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 18:30, 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.

See also:

• Digital piano
• MIDI (for music notation, creation and editing software)
• Assessment of music students

Hardware

Instruments

A range of instruments can be connected to a computer or another device via a so-called MIDI interface. I.e. The instrument can play sounds on the computer and the other way round. A computer can play sounds on an instrument that can produce sounds (like a digital piano). The device that sends messages is called a controller, i.e. a keyboard is a controller when it sends MIDI messages to another sound-producing device. Many kinds of keyboards (from cheap under $100 USB MIDI keyboards) to expensive digital pianos are MIDI capable.

Some of of keyboards include built-in educational technology and that is often based on MIDI or a related standard. A typical example is a keyboard that can play part of a partition (e.g. the right hand), display the music sheet and then follow the student while he/she is playing the left part. When the student makes a mistake, the keyboard then could stop, wait and signal the error.

In a USC News blog post, Julia Fraser reports the use of Yamaha Disklaviers for coaching a student at distance in real time.

Computers

Computers (Win/Max/Unix) can be connected through a so-called MIDI interface with most keyboards, some other instruments or other devices.

Of course, various kinds of software can and is being used in music education. See below.

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 18:30, 12 September 2011 (CEST)).

Sequencers and related software

According to Wikipedia, A music sequencer (or just sequencer) is a computer program or electronic device for recording, editing and playing back music, in the form of digital audio and/or MIDI data.

Music sequencers come in two basic forms:

• Software
• Hardware

Some sequencer software also include other functions, such as music notation.

Garageband example

According to Wikipedia, retrieved 18:30, 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. Rudolph, in 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

See also: Recommended List of Music Software for Music Teaching and Learning

List of software

The provisional list below was taken from the (commercial) SoundTree Product Guide 2011.

( not complete ! )

• 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

• Smart Music “is an interactive music software that provides the ideal practice environment”.... Teacher creates and assignement, where students have to play or sing along with background accompaniment. The program provides immediate feedback and also allow students to upload a performance.

Online music education technology

Online interactive 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.”

• MusicTheory.net (includes lessons, interactive exercises and tools). Also features Tenuto, a mobile music trainer (iOS).

E-learning programs

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

Links

How to

• Starting with Technology in School Music by Kimberly Walls (undated), TI-ME blog.

• A Music Technology Lab Can Make a Difference with Performers and Consumers by Tom Rudolph, TI-ME blog.

• Four Goals in Teaching Music Technology to Others by Peter Webster, TI:ME blog.

Software links

Indexes

• Recommended List of Music Software for Music Teaching and Learning by Peter Webster and David Williams (two well-known music educators).

Specialized vendors

• musiconmypc (UK, includes decent product descriptions)

Various software

• GarageBand (Official home page)
  • iPad version

Organizations and people

Associations

• 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.

On-line communities

• Vermont MIDI Project is to encourage and support students in composing and arranging music. A community of professional composers, teachers, pre-service educators, and students engage in mentoring and online discussion of student work

• Music Tech Teacher, is an extension of the music technology classroom at Central Park School in Birmingham

Music teachers' sites

• teachMusicTech.com Peter Webster (Northwestern University) and David B. Williams (Illinois State University Emeritus)

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

• Williams, David B. and Peter R. Webster (2009). Experiencing Music Technology (3rd Ed Update), Schirmer: Cengage Learning.