and he is not afraid to share with you his ideas concerning it. There is an official list of compositions from each genre, but it should be pointed out right now that he has seemed to find his calling composing for the wind ensemble, and for wind instruments in general. There are abstracts from some of the greatest talks on his own music, including what the composer had to say in his own words about the inspiration or content of a particular piece. And last but certainly not least, there is a discography which in itself is quite extensive for a living composer.
I first heard the music of David Maslanka in 1998 as I was attending Interlochen in the summer. I shall never forget the spirit of the music I felt that day. I knew in the back of my mind that this was one composer I would need to remember for the rest of my life. Over ten years later, I am familiar with almost every composition he has available to the public. That little glimpse into the world of Maslanka eleven years ago has fostered a passion that keeps growing every day. I would encourage everyone to go to his website and check out his music. I promise you will not be disappointed!
http://www.davidmaslankaonline.com
Friday, September 18, 2009
My PLN - WCLV 104.9 FM
I couldn't go another week without posting a link to my favorite radio station! WCLV, formally 95/5, and now 104.9, is Cleveland's premiere classical music station, presenting the best in classical music from Gregorian chant to Cage. But this is not all! There are many wonderful programs that this station offers every day for the education, enjoyment, amusement, and entertainment of its audience. I will list some of my favorite programs and explain why I think they are so fantastic.
Every day of the week, you can tune in at 7:00 pm and delight yourself with "Symphony at Seven," a program that offers the best in traditional repertoire from the world's greatest orchestras. This program has been around since the 60s and is still going strong today!
If regular symphonic music is not your cup of tea, don't switch to the country music station! Just wait an hour and chances are you will be in for a great surprise! Some people prefer contemporary music. For them I would recommend "Not the Dead White Composer's Hour." This is a program dedicated especially to promoting new compositions from great composers all over the world. For those who want to learn about African American culture, tune into "The Black Arts," a weekly show highlighting famous black musicians from a variety of genres, and showcasing their contributions to music. Do you like music and comedy? Then PDQ Bach might be the program for you. Airing on Saturday nights, this program highlights some of the funniest stories in all of music history, and is full of musical satire.
WCLV is famous for simulcasting concerts from all over the world. The only thing better than listening to a great symphony is getting to listen to it live from the great concert halls all across the world. In a given week, WCLV will take you around the world and across our great nation. Additionally, WCLV often broadcasts music from the Cleveland Institute of Music, Case Western Reserve University, and the Museaum of Art. I remember when I was in high school, WCLV broadcasted live the 10th Anniversary Concert of the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony from Severance Hall. This was and will remain one of the most exciting musical experiences of my life.
If you don't have a good radio connection, try connecting to WCLV live on the internet 24/7.
http://www.wclv.com
Every day of the week, you can tune in at 7:00 pm and delight yourself with "Symphony at Seven," a program that offers the best in traditional repertoire from the world's greatest orchestras. This program has been around since the 60s and is still going strong today!
If regular symphonic music is not your cup of tea, don't switch to the country music station! Just wait an hour and chances are you will be in for a great surprise! Some people prefer contemporary music. For them I would recommend "Not the Dead White Composer's Hour." This is a program dedicated especially to promoting new compositions from great composers all over the world. For those who want to learn about African American culture, tune into "The Black Arts," a weekly show highlighting famous black musicians from a variety of genres, and showcasing their contributions to music. Do you like music and comedy? Then PDQ Bach might be the program for you. Airing on Saturday nights, this program highlights some of the funniest stories in all of music history, and is full of musical satire.
WCLV is famous for simulcasting concerts from all over the world. The only thing better than listening to a great symphony is getting to listen to it live from the great concert halls all across the world. In a given week, WCLV will take you around the world and across our great nation. Additionally, WCLV often broadcasts music from the Cleveland Institute of Music, Case Western Reserve University, and the Museaum of Art. I remember when I was in high school, WCLV broadcasted live the 10th Anniversary Concert of the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony from Severance Hall. This was and will remain one of the most exciting musical experiences of my life.
If you don't have a good radio connection, try connecting to WCLV live on the internet 24/7.
http://www.wclv.com
Sibelius, Creative Thininking, Vermont Midi Project, etc.
In the article "Creative Thinking and Music Technology," we are presented with a multitude of ideas on how to maximize our technology for the use of music education. One of my favorite ideas was the "Electronic Kiosk." What a great idea to use or reuse an old computer that has been sitting around for years, and make it into something that will be useful for teachers and students alike. By using a simple word processor program or another similar type of software, teachers and students can share an interactive space and communicate with each other and view or make important announcements. Especially in this day and age when the world is going through some difficult economic times, this is an electronic way to "go green." It would be nice if they had a "Cash for Clunkers" program for computer hardware! I might be able to get a $4,000 credit and purchase a new computer!
Obviously mp3 players, new music software of all kinds, and multimedia support in the classroom have gone a long way in the last decade in enriching students' minds. I hardly go anywhere without my iPod these days, and I often take for granted that just ten years ago I did not have this special luxury. I keep all my favorite music on a tiny device that is able to store weeks of all different genres of music. What an amazing thought! As a future music educator, this is one tool that must be imperative for the serious student studying music, music education, music theory, and musicology. This technology is so wonderful and relatively cheap, it would be ridiculous not to take advantage of it. Similarly, I believe that we have reached the age where the use of multimedia support in the classroom is vital and in most areas expected. I understand that funding will vary from district to district, but for children of all ages to have this sort of technology in their classroom will change the very way they learn. I have always benefited from multimedia support, even when it was in its early stages. And where will it be twenty years from now? The prospects are very exciting!
I liked reading about the "Vermont MIDI Project" mainly because as a composer myself it affords children the special opportunity to create and display their own unique musical compositions. I think that this is a great idea, and I like the idea of receiving feedback from music teachers and peers alike. Don't we do the same thing in regular English composition class? As a student in the past, I remember revising, editing, and commenting on my peers' papers - I still do these things as a student today. Music composition is the same thing, only we are dealing with a different language. Fostering and nuturing support of this beautiful language in a supportive atmosphere is a fantastic idea for students. The only word of cautionary advise I would give is to make sure the technology is only being used as a tool, and not taking place of creativity and the brain. Musicians have created masterpieces for years without MIDI technology, and we live in the day of some of the worst pieces of music ever composed. Technology should never replace inspiration and creativity. But if we know why the technology is there and how it is helpful, it can be a powerful tool.
I loved reading chapter 14 in "Sibelius," and learning fun and innovative ways that this software can be used for pedagogical purposes. I think that certain aspects of music theory, especialy that of ear-training will become easier with Sibelius. One is able to create special worksheets, excercises, and games that make learning fun and exciting. I know I would use it to teach students about intervals, chords, and use the extra features to color notes and provide fun, new mnuemonic devices that will help them with melodic and harmonic dictation. I also like the prospect of this technology when it comes to the world of error detection. One notable person said, "If you truly want to understand how something works, try and change it." Nothing helps me learn more than understanding why something doesn't work, than why it does work. I think that this will go a long way in perpetuating music education into the future.
Obviously mp3 players, new music software of all kinds, and multimedia support in the classroom have gone a long way in the last decade in enriching students' minds. I hardly go anywhere without my iPod these days, and I often take for granted that just ten years ago I did not have this special luxury. I keep all my favorite music on a tiny device that is able to store weeks of all different genres of music. What an amazing thought! As a future music educator, this is one tool that must be imperative for the serious student studying music, music education, music theory, and musicology. This technology is so wonderful and relatively cheap, it would be ridiculous not to take advantage of it. Similarly, I believe that we have reached the age where the use of multimedia support in the classroom is vital and in most areas expected. I understand that funding will vary from district to district, but for children of all ages to have this sort of technology in their classroom will change the very way they learn. I have always benefited from multimedia support, even when it was in its early stages. And where will it be twenty years from now? The prospects are very exciting!
I liked reading about the "Vermont MIDI Project" mainly because as a composer myself it affords children the special opportunity to create and display their own unique musical compositions. I think that this is a great idea, and I like the idea of receiving feedback from music teachers and peers alike. Don't we do the same thing in regular English composition class? As a student in the past, I remember revising, editing, and commenting on my peers' papers - I still do these things as a student today. Music composition is the same thing, only we are dealing with a different language. Fostering and nuturing support of this beautiful language in a supportive atmosphere is a fantastic idea for students. The only word of cautionary advise I would give is to make sure the technology is only being used as a tool, and not taking place of creativity and the brain. Musicians have created masterpieces for years without MIDI technology, and we live in the day of some of the worst pieces of music ever composed. Technology should never replace inspiration and creativity. But if we know why the technology is there and how it is helpful, it can be a powerful tool.
I loved reading chapter 14 in "Sibelius," and learning fun and innovative ways that this software can be used for pedagogical purposes. I think that certain aspects of music theory, especialy that of ear-training will become easier with Sibelius. One is able to create special worksheets, excercises, and games that make learning fun and exciting. I know I would use it to teach students about intervals, chords, and use the extra features to color notes and provide fun, new mnuemonic devices that will help them with melodic and harmonic dictation. I also like the prospect of this technology when it comes to the world of error detection. One notable person said, "If you truly want to understand how something works, try and change it." Nothing helps me learn more than understanding why something doesn't work, than why it does work. I think that this will go a long way in perpetuating music education into the future.
Friday, September 11, 2009
My PLN - Cleveland Orchestra Blog
So what could be better than being right down the street from the number 1 orchestra in the world? Being right down the street and getting the latest information through their official blog! As musicians teaching at or attending Case Western Reserve University, we cannot take for granted the world-class orchestra that just happens to permanently reside on campus. We have the opportunity of seeing this group live, attending their rehearsals, listening to them on WCLV, and so much more. It would only make sense that we be aware of their latest activities!
Naturally, this blog follows the major activities of the orchestra and its music director, Franz Welser-Most. As Welser-Most is an international figure with two of the most important jobs in the world (Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra and the Vienna Opera), he also frequently makes guest conducting appearences all over the world. In the latest blog entry, the author describes how Welser-Most is in England conducting at the Proms. It provides information as to the repertoire he conducts, as well as links to live and archived performances.
Ever wonder about new CD releases from the Cleveland Orchestra? Wonder no more! This blog keeps enthusiastic Cleveland Orchestra fans up-to-date with the latest releases, and what's to come. Ever wonder about the Orchestra's residence in Miami? Wonder no more! There are frequent updates as to how the musicians and public are enjoying this important residency. Recently, a select group of Cleveland Orchestra musicians went down to Miami to coach members of "The New World Symphony." You can read about this, as well as people like Michael Sachs, (the orchestra's principle trumpet player). He is especially excited to be in Miami this time of year, and you can bet that he will get in a lot of tee time.
This blog also informs the general public about the upcoming subscription season with links to articles about featured soloists and premiere performances of new works. Interested in more of the Arts? You can find out different collaborations the Cleveland Orchestra has with groups like the Joffrey Ballet, and other important artistic organizations. Do you have enough to do with your summers? Come to this blog to see what the Cleveland Orchestra is doing at Blossom. As if all this wasn't enough, numerous articles are posted about other major events in classical music around the greater Cleveland area.
Naturally, this blog follows the major activities of the orchestra and its music director, Franz Welser-Most. As Welser-Most is an international figure with two of the most important jobs in the world (Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra and the Vienna Opera), he also frequently makes guest conducting appearences all over the world. In the latest blog entry, the author describes how Welser-Most is in England conducting at the Proms. It provides information as to the repertoire he conducts, as well as links to live and archived performances.
Ever wonder about new CD releases from the Cleveland Orchestra? Wonder no more! This blog keeps enthusiastic Cleveland Orchestra fans up-to-date with the latest releases, and what's to come. Ever wonder about the Orchestra's residence in Miami? Wonder no more! There are frequent updates as to how the musicians and public are enjoying this important residency. Recently, a select group of Cleveland Orchestra musicians went down to Miami to coach members of "The New World Symphony." You can read about this, as well as people like Michael Sachs, (the orchestra's principle trumpet player). He is especially excited to be in Miami this time of year, and you can bet that he will get in a lot of tee time.
This blog also informs the general public about the upcoming subscription season with links to articles about featured soloists and premiere performances of new works. Interested in more of the Arts? You can find out different collaborations the Cleveland Orchestra has with groups like the Joffrey Ballet, and other important artistic organizations. Do you have enough to do with your summers? Come to this blog to see what the Cleveland Orchestra is doing at Blossom. As if all this wasn't enough, numerous articles are posted about other major events in classical music around the greater Cleveland area.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Notation Software
Reading these three articles have been both nostalgic for me, and inspirational. I use the word nostalgic because I was probably the first person in the neighborhood to buy the first music notation software when it came out. Aspiring to be a composer like Beethoven or Schubert, I loved to compose from an early age, and I was used to composing from the piano and writing things out on manuscript paper. I was overjoyed to learn that music notation was a means for me to enter my music into a program that would play it back for me automatically and allow me to orchestrate and make important decisions that would be impossible without this technology. I think it really trained my ear to be sensitive to certain instrumental timbres, and it helped me later in life when I took ear training.
The first notation software I ever bought was called "Music Time." I enjoyed it because it was very easy to use and offered quick playback. I could brainstorm around a theme or a motif and two hours later be looking at a completed composition. I'm grateful for the MIDI technology that Floyd talks about in his article, and I'm happy that this technology continues to serve the world today. One thing that I would say as a cautionary note pertaining to music notation software is that it does not fundamentally teach the basics of proper orchestration and instrumentation. Just because I could create a "violin concerto" or even a "symphony" on my computer did not necessarily mean it could be performed. As a child, I had no idea about issues like range, string properties, instrumental tendencies, and so much more. Even though my compositions may have sounded good on the computer, it took me a long time to come to the realization that instruments have limitations. In other words, I was enjoying a digital paradise while neglecting almost everything practical. As music educators, we must also be aware of these dangers.
Rudolph's article may have the solution. He spoke about extremely practical ways to utilize notation software to be a tool to the educator. It is important to know how to re-write parts, transpose, transcribe, and create exercises that teach students how to do these tasks faster and with more accuracy. I love how Rudolph asks his middle school students to compose duets. Technology would be a great way to bring these compositions to life. The software would be useful not only for creating music, but for sharing it with fellow classmates.
Finally, Watson's article is stimulating in many ways, showcasing an endless amount of uses for music technology software. I'm not exactly sure how "innovative" they are, but it is a good standard list of 11 things you can do with notation software. I assume that most people already know a good deal about simple features like playback, scrolling, creating individual compositions, sharing PDF files, ear-training, etc... I'm not exactly sure why Watson thinks that these are "innovative," even if this article was written in 2003. I knew about these features in 1995! But I digress. Altogether, Watson does put together informative thoughts about exciting things that students and educators can do alike. It is worth the read and may even prove to be inspirational.
The first notation software I ever bought was called "Music Time." I enjoyed it because it was very easy to use and offered quick playback. I could brainstorm around a theme or a motif and two hours later be looking at a completed composition. I'm grateful for the MIDI technology that Floyd talks about in his article, and I'm happy that this technology continues to serve the world today. One thing that I would say as a cautionary note pertaining to music notation software is that it does not fundamentally teach the basics of proper orchestration and instrumentation. Just because I could create a "violin concerto" or even a "symphony" on my computer did not necessarily mean it could be performed. As a child, I had no idea about issues like range, string properties, instrumental tendencies, and so much more. Even though my compositions may have sounded good on the computer, it took me a long time to come to the realization that instruments have limitations. In other words, I was enjoying a digital paradise while neglecting almost everything practical. As music educators, we must also be aware of these dangers.
Rudolph's article may have the solution. He spoke about extremely practical ways to utilize notation software to be a tool to the educator. It is important to know how to re-write parts, transpose, transcribe, and create exercises that teach students how to do these tasks faster and with more accuracy. I love how Rudolph asks his middle school students to compose duets. Technology would be a great way to bring these compositions to life. The software would be useful not only for creating music, but for sharing it with fellow classmates.
Finally, Watson's article is stimulating in many ways, showcasing an endless amount of uses for music technology software. I'm not exactly sure how "innovative" they are, but it is a good standard list of 11 things you can do with notation software. I assume that most people already know a good deal about simple features like playback, scrolling, creating individual compositions, sharing PDF files, ear-training, etc... I'm not exactly sure why Watson thinks that these are "innovative," even if this article was written in 2003. I knew about these features in 1995! But I digress. Altogether, Watson does put together informative thoughts about exciting things that students and educators can do alike. It is worth the read and may even prove to be inspirational.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Noteflight - "Bicycle Built for Two"
http://www.noteflight.com/scores/view/df4e9bc7f4ad80dfbfb596d602227b3b923b37fd
Although at times annoying and confusing, "Noteflight" is a great notation program for being free and always available on the internet. Providing you are working with a fast server and a computer with adequate RAM, this program is a very useful tool for music education. Music educators can teach from the program, encourage their students to experiment with composition, arranging, and learning about the basics of music notation - all for free! The program was fairly intuitive, but slow response and a limited capacity to perform basic functions easily was often frustrating.
Although at times annoying and confusing, "Noteflight" is a great notation program for being free and always available on the internet. Providing you are working with a fast server and a computer with adequate RAM, this program is a very useful tool for music education. Music educators can teach from the program, encourage their students to experiment with composition, arranging, and learning about the basics of music notation - all for free! The program was fairly intuitive, but slow response and a limited capacity to perform basic functions easily was often frustrating.
My PLN - Classical Archives
Before taking this class I had always heard of RSS technology, but never done anything with it. After creating an account with Google Reader, I was instantly amazed how easy it is to search for different RSS feeds relating to subjects, associations, and professional groups pertaining to my field of interest.
While searching for archives of various musical genres, I discovered "Classical Archives," which is a giant collection of classical composers, their music in MIDI format, their music in mp3 format, comprehensive biographies, and other tools for the music educator, musician, and amateur alike. Although you must pay a modest annual fee to have unlimited access to this giant network, the site does allow five free downloads a day. You can create a temporary account by signing in as a "limited member." This will allow you to peruse the website, and gain access to five new midi or mp3 files of your choice each day.
The MIDI files can be downloaded and entered into most music notation programs. This has many benefits. Depending on the software, you should be able to view the full score, and keep it on your computer or flash drive for easy access. Although these are not "official" scores, you can learn a lot about a particular composition, and how the MIDI sequencer went about making the file. This in itself is a great free way to supplement classes like music theory, form and analysis, orchestration, and ear-training.
This website also contains the latest information on the newest recordings available, and the "hottest" composers, musicians, and scholars of our time. On my Google Reader, I have been sent fantastic articles such as, "Video Games Exposing Teens to Classical Music," "Maazel, Mahler, and The New York Philharmonic," "The Wall Street Journal - New Ways to Buy Bach Online," and countless others.
I think that this is a great resourse for music educators everywhere. Because classical music is the backbone and foundation of so much material music educators teach, it is imperitive that they take advantage of websites like these to expand their digital library with an almost endless resource. I'm glad I found this link, and I hope it will be beneficial to many of you. I encourage everyone to add it to their PLN!
http://www.classicalarchives.com
While searching for archives of various musical genres, I discovered "Classical Archives," which is a giant collection of classical composers, their music in MIDI format, their music in mp3 format, comprehensive biographies, and other tools for the music educator, musician, and amateur alike. Although you must pay a modest annual fee to have unlimited access to this giant network, the site does allow five free downloads a day. You can create a temporary account by signing in as a "limited member." This will allow you to peruse the website, and gain access to five new midi or mp3 files of your choice each day.
The MIDI files can be downloaded and entered into most music notation programs. This has many benefits. Depending on the software, you should be able to view the full score, and keep it on your computer or flash drive for easy access. Although these are not "official" scores, you can learn a lot about a particular composition, and how the MIDI sequencer went about making the file. This in itself is a great free way to supplement classes like music theory, form and analysis, orchestration, and ear-training.
This website also contains the latest information on the newest recordings available, and the "hottest" composers, musicians, and scholars of our time. On my Google Reader, I have been sent fantastic articles such as, "Video Games Exposing Teens to Classical Music," "Maazel, Mahler, and The New York Philharmonic," "The Wall Street Journal - New Ways to Buy Bach Online," and countless others.
I think that this is a great resourse for music educators everywhere. Because classical music is the backbone and foundation of so much material music educators teach, it is imperitive that they take advantage of websites like these to expand their digital library with an almost endless resource. I'm glad I found this link, and I hope it will be beneficial to many of you. I encourage everyone to add it to their PLN!
http://www.classicalarchives.com
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Reflections On TPACK
As I read this article by Dr. Bauer, I had the opportunity to reflect upon my own life experiences, both with technology and with music. One of the most interesting things I considered was the privilege and opportunity I have to live in an era where technology is booming across the earth, and playing a major role in the lives of millions. It is strange to think that only a decade ago, the Internet was just starting to become a worldwide phenomenon. It seems so commonplace today, that sometimes I take it for granted. But at twenty-seven years of age, I can easily remember a time when "email" or "web browser" were foreign terms.
Dr. Bauer refers to the youth of today as "Digital Natives," meaning they were born into a world of rich technological advances. He then talks about adults who have more or less "adopted" a life of Blackberries, iPods, and Twitter. Reflecting upon this, I would consider myself somewhere in the middle. I was definitely not born into a world of technological breakthroughs like today, but I'm not so ancient as to never have known what a floppy disk was. I consider myself lucky to be born in the age of a great technological revolution. I was able to see in my life the progress of the first Macintosh to the latest in computer innovation. I therefore think I have a greater appreciation for this technology then someone born a decade later. On the other hand, by my high school days, the internet WAS available to me, and I experienced the privilege of "google," "yahoo," and "hotmail." It is my strong belief that being a young, firsthand witness to this progression will enable me to use technology in a fantastic way as a future educator.
Before I comment on "TPACK" itself, I want to mention a few things by way of my history with music notation technology. As a high school student, I loved to compose my own music and I was always aware of the latest and greatest music notation software. One of the earliest programs I ever purchased was notation software entiteld "Music Time." Although primitive in outlook, and lacking basic fundamental abilities to print a "professional" looking score, this software allowed me to compose music and hear playback. It introduced me to the world of MIDI, a world I have loved ever since. Being able to compose and orchestrate my own music, (as well as that of others) was a real treat and taught me valuable lessons that would prove vital in my college years of theory and ear-training. I was able to share my compositions with others via the internet, and download the files of other budding composers. This was a great supplement to my musical training on saxophone and piano, and I believe that many young people can benefit from the use of such technology. What would the young Beethoven have thought?
As a musician and future educator, I'm very excited about the possibilities of technology and the classroom. However, In this article I learned that a mere knowlege of the technological advances of today and tomorrow will not be enough for me to be a successful educator. Rather, it will have to do with how I integrate the technology into the content I wish to teach, and how I wish to teach it (pedagogy). I believe this is what is at the heart of TPACK: The ability to succesfully integrate technology in such a way as to be informational and beneficial for each individual student, while holding true to the integrity of the "content," or material I wish to teach. I think half of the battle will be deciding on how to use technology responsibly in a way that does not take away from a successful class ciriculum, while the other half will be deciding how to best use the technology in a way where the students learn, feel good about themselves, are motivated to improve, and are excited about the futre.
One thing that this article did not go into great depth on was the practicality and availability of such expensive technology in the secondary school. While TPACK is a great ideology, I'm not certain that future students will have the money and resources to benefit from such a highly saturated diet of "Technology Soup." This is in great part due to the difficult economic times, and of course will vary from district to district; state to state. But I think it is worth noting that new technologies are wonderful, in as much as they are regarded as a means to an end and not the end itself. New technologies are exciting tools to help students and teachers alike enhance their daily musical experienecs, and open their minds to new ideas and possibilites. But at the end of a day, technology is still a tool, an instrument used in place of another approach to educate our students: the future teachers of tomorrow.
Dr. Bauer refers to the youth of today as "Digital Natives," meaning they were born into a world of rich technological advances. He then talks about adults who have more or less "adopted" a life of Blackberries, iPods, and Twitter. Reflecting upon this, I would consider myself somewhere in the middle. I was definitely not born into a world of technological breakthroughs like today, but I'm not so ancient as to never have known what a floppy disk was. I consider myself lucky to be born in the age of a great technological revolution. I was able to see in my life the progress of the first Macintosh to the latest in computer innovation. I therefore think I have a greater appreciation for this technology then someone born a decade later. On the other hand, by my high school days, the internet WAS available to me, and I experienced the privilege of "google," "yahoo," and "hotmail." It is my strong belief that being a young, firsthand witness to this progression will enable me to use technology in a fantastic way as a future educator.
Before I comment on "TPACK" itself, I want to mention a few things by way of my history with music notation technology. As a high school student, I loved to compose my own music and I was always aware of the latest and greatest music notation software. One of the earliest programs I ever purchased was notation software entiteld "Music Time." Although primitive in outlook, and lacking basic fundamental abilities to print a "professional" looking score, this software allowed me to compose music and hear playback. It introduced me to the world of MIDI, a world I have loved ever since. Being able to compose and orchestrate my own music, (as well as that of others) was a real treat and taught me valuable lessons that would prove vital in my college years of theory and ear-training. I was able to share my compositions with others via the internet, and download the files of other budding composers. This was a great supplement to my musical training on saxophone and piano, and I believe that many young people can benefit from the use of such technology. What would the young Beethoven have thought?
As a musician and future educator, I'm very excited about the possibilities of technology and the classroom. However, In this article I learned that a mere knowlege of the technological advances of today and tomorrow will not be enough for me to be a successful educator. Rather, it will have to do with how I integrate the technology into the content I wish to teach, and how I wish to teach it (pedagogy). I believe this is what is at the heart of TPACK: The ability to succesfully integrate technology in such a way as to be informational and beneficial for each individual student, while holding true to the integrity of the "content," or material I wish to teach. I think half of the battle will be deciding on how to use technology responsibly in a way that does not take away from a successful class ciriculum, while the other half will be deciding how to best use the technology in a way where the students learn, feel good about themselves, are motivated to improve, and are excited about the futre.
One thing that this article did not go into great depth on was the practicality and availability of such expensive technology in the secondary school. While TPACK is a great ideology, I'm not certain that future students will have the money and resources to benefit from such a highly saturated diet of "Technology Soup." This is in great part due to the difficult economic times, and of course will vary from district to district; state to state. But I think it is worth noting that new technologies are wonderful, in as much as they are regarded as a means to an end and not the end itself. New technologies are exciting tools to help students and teachers alike enhance their daily musical experienecs, and open their minds to new ideas and possibilites. But at the end of a day, technology is still a tool, an instrument used in place of another approach to educate our students: the future teachers of tomorrow.
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