Translating "Knowing" Into "Feeling" At A Dave Matthews Band Concert

In this post entitled "Taking a Deep Musical Breath: Feeling What I Know", Robert Woody, professor at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, discusses the connection of what we know in music to what we feel.      He analyzes why a recent experience at a Dave Matthews concert effected him in such a profound way,  and described the experience as "personal, emotional, and soulful", recognizing that those words were even inadequate to describe the experience.  Read his post to discover how he describes the heart of music as he sees it.

Knowing and Feeling at a Dave Matthews Band Concert  

Ear Candy

Check out this non-profit music organization, Ear Candy, that is instrumental (pardon the pun) in supporting music education.  How is this accomplished?  By supplying kids with instruments!  You can participate as a donor of instruments or money, or as a teacher.  Be sure to watch the TED link that features founder, Nate Anderson.

Ear Candy Charity

The Importance of Teaching Concert Etiquette to Our Audience

In this video Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser addresses the issue of concert etiquette at student performances.  How do we confront this sometimes uncomfortable and awkward problem?  He suggests that it is the responsibility of music educators to teach students, parents, and other concert goers the proper way to behave and respond at concerts.

Teaching Concert Etiquette to our Audiences

Music Technology and the Special Needs Child

Discover how music paired with technology can change the lives of special needs students.  Music has long been known to be an agent of change and healing in the lives of students with special needs, but with the addition of helpful technology tools, special needs students, their parents, teachers, and music therapists have more hope than ever before.


Special Needs Students, Music, and Technology

Using SmartMusic for Sight-Reading Practice

Sight-reading is an important skill for all musicians to acquire, yet some teachers allow little time for their students to practice this skill.  SmartMusic software offers a sight-reading component for music educators to use with their students, in and outside the classroom.  Explore this feature of SmartMusic to find out how you can lead your students to success with sight-reading.

Sight-Reading with SmartMusic

Evelyn Glennie- "Feed the Brain Music" (The Importance of Music Education in the Schools)

This post is in honor of world renowned percussionist Evelyn Glennie and her recent performance at the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olymics.  This link is taken from her blog post entitled "Feed the Brain Music", which focuses on the importance of music education in schools.  Be sure to click on the Sesame Street link on her blog that features her with the "Grouchketeers Band". :)

Evelyn Glennie's Blog- Feed the Brain Music

Work Ethic or Inspiration? The Sage Advice of Tchaikovsky and Jack White

It's remarkable how similar the words of a famed nineteenth-century Russian composer and a contemporary musician, one of Rolling Stone's "greatest guitarists of all time", can be!  What do Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Jack White have in common?  Their view on "work ethic vs. inspiration".  The application of these truths will inspire you.

Work vs. Inspiration? Tchaikovsky and Jack White speak

10 Uses for the Interactive Whiteboard in the Music Classroom

This article offers some great tips for using an interactive white board in the music classroom.  Use these suggestions as a springboard to develop even more creative ideas in your own music classroom!

10 Uses for the Interactive White Board in the Music Classroom

Tips for Music Educators "In Waiting"

This article offers some good advice for those who are substituting while waiting on a full-time music  education position.  The key is to stay involved in various musical ventures while waiting, and to be professional, even while substituting.

Tips for Substitute Teachers Waiting for a Full-Time Music Position

Apps for the Elementary Music Classroom

Check out these fun apps for use in the general music classroom or for beginning level music students.  Included are apps for note recognition and beat keeping, as well as apps for songs appropriate for PK-elementary aged students.

Apps for the elementary music classroom 

Technology Assessment Tools in the Elementary Music Classroom

This is a another great article from Amy Burns, a leader in technology use in the elementary music classroom.  In this blog post she discusses different ways to assess elementary music students using technology.  Enjoy!

Assessing Elementary Music Students Using Technology 

Noteflight Software Review

This week I was able to experiment with the Noteflight music notation software.  I think this is a good resource not only for music educators but also for students or others that wish to compose or arrange music.  Though there may be some limitations because it is not as extensive as other software programs such as Sibelius of Finale, the fact that it is free is a major "plus" because it allows those that have limited budgets to still have a way to compose or arrange their music in a more professional manner.

The other features such as the "shared composition" aspect could also be very useful in classroom settings where collaborative learning is taking place.  The teacher, as well as other students, are able to see what their classmates have composed and possibly provide feedback on his/her composition.  This is a great way for students to learn from their peers while also improving their own composition/arranging skills.

Check out my link to the song "A Bicycle Built for Two" that was part of this week's assignment in my "Technology for Music Teaching and Learning" class:

Noteflight Example- "A Bicycle Built for Two"

If you've never tried the Noteflight software program, give it a try!

Sign up for Noteflight here! 

Music Technology for Young Students

This article offers great hope to music educators wanting to know more and do more in the area of music technology!  Amy Burns, author of the article, was the TI:ME Teacher of the Year in 2005, teaches music to pre-K through third grade at a country day school in New Jersey, and is one of the leading experts in this area.  She offers insight into her own journey as a music educator, as well as some practical tips along the way, and a few fun, useful websites for lower elementary grades (two of which are added as links here).  I hope you are encouraged by her story and enjoy exploring the links.

Encouragement and tips from the 2005 TI: ME Teacher of the Year

Student links to explore:

Student Fun with Names and Music

Fun with Orchestral Instruments

Take your Vitamin M!

As music educators we should always be prepared to defend our reasons for including music in the school curriculum.  This is a thought provoking article by former MENC president, Paul Lehman, titled "Why Study Music in School?"  He presents six points that outline a good argument for why it vital to have music as part of the core of education.  He refers to music as "Vitamin M" and "the chocolate chip in the cookie of life".  

Vitamin M-Why Music Should Be Studied in School  

Carolina Chocolate Drops Interview

The Carolina Chocolate Drops are an old-time African-American string band with a unique sound.  Several of its members are classically trained but fell in love with this genre and have been performing this style ever since.  Their album, Genuine Negro Jig, won a grammy in 2010 for Best Traditional Folk Album.  This link features an interview on USA Today with the current members of the group.  Be sure to check out additional links on the page that feature their unique style of music.  You're likely to become their newest fan!

Carolina Chocolate Drops Interview 

Digital Technology-Space Genetics

The following link features a friend from college and is a great example of digital technology in music.  You may want to explore various aspects of the website, but be sure to listen to the video that gives an excerpt from Space Genetics at ISIM 2010.

Digital Technology-Space Genetics

The Tipping Point

In this blog the author discusses the subject matter and implications in the article Music Education at the Tipping Point by John Kratus.  Kratus takes the viewpoint that music education is in a decline, in a crisis of sorts, and links this to the disparity between "In-School" music (art music) and "Out-of-School" music (popular music).

Discussion of "Music Education at the Tipping Point" article

Learning from Popular Musicians

Professor Lucy Green is one of the leading experts on informal learning approaches within the context of traditional settings and the use of popular music in the music classroom.  In this interview she gives a brief synopsis of her philosophy on this topic.

Interview with Professor Lucy Green-"What Can Teachers Learn from Popular Musicians?"