Sample Photos

Here is a sample drawing made with Adobe Photoshop Elements.  This type of drawing can be very useful for making webpage graphics or graphics for various print media.

Here is a screen shot of the opening menu for Garage Band.  This type of screen shot can be useful in creating a guided tour for Garage Band in the form of a movie made with iMovie or a Podcast.

Here is an exported graphic file from Finale 2007.  This type of graphic file could be used for creating worksheets using MS Word or for creating presentations using MS Power Point.  Just like the screen capture from above, the export graphic file function on Finale could be very useful in creating a tutorial for the program.

Here is an example of a digital photo taken at the New World of Coke in Atlanta, Georgia.  Using Adobe Photoshop Elements, I was able to make the picture of the old car look like a painting.

Technology in Music Education

It is amazing to think about how far technology has advanced in the last fifteen years.  Being a music educator, it is even more amazing to think about all of the practical ways that I can use technology in the classroom.

In my opinion, music education lends itself to technology already.  Musicians all over the world use electronic instruments, MIDI sequencers, notation programs, and other forms of technology every day.  It has become part of the music production industry.  So, it only makes sense that music educators (myself included) would try to incorporate at least some aspects of technology into our classrooms.  Most teenagers are already familiar with how to use a computer and the internet.  Most teenagers also have a cell phone and some sort of MP3 player at their disposal.  However, not many can say that they know how to use a MIDI sequencer or that they can compose a piece of music using Finale or Sibelius.  I think that if they were offered the opportunity, students would welcome the challenge of learning how to use unfamiliar forms of technology.

This will be my fourth year of teaching, and I have only scratched the surface on the possibilities of incorporating technology in the classroom.  I have used notation software to write arrangements for my choirs and to burn accompaniment tracks for rehearsal purposes.  I have also had students to use Power Point to create presentations on different composers.  However, after reading the articles for Class 1 in my Digital Media class, I realize that there are so many more possibilities.  I hope that we will continue to explore those new ideas in future class meetings.