A Tech lab is something many music students take for granted. Either they never make time to go or dread the rather boring classes that involve using one. I must say that in the past I was also guilty of neglecting the tech lab both in my high school and in college. However these past three semesters I really started using it and learning how to use the programs even if it's just the basics. Be able to use programs like Garage Band and Pro tools is really key in the educational world today. Many students feel that one must be a Jay-Z type artist to be able to use those programs and I think it's up to the teachers to show students that that is in fact n true at all. First off for those reading this post who are not sure what a tech lab is for a music student its simple. A room with computers that have music specific programs loaded on it and a MIDI (music Instrument Digital Interface) keyboard and some type of sound mixing system. Now many of the schools that have the founding for a more advanced tech lab often have a teacher well in the 50’s who feels music is and acoustic only entity that does not require or need the use of technology. The students are not encouraged to use or learn the programs and never show any interest in them. The younger generation of teachers are more knowledgeable in technology as a whole. There are tones of music related jobs not geared toward performing that are opening surrounded by digital music programs. These programs can serve as pedagogical tools for music education and broaden the musical curriculum to more then just the European musical cannon used in schools today. Teachers must learn these programs and adapt them to the standards and lesson that they want to teach. Doing this will create an advanced group of musical students that do more then just play music but use technology to enhance their understanding. Not to mention knowing how to use these programs to record auditions performances and such there is so much a tech lab can do so why do we do it. I can say this much I will NYU Tech Lab
I think you bring up an important point about the tech lab often being neglected by students - I'm definitely guilty of this too! I think part of it is because even though it's available to me, I don't know how to use everything and so I don't take the time to really take advantage of it. I agree that it's so important for teachers to learn how to use these programs and incorporate them into the classroom. Technology is leading the way in so many ways in the world, and music should keep up with that to some degree.
ReplyDeleteI too neglect our tech lab at the university..It has such wonderful tools that only help us music majors too succeed, yet I overlook it on a daily basis. I'm not proficient in Garageband or Finale and in order to be able to teach them one day to my students, I need to jump in and take the initiative and begin learning on my own. If these tech labs were in many high schools, students have the time and capability to learn how to use them on their own. This will raise the bar of the typical music student. One problem with this however is, the nice computers and the software do cost a lot of money that many districts simply do not have.
ReplyDeleteIt is important for music students to learn these programs and incorporate them in their lives a little more. Its amazing what students can compose without knowing much about music theory, or any really, and still come up with some very interesting compositions. This idea is one thats is more geared to the use of garage band or anything with preset recording. There are so many programs and way to use them in our lessons as music educators that idea was just one. The tools in music tech lab will hopefully be one in all schools, something hopefully we will all get to utilize and have our students utilize to enrich their musical experiences.
ReplyDeleteMiles, you bring up some very interesting points in this post. I just did a reflective post on my fieldwork observations this past semester. One of the main points I talk about is the lack of technology in my co-op's classroom. My co-op was a brilliant man, however he had a flaw. His flaw being his lack of understanding, and utilization of technology in general. There was not a single day where he didn't ask me to help him do something on his computer. He was always yelling at his computer, and manually restarting it 5-7 times a day. The interesting thing about it is that it seems to be a very new, and high-end desktop. There is a computer in the classroom, which is connected to a overhead-projector and a sound system. Unfortunately, he never once utilized it. I asked him about why he doesn't use the computer, audio system, or projector for his classes, he said that it's more trouble than its worth. Just because my co-op does not use these technologies does not necessarily mean that he's a bad/ lazy teacher. Its that he doesn't really know how to use them, and that he doesn't have any patents for them when using them. Most technologies require you to explore them on your own time before you can use them to their full potential. I think that all teachers should attend a constructive technology workshop every year where the teachers work with professional IT people, and with their co-educators; to figure out how to not only use the technologies available in the school, but also how to effectively and efficiently teach with them in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteMiles, you bring up some very interesting points in this post. I just did a reflective post on my fieldwork observations this past semester. One of the main points I talk about is the lack of technology in my co-op's classroom. My co-op was a brilliant man, however he had a flaw. His flaw being his lack of understanding, and utilization of technology in general. There was not a single day where he didn't ask me to help him do something on his computer. He was always yelling at his computer, and manually restarting it 5-7 times a day. The interesting thing about it is that it seems to be a very new, and high-end desktop. There is a computer in the classroom, which is connected to a overhead-projector and a sound system. Unfortunately, he never once utilized it. I asked him about why he doesn't use the computer, audio system, or projector for his classes, he said that it's more trouble than its worth. Just because my co-op does not use these technologies does not necessarily mean that he's a bad/ lazy teacher. Its that he doesn't really know how to use them, and that he doesn't have any patents for them when using them. Most technologies require you to explore them on your own time before you can use them to their full potential. I think that all teachers should attend a constructive technology workshop every year where the teachers work with professional IT people, and with their co-educators; to figure out how to not only use the technologies available in the school, but also how to effectively and efficiently teach with them in the classroom.
ReplyDelete