Resources for Technology-Minded
Music Educators
by James
Frankel
There are
many sources of information readily available on how to use various pieces of
music technology. These Òhow-toÓ
books are rich with information on the capabilities and applications of the
tools, but are often lacking when it comes to how to best use them in the music
classroom. Make
no mistake, it is crucial to understand the specifics of the technology in
order to properly use it in the classroom. Furthermore, the possible applications of the technology in
the music classroom is usually not the intention of the author writing the
Òhow-toÓ book. Music teachers
using technology in the classroom have had to use their own expertise and
creativity to find and develop meaningful activities for their students.
Over
the past few years, there have been a number of books published that address
this very issue. These books not
only describe how to use the technology in laymanÕs terms, many give detailed
teaching strategies on the applications for the technology. The following are some of these
resources, along with a brief description.
Teaching
Music with Technology. By Thomas E.
Rudolph. GIA Publications, Inc.,
Chicago, 1996. Softcover, $19.95.
Without
question, if you are looking for a comprehensive resource about music
technology, start with this one.
Mr. Rudolph is an authority on technology in the music classroom. This book stems from the many clinics
he has presented throughout the United States, as well as his numerous
articles, and his own classroom use of technology over the past twenty years.
The
book is divided into seventeen chapters, each one dealing with a different
aspect of music technology. The
main body of the book serves as a Òhow-toÓ guide for MIDI, sequencers, CD
ROMÕs, educational software, notation programs, and synthesizers. Within each of the chapters there are
teaching strategies that suggest possible uses for the technology that has just
been discussed. The strategies are
just one or two sentences that serve as starting points. In one chapter, Computer-Aided Music
Instruction, Rudolph
gives very specific details on the various applications of technology, and the
basics behind each of the teaching strategies. There are also chapters about administrative applications,
the internet, and even how to fund a music technology lab.
Whether
you know very little about technology or use it everyday in your classroom,
this is one book you should definitely add to your library.
Experiencing
Music Technology. By David Williams
and Peter Webster. Schirmer Books,
New York, 1996, 2nd Edition 1999.
Softcover with CD ROM, $55.00.
This
book is a thorough encyclopedia of music technology and its applications. Extremely detailed and very well
written, Williams and Webster have created an invaluable resource for music
educators. This book is quickly
becoming the textbook of choice
for music education majors in colleges and universities across the country.
Like
the Rudolph book, this book is divided into many chapters (called Òviewports
and modulesÓ), each dealing with a specific aspect of music technology. Unlike the Rudolph book, this book has
less of a classroom oriented focus.
Here the focus is more on how to best use each piece of technology. There is one specific ÒviewportÓ
however, that deals with
computer-assisted instruction in music.
This section gives an overview of educational software titles that can
be used in the classroom, and how they can be used. The main body of the book gives detailed instructions on how
to use virtually every piece of music technology, from modems to CD players,
from synthesizers to laser printers, itÕs all here.
What
is so refreshing about this book is that it makes an effort to stay away from
using confusing jargon. Often,
how-to books are just as confusing as instruction manuals, and we all know how
confusing they can be. Another
nice feature is the CD ROM that accompanies the text. Included on the CD ROM are hands-on exercises related to the
text, as well as shareware and demo versions of many popular commercial
software titles.
Add
this to your library, especially the new 2nd edition. It will answer any question you might have, regardless of
how much you think you already know.
Technology
Strategies for Music Education. By Thomas Rudolph,
Floyd Richmond, David Mash and David Williams. TI:ME Publications, Wyncote, PA, 1997. Spiral-bound, $14.95.
Created
by the Technology Institute for Music Educators, TI:ME, this collection of 201
technology-oriented lesson plans is geared towards implementing the National
Standards in Music Education.
Aside from the specific lesson plans, there are sections on the
importance of technology in music education, brief overviews of the various
applications, as well as tips on maintaining your technology lab.
For
each of the nine National Standards there are a number of student activities
and teacher strategies outlined.
Aside from the brief suggested activities, there is a short narrative
giving an overall sense of how technology can be used with the standard.
After
listing technology applications for each of the nine National Standards, the
book goes into everyday uses of technology. These uses include administrative
tasks, marching band show design, internet uses, and multimedia presentation
suggestions.
TI:ME
also offers courses and certification in technology uses in the classroom. The last portion of the book is an
overview of what the certification entails, and how TI:ME can help you learn
more about technology. Check out
their website for further information:
www.ti-me.org
Computers
and the Music Educator. By David S. Mash
4th edition.
SoundTree Publications, Melville, NY, 1996. Softcover with Media Tools 2.1, $14.95.
David
Mash has long been an important figure in the music technology field. He has written both books and articles
dealing with various aspects of technology, and with this book, he focuses
completely on the uses of technology in the music classroom. What
makes this book a little different than the others is that it names products,
and gives detailed information about each one. Whether you are looking for a decent MIDI wind controller,
or need to know which sequencing software to buy, youÕll find the information
here.
The
book is divided into three sections, an introduction, a look at technology in
music education, and a reference guide. In the section dealing with technology
in music education, Mash gives many suggestions for technology applications in
the theory class, music history,
composition and performance applications. He also gives us a look at what a music classroom of the
future might look like (which four years later is pretty close to
reality). There is also a helpful
look into incorporating technology into the music curriculum, offering
suggestions for possible courses.
The
reference section of the book is extremely helpful if you are looking for phone
numbers, website addresses or recommendations on specific products.
The
book also comes with Media Tools 2.1, a plug-in program for HyperCard. This program makes adding audio and video data to a HyperCard stack quite simple. The software alone is worth the price
of this invaluable book.
Applications
of Research in Music Technology. By William
L. Berz and Judith Bowman. MENC
Publications, Reston, VA, 1994.
Softcover, $16.25.
Written
in part by one of our very own Tempo contributors, this book is the perfect start whether you
are asking yourself whether technology in the music classroom makes sense,
trying to convince your Board of Education to fund a technology lab or need
suggestions for how to best use technology in the music classroom.
Every
aspect of music education is covered in the book, as well as the practical
applications of technology.
Berz and Bowman site hundreds of research studies that concern the use
of technology in the music classroom.
In some cases, the research shows that with some aspects of music
education traditional means are better, and in others, technology assisted
methods prevail. This information
will help greatly when determining how to implement technology into the
existing music curriculum.
There are some aspects of music education where technology just doesnÕt
belong, and some aspects where without technology, a great deal is missed. The sited research clearly shows the
strengths and weaknesses of technology.
The
strength of this book lies in the research sited. The authors look at technology in an objective manner, and
let the reader decide the role that technology will have in their own music
classrooms. In the
fourth chapter, ÒConclusions and SummaryÓ, teaching strategies are discussed
and points for consideration are offered. The authors also point out that there
is a great need for much more research to be done in this fast growing aspect
of music education.
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Whether
you are just getting into technology, or have been using it for years, these
five resources are a must for your library. Some are available at online book retail sites, others are
available through MENC. If you
need help finding them, feel free to email me and I will steer you in the right
direction.