This week was absolutely INSANE! All of our school visits have been cancelled because of the virus and we’re worried that uni will shut down… but I wouldn’t mind if it slows down the spread. Anyways, James came down with a cold so we did some online learning ourselves!
Monday
Ableton Link & Auxy
I downloaded an app called Auxy on both my iPhone and iPad. It’s quite similar to DM1 Drum Machine since you get to create your own beats and things, except it has the multitrack layout of production software like Logic and Ableton. It also provides different loops and samples which is quite good for a free app. The most distinct feature is that you could connect two devices through Ableton Link and jam with friends!
Tracks
Settings (similar to Soundtrap)
It’s suitable for a school that provides electronic devices and I think I’d make students work in groups and create their own tracks (as homework or assessment) It’d be an interesting way to teach them the concept of tempo, scales, layering, electronic beats etc.
Wednesday
James started off by introducing the zoom microphone which is great for live recording. I was first introduced to it back in 2017 in my Introduction to Digital Music class. A lot of YouTubers also use it for videos and acoustic covers. I personally really like the quality and how user-friendly it is!
Critical Thinking in Music Education
Why?
Some people don’t like change and as music teachers in training, we have to reflect on our own practice!
Meditation
In the very first music tech class, we spent some time meditating and talked about how modern technology has possibly shortened the attention span of humans. People gets distracted so easily these days and I can even see it in myself and people around me. Before the smartphone era, it would be quite easy to finish an assignment because a) my TV was in the living room and the parents would be there b) video games were banned in the house. Having a smartphone is like having access to limited resources and entertainment AT ALL TIMES! I deleted the facebook and instagram apps at the start of the year because one day my boyfriend pointed out that I went on a cycle every morning between instagram, facebook, email inbox and REPEAT! It’d go on for at least an hour but I didn’t actually get anything out of it. Therefore, I decided to break.the.cycle to improve productivity and only post when I need to promote my music.
Pros and Cons of Technology
Kids get introduced to technology pretty early on these days (my cousin knew how to operate an ipad at 1!!!) I’m pretty neutral about it because I do see the benefits and that we have to 👏🏼modernise 👏🏼music 👏🏼education👏🏼. Throughout my undergrad I saw so many of my extremely musically talented peers playing gigs and composing original music. However, most of them didn’t get around to learn how to produce and what’s actually happening in the industry. I’m all about putting yourself out there but we’re not living in the 80s anymore. As aspiring musicians we should build an online fanbase by capturing the audience attention with high quality music. It really makes me wonder if it has anything to do with the music curriculum.
I cannot describe how useful technology for songwriting. It is so important to record what you’ve written and be able to review it. For students who grew up listening to pop music, bringing in ipads, drum pads and a bunch of modern instruments would be way more interesting than making them sit down and listen to Mozart for an hour. It all about ENGAGEMENT and active learning. I grew up singing Jerusalum in music classes and I’d be happy to see some changes that increase motivation.
My only concerns are whether technology would steer students away from all the foundation and technique you get from traditional music, such as music literacy; and distraction. But then the majority of high school kids don’t come from a musical background then I’d rather try to engage everybody in fun activities than force them to learn in a traditional and boring way… The distraction bit, though… according to the TedTalk on Television and children’s attention span. The new generation is constanly in contact with the screen and it’d would definitely be a challenge that teachers have to overcome, and something I have to look back on.
Cognitive Things
Basically the video is about how we should keep PowerPoint slides simple. Wordy slides are relatively uninteresting and it’s harder to get people’s attention.Pictures and graphs with verbal explanations would help. Another cool concept is F shape laser eye tracking. Studies show that we tend to focus on the top part and left side of websites so it explains why pages like Facebook put important tabs on the left.
Kidz! Music! 