Using Technology in the Music Classroom

Today, the use of technology plays a huge role in all of our lives. It has changed the way that we communicate, access information, solve problems, and educate both children and ourselves. The use of technology in the classroom is becoming more and more essential to education all the time. Even in the music classroom, this is no exception.

Kids nowadays are use to having endless resources at their fingertips, that they can call upon at any given time. With this in mind, we (music educators) need our teaching to reflect this, so that it is both useful and of interest to our students. When used correctly, technology can be a invaluable tool to help us do our jobs better, and help students learn better. From online sights like Youtube and Notefliht to garage band, to finale; from recording equipment to electric keyboards to midi systems; from iphones to mac computers, technology has ingrained itself into our curriculum. 

That being said, is becoming more and more necessary all the time to "get on board" with technology. We must learn to embrace it and become familiar with the ways it can be used to enhance our lessons. Technology could be used for many purposes in our classrooms including writing their own composition, share music, listen to recordings from top musicians or even the local band that played the same piece. Have them record themselves practicing or making music in groups. Record rehearsals and play it back to them so they can hear what they sounds like and then have them critique. Make a recording of the accompaniment to the chorus pieces on an electric piano and then have the students sing along, freeing you to walk around and assists/assess or even conduct. The list of possibilities goes on and on. Decades ago, when music education was new to our public school systems those teaches did not have access to anything that we do now. The children we teach come from a different world than when we were in school and we must make the most of those new found opportunities to improve our craft and enhance their education.  

In nearly every classroom I enter I see consistent use technology. It's all around us, it’s just up to every teacher how they want to use it, and they can all use. I think it’s clear that the more technology based our society becomes, the more technology based education will become. It is likely that technology will continue to grow exponentially overtime, and so we must always be ready and able to adapt and utilize whatever is available to us, to ensure that future generations of students always receive the best education possible. 

For more information and ideas on how to incorporate technology into your music classroom, please see some of the following links below:

http://www.nafme.org/everyday-education-teaching-music-in-the-age-of-technology/

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ireal-pro-music-book-play/id298206806?mt=8

http://www.apple.com/mac/garageband/

https://www.noteflight.com/login

http://brandtschneider.blogspot.com/2015/06/final-project.html
 
http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/The-Valleys-Alive-with-the-Sound-of-iPads-150943055.html