Sunday, March 22, 2015
Noteflight Review
Noteflight is a free composition program available over the internet without downloading anything directly onto your computer. I found there to be some pros and cons to this program. I really like the idea that there is nothing to download, so students could use this in the computer labs and also have it available for their use at home! It is fairly simple to use and offers all the basic functions of any composition program. I am accustomed to using Finale for composition, so I had a little trouble at the start figuring out all the different functions. Once I got going however everything was straight forward. The biggest downfall was not being able to use a MIDI keyboard for input with the free version.
Friday, March 20, 2015
Week Two: Improvisation
Hi All,
This week in reading Music Learning Today by William Bauer the importance of encouraging creativity and the power improvisation was discussed. Bauer suggested, “Creativity is almost always a process that takes time, preparation and persistence.” (Bauer, 2014, p. 50). This is a great way to help all students realize that they all have the potential to be creative and have creative thought. In my experience I have noticed when students start their new instruments they think they will “magically” be amazing. When they realize that they need to put time and effort into the instrument it will fast track them to success, which will lead to them being able to think more creatively.
Improvisation is another great way to help build student creativity, comfort and confidence. Bauer emphasizes the importance of improvisation. He explains that even though the importance of improv is addressed in the National Music Education Standards, some teachers still have a difficult time incorporating it because of lack of experience while they were a student. I completely agree. While I was growing up, even through college, I did not have experience with improvisation. I am developing a Jazz Ensemble in my current position, and I am having some difficulties getting the students to feel comfortable releasing their minds from standard notation and being creative. The steps presented in chapter three have given me a ton of ideas in how I should structure activities to build improvisational skills. I definitely like the idea of starting with small steps like only allowing students to improv on certain notes (do-mi-sol). I have opened up my Jazz Ensemble to select students that are not involved in the traditional band setting, but that have been playing guitar/bass for years. In this experience I have noticed the idea expressed that students with a musical background like to have guidelines whereas students that love music but do not necessarily have a background in music like to have free range over what they are doing. My goal for my students is to eventually have all of them become comfortable enough with improvisation that they want to do solos in the jazz ensemble and won’t require them to be written, but would rather feel the music. One quote in the reading that stuck with me was, “Improvisation is creativity expressed in real time.” (Bauer, 2014, p. 58). I think those of us working with our students on improvisation should share this quote with them in hopes it will be an eye opener that improv is not scary, it is a creative outlet.
I am excited to see what Bauer has to share about composition and how this can increase creativity next week!!!
This week in reading Music Learning Today by William Bauer the importance of encouraging creativity and the power improvisation was discussed. Bauer suggested, “Creativity is almost always a process that takes time, preparation and persistence.” (Bauer, 2014, p. 50). This is a great way to help all students realize that they all have the potential to be creative and have creative thought. In my experience I have noticed when students start their new instruments they think they will “magically” be amazing. When they realize that they need to put time and effort into the instrument it will fast track them to success, which will lead to them being able to think more creatively.
Improvisation is another great way to help build student creativity, comfort and confidence. Bauer emphasizes the importance of improvisation. He explains that even though the importance of improv is addressed in the National Music Education Standards, some teachers still have a difficult time incorporating it because of lack of experience while they were a student. I completely agree. While I was growing up, even through college, I did not have experience with improvisation. I am developing a Jazz Ensemble in my current position, and I am having some difficulties getting the students to feel comfortable releasing their minds from standard notation and being creative. The steps presented in chapter three have given me a ton of ideas in how I should structure activities to build improvisational skills. I definitely like the idea of starting with small steps like only allowing students to improv on certain notes (do-mi-sol). I have opened up my Jazz Ensemble to select students that are not involved in the traditional band setting, but that have been playing guitar/bass for years. In this experience I have noticed the idea expressed that students with a musical background like to have guidelines whereas students that love music but do not necessarily have a background in music like to have free range over what they are doing. My goal for my students is to eventually have all of them become comfortable enough with improvisation that they want to do solos in the jazz ensemble and won’t require them to be written, but would rather feel the music. One quote in the reading that stuck with me was, “Improvisation is creativity expressed in real time.” (Bauer, 2014, p. 58). I think those of us working with our students on improvisation should share this quote with them in hopes it will be an eye opener that improv is not scary, it is a creative outlet.
I am excited to see what Bauer has to share about composition and how this can increase creativity next week!!!
Saturday, March 14, 2015
In this week's readings I found Bauer's description of technology natives and technology immigrants to be perfect. It is apparent in all schools that there are teachers that seem to be extremely comfortable around technology, and those that may not be so open to new developments.
As a new teacher, and what I would consider a technology native, I am excited to incorporate as much technology into my classes as possible. However, I am sure many of us have experienced the bump in the road when considering finances. The school district I work in is located in a small, rural, poverty stricken area, and unfortunately due to lack of resources there is not a lot of technology (outside of computer labs) provided, let alone music technology programs. Regardless of this factor, I still try to incorporate as much technology use as I can. My students use programs like Finale and Garageband (provided by my personal computer), and online websites such as www.musictheory.net on a regular basis. Uses something even as simple as a recording system and playback can be extremely useful tools for the classroom.
Just as Bauer suggested, the incorporation of technology is very important for student growth. When one thinks about how many technological advances have been made in just the past ten years, it becomes clear that as new generations are born the use of technology will become more of the norm. Technology will become a way for the older generation of teachers to relate to future students and spark their interests by teaching through a portal they are familiar with.
I am excited to continue reading Bauer's viewpoint on incorporating technology into the classroom and hopefully we will all be inspired to broaden our use and become more effective in our application of technology.
Until next week, happy reading!
H
As a new teacher, and what I would consider a technology native, I am excited to incorporate as much technology into my classes as possible. However, I am sure many of us have experienced the bump in the road when considering finances. The school district I work in is located in a small, rural, poverty stricken area, and unfortunately due to lack of resources there is not a lot of technology (outside of computer labs) provided, let alone music technology programs. Regardless of this factor, I still try to incorporate as much technology use as I can. My students use programs like Finale and Garageband (provided by my personal computer), and online websites such as www.musictheory.net on a regular basis. Uses something even as simple as a recording system and playback can be extremely useful tools for the classroom.
Just as Bauer suggested, the incorporation of technology is very important for student growth. When one thinks about how many technological advances have been made in just the past ten years, it becomes clear that as new generations are born the use of technology will become more of the norm. Technology will become a way for the older generation of teachers to relate to future students and spark their interests by teaching through a portal they are familiar with.
I am excited to continue reading Bauer's viewpoint on incorporating technology into the classroom and hopefully we will all be inspired to broaden our use and become more effective in our application of technology.
Until next week, happy reading!
H
Monday, March 9, 2015
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