Video Podcast 2

This would be a great way to show kids how to care for instruments, or give them examples of how to use a specific music theory program. Preparation would be much easier for the teacher, and the possibilities are great to keep the students interested.

Video Listening Guide

Here is my video listening guide. This would be a great way to talk about Hawaii and Polynesian music. I have created a listening guide that could be used for this activity.

midi file

icecrman.mid

Audio file from finale

bailey all state.m4a

Exporting Digital Audio

tuba all state - Upload a Document to Scribd

Above is the all state file that I put into finale a couple of years ago for my all state tuba player. I do this for all of my students and they can access the etude on my webpage instead of navigating the GMEA website, which confuses them. They are able to print this at home and practice for their sessions with me to pass it off. I also use these etudes for my chair placements. The audio file is above in the posting "audio file from finale".


Also, here is a midi file from a website of free midi files. Pretty cheesy, but it fits the bill. Click on the post for midi file above.

Read this document on Scribd: tuba all state

Software Evaluation Podcast 1

Here is my PDF with screen shots for the software evaluation.

PDF

Here is my podcast.

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Composing with Intelligent Composition Software

I would love to use Garage band in my class room. Unfortunately, my school system is loyal to Dell and won't turn loose of any money to buy Macs. However, we saw enough programs in class today that there are other options out there. It seems that this would be a cheaper alternative to using Finale. Plus, students would be interested more in the digital synthesizer sounds. I could take my class to the lab to use one of the programs and spend a unit on composition. I used Garage band today for the assignment. There are endless possibilities with the program, plus more sounds that you can buy in upgrades for garage band, such as more drum sounds called jam packs. They run about $99, and I think I will sink some of my money this year to try some out. Who knows, maybe I can talk the system into buying a mac lab.

PDF post

Thanks to Dustin and Susan for giving us the information to be able to do this. I use this format to post my middle school band handbook online. Also, I can post field trip permission forms to my band website so that if a student forgets, the parents can get it at home.



PDF file

finale file

Here is my finale file for digital media. It is the tuba part for the alma mater at the high school where I am the assistant director. I have taught students how to transpose on finale before. Students could post the transposed file to a blog for an assignment.

Creating, Capturing, and Exporting graphics

Students could use this in class to create blog postings to a band website. This could be an effective communication tool between director and students. It could also be effective to communicate with parents and the director.



This is one of my favorite photos from our Hawaii vacation. I changed it to sepia and played with the shading some too. This is my wife, Tabitha, and my daughter, Mary Ruth.

Students could use the captured screen shots for a class project. Using screen shots would give them the ability to crop out unwanted details on the screen. By using editing software for photos, students could help with an end of the year projects for all of the seniors. They could assist in making collages for students, or a slide show for the end of the year banquet.

I keep getting error messages when I try to post a pdf file. I don't know what I am doing wrong. I will ask Dr. Walls tomorrow in class what I should do.

Technology in Music Education

I am very excited to be taking the Digital Media Production class at Auburn University this summer. I have been using technology in my classroom already, but I look forward to learning new and innovative ways to use it my classroom. As music educators, we should always strive to use the latest and best technologies in our classrooms to ensure that our student receive the best instruction possible. In today's whirlwind world of technological developments, it is important that educators continue to take classes and workshops to keep up with our students knowledge of technology. I am looking forward to receiving my certification in TI ME because I will be the only middle school and high school director with that certification.
It seems that teachers are always looking for new ways to make sure that their students remain interested in the materials that are covered in class. Students are eager to learn new and innovative ways to cover these materials. I have found that by giving the students the option to use technology in my music classroom, they are receptive and more excited about the material. As stated in my previous comments on the wiki page, I currently use my band web page to assist students in preparation for their all state auditions. Audio files of the etudes are posted at different tempos for students to practice with at home. Students also receive CD recordings of these etudes to practice at home. In my first two years at the middle school, I began tinkering with the idea so to speak and had one student to make all state. In the last four years, I have made a commitment to giving time to this area, and two of my students have made all state band.
The Rudolf article makes some good points. It talks about achievement increasing when technology is used on a regular basis and a rise in student interest. Again, I think that as band directors, we are always looking for something to help us retain interest and students. As the Rudolf study shows, student achievement increases.
I also agree with Dr. Walls on implementing technology. I am currently at a school with a low socio-economic group of students. I am forced to spend the bulk of my money on instruments for kids that can't afford it. I want to get a lab for the music department, but didn't think about things one at a time.
One of the articles mentioned that it is important for teachers to "screen" web material before they present it in class. I agree that is extremely important and can save us a big headache with parents and administrators.