August 15, 2008-Question 4:
Which software would you be able to integrate into your music classroom this fall?
Answer the following question on the course blog site by 11:00 am on Monday.
August 15, 2008
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I liked the Sibelius Groovy Shapes. While I found it a little slow and wordy for what kids are used to, it might just be the antidote for racing through the listening examples. So there is a plus side to it.
I am very excited that I have Music Ace at school (well actually at home)but it is Windows 98 and “Macintosh” compatable. I think it will work on my dinosaur computer at school. The beginning lessons can be used for learning about the staff and understanding notation and it’s relation to pitch. It is piano biased but I think it would work really well with my third graders before I give them their flutophones. (yuck
-but that is a whole ‘nother gripe….) The little guy that teaches the lessons is really cute and funny. So are my incoming third graders.
Comment by Mickey — August 15, 2008 @ 9:14 pm
Great evaluation Mickey!
Comment by Amy Burns — August 15, 2008 @ 9:19 pm
Hi there. I would like to use Sebelius Instruments for my movie music class this year. In taking this elective, the students listen to the orchestral soundtrack to a major motion picture. We watch the movie as well, and see how the music is added to the movie. They also have to write musically about what they hear and this program would make their job much easier. The students would identify instruments from the recording much faster after reviewing the instruments and their sounds on Sebelius Instruments. Their final review of the soundtrack would be much more precise and written on a much higher musical level.
Comment by Andrew Lyman — August 15, 2008 @ 11:09 pm
Hi Andrew–can I borrow (steal) your idea for my fifth graders. That is soo cool and honestly, I am not sure what to do with them frequently….
Comment by Mickey — August 16, 2008 @ 12:08 pm
Given adequate funding, I would like to incorporate The Sibelius series into my classroom this fall (or as soon as possible). I found that the three programs–Groovy Shapes, Jungle, and City–cab be highly useful tools in a general music classroom. I can teach the concepts–for example, the instruments of the orchestra–and do listening examples and then use the Sibelius program to help my students review and hopefully retain what they have learned. Not only are the programs educational, but I love the fact that they are entertaining and also helps to bring out students’ creativity through “composing” their own music through using loops after the lessons. The creativity part reminds me so much of Garage Band and I have always wanted to expose my students to this. Students can share what they have composed and we can talk about what worked and what did not–and one of my goals as a music teacher is to help my students listen–and this would be a great tool for that.
Comment by HaNa Chang — August 17, 2008 @ 2:59 pm
I would like to use Music Ace for recognizing pitch, meter, direction and note reading and Groovy Shapes for enhancing composition, expression, and distinguishing tone colors. Up to this point they have only been used as independent work for extra credit and exploration. But I would like to attempt using an LCD machine to guide them through a few more concepts and perhaps use the games as a special full class fun activity to see if the class standard is up to par.
Comment by Debra Bono — August 17, 2008 @ 5:54 pm
I also wanted to add that my Professional Improvement Plan for 2008-2009 was to use technology in all my classes. Of course I was thinking of this course when I chose that option and I think I will be able to fulfill it if I can logistically keep plans simple for each lesson. I have a tendency to overdo.
Comment by Debra Bono — August 17, 2008 @ 6:00 pm
I would like to try and get Music Ace for my classroom, I think it would be very helpful and a more interresting way to help assist the teaching of reading notation. I also liked the lessons it had on tempo and rhythm. I plan on taking a closer look at the program before or after class to see what else it has that could assist my students. Once I’m done with that, I need to figure out a way to get a computer and the software so that my students can begin using the technology.
Comment by Samuel Constant — August 17, 2008 @ 9:07 pm
I could see myself using Band in a Box in the classroom. I think it would be a great way to show kids the differences between various genres and sub-genres of music in an appreciation class. It would also be good to let the students play around with different chord progressions and improvise melodies over them in a theory or composition class. I think students would have fun playing on the computer keyboard if actual midi controller keyboards were not available at the school.
Comment by Dave Stasiak — August 18, 2008 @ 9:23 am