1. Google Glass: Making Learning Visible with Wearable Technology (click for link)
This posting at Edutopia caught my eye after I read an newspaper article about a woman being ticketed for wearing her Google Glass while driving. For those unfamiliar with the technology, Google Glass is a small computer that is worn like eyeglasses. There is a small transparent screen near the wearer's right eye, and the device is controlled through voice commands and touch. It seems awfully new, but my creative mind is full of thoughts about how this could be used in music performance settings. For example, could it stream notation an/or instructions to a performer on the marching field? Its just crazy enough that it might work!
2. How to Make a Studio Yearbook (click for link)
This article from Music Teachers Helper chronicles one teachers experience with creating a photo yearbook of the activities of her private studio. I think that this would be a great idea for music ensembles, as well. The author explains the ease of using Shutterfly's free "Photostory" app to create fun and attractive photo book. The app is free, and it can be viewed online for free by anyone with a link. This could be a fun idea for any group or ensemble.
Friday, December 6, 2013
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Recommended Links for Week 6
1. 10 Items to Possibly Include in Elementary Music Progress Reports (click for link)
This article, from Music First, has some good thoughts about different areas to cover when providing parents with progress reports. The author, a New Jersey pre-K through 3rd grade music teacher, advocates making the reports as individualized as possible. Often times, this will mean including some items from the list and omitting others. I was interested in this list because we are looking at revamping the progress report that we use for elementary and middle school instrumental music, and this list included many good thoughts to consider.
2. Two Survey / Polling Tools That Don't Require Registration (click for link)
This blog posting, from Free Technology for Teachers, details "Yarp" and "Flisti." As the title indicates, these are both internet-based survey applications. Neither program has requires site membership (registration). Additionally, both are free of charge. The author also includes a section about how these types of tools can be used in education. I have been interested in conducting surveys and questionnaires with my students, and it is difficult to be free from peer influence and pressure when we are in the classroom. These types of applications could allow students to participate anonymously and free from influence on their computer or smart phone.
This article, from Music First, has some good thoughts about different areas to cover when providing parents with progress reports. The author, a New Jersey pre-K through 3rd grade music teacher, advocates making the reports as individualized as possible. Often times, this will mean including some items from the list and omitting others. I was interested in this list because we are looking at revamping the progress report that we use for elementary and middle school instrumental music, and this list included many good thoughts to consider.
2. Two Survey / Polling Tools That Don't Require Registration (click for link)
This blog posting, from Free Technology for Teachers, details "Yarp" and "Flisti." As the title indicates, these are both internet-based survey applications. Neither program has requires site membership (registration). Additionally, both are free of charge. The author also includes a section about how these types of tools can be used in education. I have been interested in conducting surveys and questionnaires with my students, and it is difficult to be free from peer influence and pressure when we are in the classroom. These types of applications could allow students to participate anonymously and free from influence on their computer or smart phone.
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Recommended Links for Week 5
1. Ten Interactive Websites to Utilize in the Elementary General Music Classroom (click for link)
This posting, from MusicTech.net, includes details about a of web-based resources. While the list covers a variety of areas, but there are a few that I found especially cool. One of them is YouTube/Safeshare, which allows teachers to view YouTube videos in class while omitting all advertisements and comments. Another interesting site is Skype in the Classroom, which helps interested music teachers and their classes around the globe make contact with one another. Noteflight is another one to point out, since we've made use of it during our class While the list was written for elementary general music classes, all of them would be suitable for use with students of any age.
2. Ornaments are notes (click for link)
This one may have limited use for teaching practice, unless you teach high school or have older private students, but it caught my attention on an intellectual level. It comes from the woodwind blog of Bret Pimentel. The author uses an excerpt from an etude that his saxophone and oboe students play to explain his larger point that ornaments include actual notes with real durations. They demand accuracy and consistency, expecting musicians to do more than just "wing it."
This posting, from MusicTech.net, includes details about a of web-based resources. While the list covers a variety of areas, but there are a few that I found especially cool. One of them is YouTube/Safeshare, which allows teachers to view YouTube videos in class while omitting all advertisements and comments. Another interesting site is Skype in the Classroom, which helps interested music teachers and their classes around the globe make contact with one another. Noteflight is another one to point out, since we've made use of it during our class While the list was written for elementary general music classes, all of them would be suitable for use with students of any age.
2. Ornaments are notes (click for link)
This one may have limited use for teaching practice, unless you teach high school or have older private students, but it caught my attention on an intellectual level. It comes from the woodwind blog of Bret Pimentel. The author uses an excerpt from an etude that his saxophone and oboe students play to explain his larger point that ornaments include actual notes with real durations. They demand accuracy and consistency, expecting musicians to do more than just "wing it."
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Recommended Links for Week 4
1. How to Set Yourself Up for Classroom Blogging Success - Free Technology for Teachers
This article gives several pointers for teachers looking to set up a classroom blog. Possible uses for blogs include sharing assignments and facilitating classroom discussion. The author's primary areas of focus are on internet safety and etiquette. I found this article to be interesting, but it was a little limited in scope and detail. One of my short term goals is to develop a social media presence for my Band program, and many of the ideas presented here would transfer directly.
2. Taking Music Lessons as a Child Could Physically Alter Your Brain - NAfME
Shared through NAfME, this Huffington Post article noted three different studies confirming that studying music as a young child positively impacts brain development in a variety of ways. The main study that was cited, conducted at a university in Beijing, China, specifically found that children who took music lessons before age 7 demonstrated the greatest cognitive advances.
This article gives several pointers for teachers looking to set up a classroom blog. Possible uses for blogs include sharing assignments and facilitating classroom discussion. The author's primary areas of focus are on internet safety and etiquette. I found this article to be interesting, but it was a little limited in scope and detail. One of my short term goals is to develop a social media presence for my Band program, and many of the ideas presented here would transfer directly.
2. Taking Music Lessons as a Child Could Physically Alter Your Brain - NAfME
Shared through NAfME, this Huffington Post article noted three different studies confirming that studying music as a young child positively impacts brain development in a variety of ways. The main study that was cited, conducted at a university in Beijing, China, specifically found that children who took music lessons before age 7 demonstrated the greatest cognitive advances.
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Recommended Links for Week 3
1. Social Media and Communication in the Music Classroom (click for link)
This article, from Music Education Magic, discusses many social media options for music educators wanting more presence for their programs than just a tradition website. It covers heavy hitter like Facebook and Twitter, but also covers media-sharing sites like YouTube, Shutterfly, and Tumblr to share images and video from your program. Lastly, the article talks about privacy concerns for yourself and your students. This article comes at a good time for me. I have been discussing the merits of a social media presence for my band program with a reluctant batch of administrators in the past week!
2. Another Ashton Kutcher Video That Students Should See (click for link)
I am no fan of the acting of Ashton Kutcher, but he has shared a couple of very inspiring messages to young people in recent months. I was already aware of Mr. Kutcher's award acceptance speech at the Teen Choice awards where he said that "opportunity looks a lot like hard work." This posting, from Free Technology for Teachers, shares this video in addition to a new interview that Mr. Kutcher did with Ellen DeGeneres. In the new interview, the actor again inspires young people with the message that "the only job that below you is not to have a job." I like his message.
This article, from Music Education Magic, discusses many social media options for music educators wanting more presence for their programs than just a tradition website. It covers heavy hitter like Facebook and Twitter, but also covers media-sharing sites like YouTube, Shutterfly, and Tumblr to share images and video from your program. Lastly, the article talks about privacy concerns for yourself and your students. This article comes at a good time for me. I have been discussing the merits of a social media presence for my band program with a reluctant batch of administrators in the past week!
2. Another Ashton Kutcher Video That Students Should See (click for link)
I am no fan of the acting of Ashton Kutcher, but he has shared a couple of very inspiring messages to young people in recent months. I was already aware of Mr. Kutcher's award acceptance speech at the Teen Choice awards where he said that "opportunity looks a lot like hard work." This posting, from Free Technology for Teachers, shares this video in addition to a new interview that Mr. Kutcher did with Ellen DeGeneres. In the new interview, the actor again inspires young people with the message that "the only job that below you is not to have a job." I like his message.
A Bicycle Built for Two
Click here for my edition of this song
I am impressed with the NoteFlight program. Note entry is fairly easy, as are other edits like adding articulations. I didn't feel that it was quite as easy or as intuitive as MuseScore, but it was not challenging to learn. While it doesn't boast the features and publishing options of software options like Finale or Sibelius, its web-based nature makes it ideal for sharing. This, I believe it NoteFlight's greatest use in music education. A shared composition, like The Blue Bells of Scotland that we created as a class this week, would be an ideal project for older students to complete in small groups or as a class.
I am impressed with the NoteFlight program. Note entry is fairly easy, as are other edits like adding articulations. I didn't feel that it was quite as easy or as intuitive as MuseScore, but it was not challenging to learn. While it doesn't boast the features and publishing options of software options like Finale or Sibelius, its web-based nature makes it ideal for sharing. This, I believe it NoteFlight's greatest use in music education. A shared composition, like The Blue Bells of Scotland that we created as a class this week, would be an ideal project for older students to complete in small groups or as a class.
Saturday, November 2, 2013
Recommended Links for Week 2
1. Robert Marcellus Master Class Audio Archives - Clarinet Cache
This post informs readers about the availability of recordings through the website of the library at Northwestern University. The master classes were led by longtime Northwestern professor of clarinet, Robert Marcellus. Mr. Marcellus is also noted for for a lengthy orchestral career, primarily with the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. Masterclass recordings on any instrument or subject can be very beneficial through exposure to new ideas and approaches from expert teachers and musicians. I have listened to some of the recordings here, and they have my endorsement as a terrific and timeless resource.
Click here for the link to the article.
2. 5 Tools for Quickly Building Simple Announcement Pages - Free Technology for Teachers
This post details five internet sources for creating simple webpages to advertise events or promote programs. The author shares some additional ideas for their use, including having students develop their own websites to promote concerts or publicly share their work. Each of the five resources seem to be fairly simple and, most importantly, free!
Click here for the link to the article
This post informs readers about the availability of recordings through the website of the library at Northwestern University. The master classes were led by longtime Northwestern professor of clarinet, Robert Marcellus. Mr. Marcellus is also noted for for a lengthy orchestral career, primarily with the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra. Masterclass recordings on any instrument or subject can be very beneficial through exposure to new ideas and approaches from expert teachers and musicians. I have listened to some of the recordings here, and they have my endorsement as a terrific and timeless resource.
Click here for the link to the article.
2. 5 Tools for Quickly Building Simple Announcement Pages - Free Technology for Teachers
This post details five internet sources for creating simple webpages to advertise events or promote programs. The author shares some additional ideas for their use, including having students develop their own websites to promote concerts or publicly share their work. Each of the five resources seem to be fairly simple and, most importantly, free!
Click here for the link to the article
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