You don't have to have high end recording gear to create a decent classroom recording studio setup. Here are some suggested places to start:
Read more: The Classroom Recording Studio- Suggested Equipment
Having a professionally produced CD or DVD of a significant performance can be a great way to bolster the pride and prestige of any performing arts organization. Whether the recordings are produced as mementos of an event or as discs to be sold as a fundraiser getting the recording reproduced in large quantities can be a complicated process. We spoke to Tim Anderson, Orchestra Director at Autrey Mill Middle School in Johns Creek, GA, and Ted Henderson, Dean of Visual and Performing Arts, Alum Rock School District, San Jose, CA to get some help in understanding the process of taking your ensemble’s recording from plastic to platinum.
I was sorting through my old Google Drive documents the other day and realized that over the years I had done a lot of writing related to the topic of teaching with and using recording devices in the music classroom. Some of these articles were published here on MusicEdMagic but many more of them were originally written for the tech column in NAfME's Teaching Music magazine. Until recently, due to copyright agreements, I had been unable to publish them on MusicEdMagic. Now however, thanks to a very helpful and gracious agreement with NAfME I am now able to republish some of these articles in their original unedited form. Over the next few weeks I will repost a few of these articles that directly relate to topics such as selecting recording devices, using them to increase student achievement, setting up classroom recording studios, and teaching basic recording skills to your students.
Read more: Teaching and Using Recording Technology in the Music Classroom
Music education programs across the country are coming under fire during tough economic times. In every corner of every state booster organizations and music education advocates are tuning up to try to save their local band, choir, orchestra, and general music programs. In order to provide a powerful, positive defence of why music should be in the schools we have to have powerful, valid arguments for why it is important. The problem is that some of the commonly held assumptions about music education are no longer valid.
When going before a school board and pleading a case for your local music program you have to have solid, verifiable facts, preferably with numbers showing your data is relevant the local issue. This article focuses on one of the more popular myths and assumptions about music education that may actually weaken an argument rather than strengthen it.
The cost of buying music either for personal or professional classroom use can really add up over time. Spending ninety-nine cents here and fourteen dollars there can force us to budget money away from other, more substantial classroom purchases. There is good news though, because we now live in a world where you may never need to spend another dime buying physical or digital music. The growing prominence of streaming audio services that are popping up all over the web means that you may never again need to purchase or burn a CD. Want to save more money to put back into your music education budget? Read on to find out how.
Here's another great listening (and watching) resource for music teachers. For those that are trying to find new ways to add critical listening experiences to our classrooms there are a number of great sites to go to to listen to free music. Spotify, Grooveshark, and many others are the biggies, but those that want a video option as well may want to check out a new site that marries easy searching for tracks with YouTube videos of the performances! Read on to find out more.
Learning complicated rhythms can be a challenge to those not yet advanced enough in their instruction to play them. A new iPhone and iPad app is set to change all that via a simple, calculator style interface that allows you to type in any rhythm and hear it played back instantly.
Read more: Decode Complicated Rhythms Easy With Rhythm Calculator
I teach 5th grade band and at this level there is really no reason to invest in a set of Chimes or a Vibraphone. Still, on rare occasions I program music into the concerts that might require such instruments, and rather than leaving them out or having the kids play them on their bell set I have long wished for a good, low cost alternative. I may have found one in the PercussionSS iPad app.
Read more: iPad Alternatives to Expensive Percussion Instruments
Finding ways to stretch your budget in a music classroom is always important and even more so when trying to purchase high tech electronics, software, and other materials. This article provides an updated list of dozens of different low cost or free alternatives to expensive music education products. It includes such categories as music notation software, drill design software, special needs hardware, and many more.
Read more: Low Cost MusicTechnology Options For The Music Education Classroom
The brain child of Bob Kellar of Harvey Mudd College, Impro-Visor is a useful jazz accompaniment and improvisation training aid that can challenge anyone from the barest beginner to the advanced jazz artist. Using a setup similar to that of Band-In-A-Box, Impro-Visor can help you train your improvisational talents, and it will do it all for free.
Here’s another budget saving tip for your classroom. Did you ever need to have a larger poster sized diagram or photo made to put on the wall of your room? Custom posters can cost a lot to have made at a print shop, and if you go looking for a pre-made poster chances are you will never find one that is exactly like what you had in mind. Luckily there is a web site that will take your photo, chart, or anything else and let you make your own huge poster at home.
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