Music education technology

Draft

Introduction

This should become an overview page about music education technology. It may take some time to get there - Daniel K. Schneider 17:52, 12 September 2011 (CEST).

We shall be particularly interested in tools that help learners play and compose music, i.e. use technology as cognitive tool or in other words learning with technology as opposed to learning from technology.

Hardware

Keyboards

Many kinds of keyboards (from cheap under $100 USB MIDI keyboards) to [[digital piano]s can can be connect to a computer via a so-called MIDI interface. In addition, some of of these keyboards include built-in educational technology.

Specialized hardware for education

Is there any besides lab furniture and some controlling devices ?

Integrated systems (music education labs)

E.g. Korg's educational division, Soundtree provides “turn-key learning systems for education integrating electronic music instruments, audio components, video production tools, computers and software” (retrieved 17:52, 12 September 2011 (CEST)).

Music audio/sequencer workstations

Garageband example

According to Wikipedia, retrieved 17:52, 12 September 2011 (CEST), GarageBand is a software application for Mac OS X and iOS that allows users to create music or podcasts. It is developed by Apple Inc. as a part of the iLife software package. [...] It can play realistic, sampled instruments, used for creating songs or playing music live using over 100 sampled or synthesized instruments, which can be played using a USB or MIDI keyboard connected to the computer, or using an on-screen virtual keyboard. [...] GarageBand can import MIDI files, and offers piano roll or notation-style editing and playback.}}. GarageBand was developed in the early '90s and first published on Jan 2004 by Apple. As of sept 2011, GarageBand is available as version '11, part of the iLive package included in each new Mac. These is also an iPad version available for $5.

GarageBand supports USB MIDI keyboards

Recent versions of GarageBand 5/'09 or later allow to download music lessons from GarageBand's Lesson Store for guitar and piano. There are two types of lesson available in the Lesson Store: Basic Lessons which are a free download and Artist Lessons which must be purchased. The first Basic Lessons for both guitar and piano are included with GarageBand.

Using music notation software

According to Tomas E. Rudloph, in http://tomrudolph.berkleemusicblogs.com/2010/01/15/using-notation-software-with-students/ Using Notation Software with Students] (blog), “many teachers have found that notation software is an excellent medium to encourage composition and to reinforce theory and other concepts.”. Notable links in this blog post were:

• www.vtmidi.org
• http://www.musictechteacher.com/lessons001.htm
• www.ti-me.org (TI:ME, Technology for Music Education, members only $40/year)

Computer-based learning software

List of software

• Alfred Essentials of Music Theory (vol I to III): music theory concepts through lessons, exercises, games, tests, ear training and recordings.

• Alfred Making Music: discovery of pitch, rhythm and sounds of

various instruments and styles of music for children.

• Secret Composer: music composition (for beginners to advanced)

• Harmonic Vision Music Ace I and II: music skills (reading, listening, etc.) and an understanding

of music theory.

• O-Music O-Generator Learning to Compose: fundamentals of music and composition

• Sibelius Groovy Music (City, Jungle and Shapes): teach the basics of sound, rhythm, pitch and composition using pictures and animation to elementary and middle school children.

• Rising Software Auralia 4: Ear training package

• Rising Software Musition 4: Music theory

Online music education technology

• Berkelee uses a custom-made LMS that adds both pedagogical and music-spectific features that can't be found in other LMSs.

Links

Sofware links

• GarageBand (Official home page)
  • iPad version

Online music technology services

• San Francisco Symphony / SFSKids features nine nice little online tools for kids, e.g. composerizer

• Creating Music “is a children's online creative music environment for children of all ages. It's a

place for kids to compose music, play with musical performance, music games and music puzzles.”

Organizations

• TI:ME, The Technology Institute for Music Education is an association. Membership is required for accessing some resources.

• National Association for Music Eduction (NAfME), large US organization. Some resources are only available to members, e.g. the http://www.menc.org/lessons My Music Class lesson plan library.

Bibliography

• Legget, Maria (2003) In Tune With The Times: Berklee Media’s Custom LMS, The elearning developper's journal, Jan 27, 2003.

• Poulter, Zachary B. Teaching Improv in Your Jazz Ensemble: A Complete Guide for Music Educators,

• Rudolph Thomas (2004), Teaching Music with Technology, second edition, Chicago: GIA Publications.

• Spotlight on Technology in the Music Classroom