video chatting in the Classroom

Online classes are becoming increasingly more popular and there thousands of students enrolling in them.  I am currently taking two online classes and one is a music class.  Though I had my felling and worries about this class in really has been pretty good.  It really got me thinking back to the post I did earlier about the crazy piano technology.  I really wonder if there can even be an online orchestra class where student log in via Skype or something.  This would allow people to receive musical input from the top notch teachers from around the world without having to pay for travel fees and such.  Of course there are some logistical things that would have to be sorted out such as GOOD wifi, but this is more of a perfect world idea.  However this would would also word for the classroom teacher who wants to do some type of collaborative teaching with teachers from other districts states and countries.  This will give students other perspectives on musical materials, different interpretations on musical ideals all the while saving the school money when it comes to bringing people in.  I guess you can say this post in more about video chatting in the classroom.  But my reasoning for putting so much emphasis on the video chat aspect is the online classes lack that personal connection students need with a teacher.  The video aspect still gives students a chance to have (even if just a tiny bit) some one on one time.  Music requires a lot of formative assessment and online classes lack that.  The video chat is a pretty cool and simple solution

Cell Phones and Essays?

Teachers are always complaining about students using their cell phones, or and essay that is in text language.  Well I want to pose and idea that may seem off the wall.  This is not a music related post however it can easily become one.  Teachers hate text language however its pretty clear that a majority of teachers use and understanding.  A lot of what we do in the academic world is communicate our thoughts, knowledge and opinions.  Many essays and writing assignments I have done at MSU have been opinion based.  So why not allow students to text in their essays and then after edit them into a more academic style essay.  This way students can get their thoughts out very quickly without harping over grammar and things of that nature.  I am by no means saying disregard the importance of one's grammatical understanding but rather I am saying that students may get more ideas out in a language they are more comfortable in.   This way as a teacher you are integrating technology and a part of the new age digital culture that fills our world these days.  Students will still learn and understand grammar in the end but will be able to put all that text time into use.   Besides at some point everything will be using digital short hand and coded language, they already do so in the corporate world.  Again I'm just posing and idea to not only help students learn but get them interested in the idea.  Even seeing who in the class can text the must words in a minute then turn that into a big writing assignment.

Youtube is the key to education

I am a complete nerd when it comes to youtube.  Almost any new thing I learn comes from youtube because I always say that someone took the time to make a how to video about anything you can think of.  In high school I learned all my pre calc materials on youtube and how to play piano.  From there I started learning how to build things fix things.  The knowledge helped me earn extra money for college and other expenses.  I fix xbox 360's and Ipods all of which I learned from youtube.  Though you must watch multiple videos in order to find the consistent information, however once you do many time people site their sources in the description or verbally.  I even learned how to fix one of the trouble shooting issues I was having interactivity 4 from youtube.  Really you can find anything on youtube and add it to your lesson no matter the content area.  since being at Montclair I have only really seen the music faculty constantly use youtube as one of their pedagogical tools in the classroom.  Some teacher even have listed in their lesson plan.  I say youtube is the key to education because there have been classes that I did not even buy the book for and I managed to still get a pretty good grade all using youtube lessons as my primary source of information.  I find watching videos to be much more interesting than reading and I feel a lot of my peers agree.  In classes where there was a test about a movie rather than a book regardless of how rigorous the test was people did better on the one that was about the movie.  We are visual and physical learner "monkey see monkey do" is how we as humans function on the most basic level.  I see video on youtube I do, to me its a very efficient tool though I do not encourage people to not buy the book as I did I do feel that one should really become well involved  in what youtube has to offer.  Before it is no longer free!

Technology Integration Plan

My lesson plan looks at the hip-hop music genre  from a culture and technological standpoint.  The goal of this unit is to give students a deeper understanding of hip-hop music from the roots of its creation to how its created in todays world.  Though hip hop was once part of a specific racial group and geographical location, it is now a world wide genre.  Students are not only exploring the cultural influences of hip-hop but how the creation of hip hop music can be used to map out its history. Students will learn the use of several digital programs and music production software and equipment.  Students will research, map out and recreate the history of the hip hop genre using to technology to facilitate and guide their understanding along with summative and formative assessment provided by the teacher.  Student will create a digital map of hip-hop history and cultural influences and perform and hip hop piece of their creation.  At the end of the unit students will have an understanding of every aspect of hip-hop from past to present

The first row of my matrix maps how students will access the information needed to complete the unit.  This will start with the teacher showing an video documentary of hip hop along with several music examples hip-hop music from different points of its history to present day hip-hop.  This video presentation and listening will followed by a group discussion about hip-hop history and speculations as to why the social and political views of hip-hop has changed over time.  Students will then do independent internet research using a list of sites given to the by the teacher and two other sites of their choosing.  Students will the reflect on the information discovered and what was covered in the in class portion of that days assignment.  Using some type of word processor, students will log the important information and important concepts and prepare to use that information in the next section of the unit.  All information and reflective materials will be stored in some type of digital storage source such as google drive.

The second row maps how students will analyze the the music the listened to from a  cultural and technological standpoint.  The teacher will give a presentation about the different technological developments used in hip-hop and those specific to hip-hop.  An example would the the drum pad used to make hip-hop beats.   During this same lecture student will learn hip hop specific language to better help them understand the information they uncovered.  Students will then individually listen the the hip-hop song "everyday people" by Arrested Development.  The lyrics will be projected on the smart board  for student to follow a long with.  After listening student will then brainstorm ideas on how to create their own hip-hop song.  As student talk with one another the teacher will create a thought web on the smart board to to give students a visual of the their thoughts.  Students will then reflect on the lyrics and the language used specifically the us of the N-Word in hip-hop.  This reflection will but graded based on the students research of the word and its influence on hip-hop culture.  They will answer question such as; why is it used?  why is it offensive is certain groups use it?.   This can also be the basis of a sociology discussion as a cross curricular topic and activity.

The third row of the matrix show how students will peer edit and review the responses they produced and begin to learn how to use the music software that the will use.  After they form groups they will in groups work on creating a website or wiki page the maps out the history of hip-hop and the music specific technologies that are used in most hip-hop songs.  The goal here is for student to demonstrate not only their understanding of the genre but also how and why certain technologies were used.  While students are creating the web page the teacher will give each group an era/time period within hip-hop they must accurately recreate through a performance.

The fourth row of the matrix is the presentation portion where student present the wiki page to the class and show how they mapped out the history of hip-hop.  Teacher will also present to show his/her mapping of the history to create a learning environment where student and teacher are all participating.  The teacher will also show students the inner workings of a hip-hop song the teach created as an example for student so see.  Students will then their feeling of the hip-hop genre and their overall finding and use all they learned in the final step

The fifth row in where student will demonstrate their understanding through performance.  From the set up of the digital equipment to the inner working of the hip hop song they created.  Each group and the teacher will listen to every performance and be able to accurately evaluate the performance, the music, and the appropriate  Use of the musical technologies. Hip-hop is a genre that is always been "bashed" for many reasons however at the end of the unit students will have an understanding of a very misunderstood  genre.
LINK TO MATRIX

Video Games in Class?

OnRock Band Gamee would never think to do this in a classroom situation however I think there is a very efficient way to make this work.  As a music teacher I know how hard it is to get student to feel a beat, play rhythms, and sigh read.  It takes a lot of coordination and and concentration to be able to to even on e of those things rather then all of them at once.  Seeing something and reacting to it is a rather hard task to do in real time without and practice at all.  Well there are a few videos games that can help teacher demonstrate how to learn this skill.  Two games are Guitar Hero and Rock Band.  Both are interactive music games were the player is band member and must play the given patterns they see on the screen and are given points for accuracy.  These games like many other have difficulty setting that can be changes for each students skill level and to challenge more advanced players.  Th player must play what the see in real time and if they miss too many the lose.  Though this is just a game you need to be able to feel a the beat and read the rhythms and play them correctly.  This game can aid music teachers in teaching students how to keep time and play rhythms and though this is something that is pretty early in ones musical educations if one goes by the standards, it is something that every music student and teacher struggles with.   This will also hale students feel closer to the teacher and feel that the teachers is open to what they like and do!

The other side of music technology!

Now days technology has evolved so much that there is no need for instruments.  What I mean by this is that one can recreate instrumental sounds digitally and comes very close to the real things.   Almost all musicians who put out CD's are giving a true recording in the sense that it is often edited to make them sound almost perfect.  This is done through editing programs that take recording and turn them into the picture perfect works of art.  Much like photo shop but with sound.  Many of the old school musicians around today say that these programs are shaming the musical world.  Pianist Walter Hautzig is one of those musicians that feel that when pianist makes a CD it is a false representation of there playing.  "I remember asking the recording staff after hearing a playback of the session and I asked...Where are the mistakes I made".  Hautzig wanted to keep the mistakes just as they had to on the days of wax recording.   However the producers told him that if there are mistakes there will be no sales and people will not buy.  Though music tech is important we must still be musicians that are true to our craft.  This is what makes technology in music very tricky.  I'm sure fellow music majors would agree with Hautzig especially when looking at some those who are considered musicians but never give live concerts, yet continue to put out CD's.  This view of technology within music is also one that stops some modern day music teachers from ever touching any digital equipment.  Fear the student will have a easy way out of practicing and learning music because of how advanced things are becoming.

Importance of a Tech lab in music classes!

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