Though the previous weeks in this class have been eye opening and interesting, there can be no doubting that from my previous posts, this week has served to be probably the most useful and most enjoyable at the same time.
The text focused on ways to promote technology in helping student performance. The interesting thing that was pointed out was that this could be through helping them attain skill and knowledge. Though as a performer and educator I cannot deny that I am well aware of how background knowledge and time spent away from the actual skill of practicing can undoubtedly help performance, I have never looked at it as a performance task in itself. I found that to be a unique outlook on the methodology to improve and enhance performance. From videos and listening of great performers, it does enhance performance, I just never looked at it from that direction before. Other points that caught my interest were things like interactive white boards (which I have never had the privilege to use), using online tuners and metronomes as opposed to physical ones, and SmartMusic. I had no idea how far SmartMusic had come in the past 5-10 years with the ability to not only intelligently accompany a student, but provide exercises, feedback, and tracking for parents and teachers. I am very jealous of anyone who has this now, and I hope to see how I can incorporate this into my own private clarinet instruction. The discussion this week revolved around this premise, and it seems many are either in my corner where we did not realize all the things we were already doing because it was just natural, yet at the same surprised at how much we could yet do, or segment of the class who appear to already have all of this down and are implementing it regularly to the ability they are able. My hat goes off to all of them.
I also spent more time watching and learning from Lynda.com videos, to the point I felt I have been immersed into a full blown sound course. I might not be able to run sound support for my unit yet, but all the knowledge is their now to get started and learn with some hands on application! So much information regarding both the setting up of a sound system and gets mics set-up, to the integral stages of making a recording sound professional in the editing stages with software. Evening knowing about the different categories of DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) was new to me and will be very useful in how I proceed in establishing my personal/professional setup. Furthermore, though I have used Audacity in the past, I can be honest when I state I did not really know what I was doing, and the course on Audacity was fascinating! I had no idea how much versatility and power the program had, and I cannot wait to dive headlong into the program for my work and instructional purposes. The remix assignment that we had to accomplish was just a blast, and I could easily see myself getting lost in the workings of Audacity just about as much as I already know I can get lost into my newfound PLN (Personal Learning Network).
Finally, we all reviewed each others assignments from last week, compositions constructed on Soundation. I was amazed at the level certain students were able to bring their compositions to, and it made me feel a combination of letdown of my own abilities and encouraged by the knowledge that the program has more to offer than I originally gave it credit for. Still not sold on using it over GarageBand or other applications, but it is worth another try seeing the pieces some of my classmates came up with.
This was a positively fun week of learning and exploring music technology!
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