My first resource that I found was the blog, MusTech.net (http://mustech.net/music-technology/). Even though the domain, “.net”, is usually not to be trusted, since it was only a blog, and the author’s credentials were fine, I still used the site. The authors of this blog were Dr. Joseph M. Pisano and Amy M. Burns. Dr. Pisano has a doctorate in Music Education from Kent State University. He has spoken at several national conferences, published a handful of articles, and received the Ti:ME (Technology for Music Educators) Teacher of the Year Award. Amy M. Burns was the past President for Ti:Me from 20120-2014. She was the first person to ever be awarded Ti:ME teacher of the year. She is also the author of several published articles relating to using technology in music classrooms and lesson plans that go along with these suggestions. Their blog specializes in providing current facts and information, as well as sharing and reviewing different resources like apps and software programs to its readers so that they can be better users of technology in their music classrooms. The blog is linked to other music education blogs and is funded by advertisers who want their programs to be shared on the website. Overall, this blog seems like a great resource tool for music educators looking to implement technology into their classrooms more often and contains tutorials, as well as apps, on how to accomplish that goal. For me, as an aspiring music educator, I find this blog as a quick and easy way to search up creative, interesting applications of music in the classroom. If I needed denser content, I could always read the published articles the authors have written on music technology in the classroom. However, the blog is a simplistic way for me to read their reviews and suggestions without being too bogged down by complex wording on how and what to use in music technology.
My second resource is the website, Tutsplus (http://music.tutsplus.com/); its domain is “.com”, which is what I would expect from a website. This website is joint effort by a plethora of authors, but is a reliable source based on the reviews given to it. Tutsplus is well laid out and provides easy to follow how-tos, courses, and ebooks on audio and music, such as mastering the art of mixing or learning synth basics. For a low monthly cost, users can enjoy these step-by-step tutorials and learn more on how to use technology in music. Through this payment plan, as well as through advertisers, Tutsplus can continuing running to provide the resources it specializes in. For me, a relatively cheap website like Tutsplus that provides tutorials on technology basics would be extremely helpful in getting the initial experience with mixing and synthesizers. I would get quality learning material, without having to pay an extensive amount of money for a course on it. The last resource I found was the software, Music First, and more specifically the application they provide Soundation4Education (https://www.musicfirst.com/applications/soundation4education). The application was published in 2014 and is relatively up to date; the program easily runs on any browser that has internet access. It requires no additional hardware setup, though a plug in microphone may be useful for recording sounds. The software can be used for band, orchestra, or choir, and is generally used for elementary and middle school kids, but can be used in high school classrooms too. This application addresses how to work with audio loops, how to build multitrack sequences, and play MIDI data straight into Soundation. This program would be an easy hands on program for children to experiment with and learn the different processes involved. This educational priced, tutorial software has a clear and easy layout that younger students could easily figure out. The teacher can also be involved in the student’s learning by directly viewing each student’s work when it is submitted and giving immediate feedback. This application would be a great resource as a teacher that I could use in the future to allow my students to have a hands on experience with looping and manipulating audio files. It is simple enough that I would not have to teach too much, but would be able to let them explore and make music on their own. |
Davina MiawOn this page, I will present examples of my scholarship in the form of reflective essays and philosophical assignments. Archives
November 2019
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