Technology Integration Plan

For this final project, I have decided to use a lesson plan that I have already written and executed during my Classroom Methods course.  It involves a lesson teaching third graders how to play the notes "B" and "A" on the soprano recorder, and using that to perform a song as a class called "BA Dancing Zombie."  The lesson incorporates reviewing concepts that were previously learned, such as the correct hand position, correct holding position, blowing into the instrument with warm air, differentiating between rest, ready, and playing positions, starting and stopping gestures, and reviewing the note B.  Then, the students are taught how to tongue and perform basic rhythms as demonstrated by the Koday method of "Ta ta ti-ti ta" on the notes "B," and then "A," and them mixing them up.  The final part of the lesson has them reading basic notation of music as shown in "BA Dancing Zombie," and the class will perform for the teacher together.

My first row involves teacher demonstration and explanation with student experimentation.  This is where the teacher reviews and shows the students how to hold the recorder and play through it.  It demonstrates the NJCCCS standard 1.1.2.B.2, which is the ability to identify musical elements through aural prompts.  The NET-S standard 1.c. uses models and simulation to explore complex systems and issues.  A SmartBoard can address this standard, because it has the ability to show an interactive demonstration of how to hold the recorder as well as to play the notes.

My next row also involves teacher demonstration and student experimentation.   NJCCCS Standard 1.1.2.B.3 has students identifying and categorizing sounds as well as rhythmic notation.  It also uses the NET-S 2.a. standard, which is collaborating with peers about digital environments and media.  A SmartBoard and iTunes can combine to recreate this standard, because they can both create an interactive environment for the students to learn the song, "BA Dancing Zombie."  The SmartBoard can be used to label the notes "B" and "A" as needed for the students using the special markers that come with it, and it can also be used to point out any specific rhythms.  If the students need help with fingerings, a blank fingering chart can be shown on the board, where the teacher can then color in the fingerings of the notes "B" and "A" with different colored markers.  The background accompaniment can be played through iTunes, also through the SmartBoard, so the students are able to collaborate and perform the song together as a class.

The third row in my matrix involves student presentation, which demonstrates NJCCCS 1.3.2.B.1.  This is clapping, singing, and/or playing on pitch from basic notation.  NET-S 2.b, which is communicating information and ideas effectively with varieties of media, is incorporated through this standard.  YouTube is a great tool that can get the students singing and clapping through interactive videos.  There are many sources of information that can be found through the use of videos online.  They can also help the students play too; watching videos of other students or teachers performing on the recorder can be a source of inspiration for the students.  As always, the SmartBoard is very helpful for projecting these ideas out to the students, because it is a source of interaction for linking the musical notation as well as performance through clapping, singing, or playing on the recorder.

My fourth row involves more strategies that also include formal assessment, such as evaluation and homework, and student presentation.  This demonstrates NJCCCS Standard 1.3.2.B.6, which is to play and sing simple melodies or accompaniments alone or with groups, as well as sight-reading basic notation.  This incorporates NET-S Standard 6.a, which is to understand and use technology systems.  More methods of technology are being used here, which include the metronome and the portable recording device.  For the purpose of assessment, the students of this class were asked to practice ten minutes a day and fill the time completed in a pumpkin practice log.  Once again, the SmartBoard can be used to provide an interactive environment for the children to follow when playing "BA Zombie," but outside the classroom, other technologies can be used.  A metronome can be integrated into the practice time of the students, so they are all kept in time and performing at a steady beat on the recorder.  A recording device can also be used too, so the student can assess themselves, have material for the teacher to assess, and hear their progress.

Matrix

Live Web Streaming

Three weeks ago, I had my culminating senior recital at Montclair State University.  This required me to perform 60 minutes of music in front of an audience and with just my solo repertoire, along with some ensemble pieces that required other musicians.  I happened to schedule my recital at a time that served inconvenient for some people involved in night football games with the schools that they work with, as well as for people not residing in the New Jersey area.  A form of technology that has been becoming increasingly popular is web streaming live on the internet, which I had just recently been made aware of.

I thought that setting up a camera to stream my recital live would be an arduous task, but it ended up being as easy as a few simple clicks.  Through uStream.tv, I was able to set up a channel to broadcast my senior recital on for those who could not make it or were not in the area.  All I did was set up my Google Chromebook on the side of the stage and had the webcam take all the footage of my recital.  There was a feature on my webcast to record it as I wished; I was able to get a recording of my recital in its entirety.

Overall, the live webstream served to be a great success.  I had people, from those who could not physically be there, to those who were busy, watch my recital from places across the country.  My cousin living in Washington state, my friend living in Colorado, and a couple of my friends stuck at football games were able to catch all or some parts of my recital, whether it was seen on their computers, tablets, or even smartphones.  The quality does not compare to recordings made with stellar equipment and materials, but it sure beats not being able to hear the recital at all.  I'm very glad that I was able to set that up; having those further away hear my recital would have not been possible a few years ago.

My uStream Channel

iPads and Reading Music

In a previous blog, I had mentioned that having scanned PDFs of music is useful, because the music can easily be printed out for use within boundaries of the copyright law.  Recently, I had been noticing that more and more of my colleagues in school are relying on iPads to display their music in full on PDF.  It's weird to me; I'm so used to seeing music on everyone's stands, but now confusion sets in for a moment when I see an iPad on someone's stand instead.  My observation is that iPad is used as a backup if paper music cannot be obtained, but it is also becoming popular to have this convenience on an iPad to be a person's default way for viewing, practicing, and performing music.

I observed a friend of mine practicing a few weeks ago, and I noticed he had an iPad on his stand.  When I thought he was just reading the music as a convenience to him saving trees, he showed me all of the other functions he was using his PDF music for. It is already standard to be able to swipe from page to page with the swipe of a finger and to zoom in and out of music with just the pinching of two fingers, but I didn't know that he was also using his PDF music as the music he essentially relies on for his practice.  He is able to highlight important parts of his music to look at with a highlighter tool, as well as make any markings he wants to that are the same as marking music up with a pencil.  What was also really cool was that he was also able to mark any dynamics, missed accidentals, and other important markings as clear as day with tools that can be found in music notation software, such as Sibelius and Finale.

To me, I see this as a great placeholder for pencil and paper, but I feel that I cannot remember or utilize any making made unless I can feel the pencil in my hand with its led being drawn on a piece of paper.   Using a finger to add or "erase" any corrections still seems foreign to me, but what is not foreign is how useful and convenient devices of any size are in terms of reading and performing music.

iPhone Apps and Music

I am not afraid to admit (once again) that I do not own an iPhone or a smartphone of any kind.  I am aware that technology has evolved to the point where I will be shocked that "There is an app for that? There seems to be an app for everything!"  A few apps that I am of aware of that exist include miniature piano keyboards, tuners, and an app to help with jazz improvisation.

Miniature piano keyboards may seem to be comical and fun on the surface, but they can serve a great purpose, especially for people who are unable to own a piano or keyboard.  It obviously cannot act as a 76-key instrument, but it can be useful for obtaining pitches for singing if there is no other means of reference.  It can also be useful for self-evaluation and assessment of aural skills.  All 76 keys cannot be there at the same time, but the octave the keyboard is in can be easily switched around.

A tuner is an essential item to have as a musician, but if one cannot seem to have a tuner for any reason, there are apps that serve as fully functional tuners that work just the same as a tuner that can be purchased.  The frequency desired for pitches can be changed, and a drone tone can be available to be heard for pitch matching.

One more app I'm aware of that exists has to do with jazz improvisation.  I went to a masterclass a couple of years ago where I learned that an app exists for jazz musicians that want to practice soloing over certain jazz chord progressions and songs.  The app will play these chords in any key or meter desired, which seriously comes in handy if a person does not happen to have music files or CDs with these chord progressions.

All of these apps have one thing in common: convenience.  Having one device that can perform functions as well as the real separate devices can be very cost effective as well as easier to handle in terms of how many physical items a person owns and carries around with him/her.

Digital/Hard Copies of Music

There is a tool that can be easily overlooked that is a staple in the advancement of music technology.  A copy machine is incredibly helpful, especially within the field of music education.  As long as copyright laws are being followed, having a copy machine is essential for making music come alive.  A scanner is also helpful in this respect, so an image/PDF file can be make of this music as well to be printed at convenience.  There is a website, imslp.org, that is a music library where the amount of music unrestricted by copyright law is overflowing.  Users upload the music they have; they range in full scores, full parts, and even come with recordings of all different qualities to refer to as well.  These files of music are usually in PDF, where they can be easily printed from any source.  I have used it plenty of times to obtain music.

Directors of musical ensembles need to purchase music to distribute to their students.  As long as they have one purchased original of each part and score that they own, they are allowed to make one copy of it.  Hard copies of music are useful in order to not have anything written on the original parts.  It is said in the field of music that the most important tool you can own in music is a pencil with an eraser.  Conductors want to share their ideas of how the music should be performed within rehearsal to their members/students, and the best way to remember it all is through writing the information down as it is said.  In broadway shows and pit orchestras, having a pencil is essential, because cuts and even different pieces of music are inserted all the time, and everything is always changing.  Usually, original books are used, and they explain to erase everything by the time the book is done being used.  Since erasing originals can be annoying, music directors revert to making a copy to distribute out to students, so it can be easily written on without any guilt or worrying about ruining the originals.  Having a copy machine and scanners, therefore, has made it very easy for performances to thrive in schools and throughout other outside ensembles.

Microphones and Amplification

The invention of microphones and amplifiers have changed the world of music forever.  Before electricity was discovered, the only way to experience music was by live performance, whether it was a classical orchestra, or a choir performing in church, or music shared with one another.  There would be no such thing as a concert in a large space without the usage of microphones and amplification systems.

Many concerts in our day and age use microphones to amplify sound.  In a large space, they are particularly useful to hear musicians sing, or to give an extra boost for acoustic instruments, such as a flute, saxophone, clarinet, and many more.  Microphones take the sound being inputted, and that sound is then outputted through an amplifier for everyone to be able to hear.  Microphones could also have the ability to manipulate the sound being put through it to create different effects, depending on the type of microphone it is.

Amplifiers have more functions than the microphone alone.  On my Fender amplifier I use to perform with my electric guitar, I have effects that manipulate the sound being outputted through the minuscule microphones on my instrument, located on the pickups underneath the strings.  I can change the amount of reverb, power of treble lines, power of the bass, volume, amount of pickups being used, and more.  With certain effect pedals, I can also change the quality and type of sound that is outputted through the amplifier, but those are external from the amplifier itself.  The more effect pedals that are used to amplify and manipulate the sound, the more confusing things can get when it comes to hooking up the wiring for a concert.

It's one thing to have the sound slightly amplified in smaller venues, but it's another thing to have a concert at large venues, such at PNC Bank Arts Center and Madison Square Garden, without having amplification.  Concerts in venues such as those would not be possible without the usage of microphones and amplifiers to increase the amount of sound being outputted for everyone to be able to hear.

Collaboration Canvas

For this collaboration canvas, I picked one pertaining to World War II.  Music had a very strong influence on the people living through the hard times, especially jazz music.  The original canvas was based on whether or not atomic bombs were truly necessary for the U.S. to win the war.  I took a different spin and wanted to inform my students about something not as controversial, like the music that people were listening to that served as their escape from the hardships of war and living through the Great Depression.  Swing, jazz, and pop orchestras were growing in popularity at this time, since living through events, like the bombings in Japan, were full of anger, sadness, and terror.  All the people wanted to do was put on their dancing shoes and forget the troubles going on.  I figured I would bring this part of history onto the lighter side of what was going on beyond the atomic weapons and the war.

Remixed Canvas