Jan 15, 2008 @ 07:18 pm by patime
Are you having problems getting enough money to use or integrate technology in your music programs? Do you want to record your rehearsals or performances but the cost always gets in the way? Have no fear, Open Source is here! Actually the free software is source code which is open, thus the name Open Source. The term is to describe how a particular program is licensed. It is developed by a group of volunteers created through individual effort or collaboration and distributed under the General Public License or fair use. This means that no one can own the software. Anyone can modify the software to their needs but no one person owns it. You can put as many copies of the program on as many computers as you want, or you can burn as many copies of the program and distribute them all under the GPL(General Public License)
There are thousands of free open source programs including the entire Linux-based operating systems. It has an office suite called ‘Open Office’ which is comparable to Microsoft Office and a web browser called ‘Mozilla’. Many schools’ IT departments are looking into putting the Linux-based operating systems on their computers. It contains all the applications you need that are comparable to the Windows system, yet free!
An open source program that is gaining much popularity in music is ‘Audacity’. It is easy to use and quick to download. It can record live audio, convert music formats, edit sound files such as Ogg Vorbis, MP3 and Wav. It can cut, copy, splice and mix sounds together, put effects into audio, or change the speed or pitch of a recording, and much more. All this for free! If someone doesn’t like the color or shape of the play button in the program, they can modify it and then redistribute it by the GPL or fair use license.
If you want to do sequencing and don’t want to spend the $80 dollars for a program, ‘Anvil Studio’ is for you. You can record and compose music for MIDI and Audio equipment, sequence music with MIDI equipment or just play with music using a computer and sound card. Along with the features of this free program are optional accessories that you can buy to add onto the software, but the free version has many, many features for those who are just starting out or for those who already love to compose and sequence.
Google search, if you are interested in these open source programs.
E-mail me at lisa.reilly@dallastown.net
Jan 15, 2008 @ 07:11 pm by patime
As an elementary band director for more than 10 years now, I am always looking for new and innovative ways to improve our elementary band program. As the elementary band director in Hollidaysburg, I have over 150 students at four elementary buildings that I see once a week for 30 minutes in homogeneous groups. With such limited time, I have turned to technology to help make our 30 minute lessons as exciting and productive as possible.
We have been using Smart Music for a number of years. I have found that the students really enjoy immediately seeing their assessments and hearing recordings of their own playing. Smart music has helped students to learn to tune their own instruments by providing them with a visual to guide them. Basic exercises and scales become more interesting with the use of the computer and a background accompaniment. Students look forward to playing by themselves during lessons so they can make their own recording. Having students then listen to their own recording is very beneficial because it makes them better listeners.
One of the biggest benefits as a band director is seeing each student able to succeed at their own pace. Being able to select their own tempo allows students to have the opportunity to succeed. Elementary students feel a great sense of accomplishment when they see all their correctly played notes turn green on their assessments. Smart music is just one of the technology tools that I enjoy using as an elementary band director.
Contact Melissa at TM_Ott@verizon.net
Nov 26, 2007 @ 06:03 pm by patime
“Web 2.0” is a term being used to indicate a wave of change in the technology world. While a definition is hard to pin down, it loosely is defined as a movement toward interaction and collaboration. One software program that is gaining popularity is SKYPE, a free, cross-platform internet telephone application. Calls from computer to computer are free, but calls to landlines and cell phones are not. Educators are discovering (and inventing) ways to integrate programs like SKYPE into their curricula.
One idea that I found interesting involved teachers in a rural part of the state. (I forget the state and county - if you shared the idea, please email me!) The gist of the idea was that the school was a distance from the festival audition site. Because of transportation costs, and the time needed for travel to the audition site, it was decided that the a SKYPE connection would be established, and student and teacher would sit in front of a camera, as the student played the piece for the judges at the audition site. This is a great example of technology integration born out of legitimate concerns of time and costs.
Do you have an idea for technology integration? Why not share it with others. Email me at hwajda@bensalemsd
Jul 02, 2007 @ 07:46 pm by patime
FIRST ANNUAL PENNSYLVANIA TI:ME CONFERENCE: SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2008
The First Annual PATI:ME Conference will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2008 at West Chester University from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. Register on-line now at http://www.ti-me.org/TIMEPA2008Registration.html or download the complete conference schedule and session descriptions with a printable registration form for mailing.
The PMEA Annual Conference will be held in Hershey, PA from April 17 through April 19, 2008.If you would like more information about our state chapter or to get involved in the planning for PMEA 2008, please contact one of the state officers listed below!
Web site: http://www.ti-me.org/PA
