Week 6: Microphones and Audio

In class this week, we discussed the various types of microphones. One type is the dynamic microphone; an example of a dynamic microphone is the Shure SM58, which is typical for vocal performers to utilize. Another example is the SM57, which is basically just like the SM58, only without a wind screen. Another type of microphone is the condenser microphone. These are used as recording microphones, usually for recording whole rooms rather than an individual thing. An example of a condenser microphone is the Shure SM81, which is used for live performance recordings.

In order to avoid feedback, you must follow these four steps:
1) Don't point the microphone at the speaker.
2) Keep the microphone pointing at the source of the sound, which is either your mouth or an instrument.
3) Don't hold your hand over the wind screen part of the microphone, or it will do weird things.
4) Keep things at a reasonable volume.

Web Apps for Music Students

Note Names
http://www.classicsforkids.com/games/notename/notename.html
Drag the correct letter name to the space below the note. It's a fun way to learn the note names and where each note name is on the staff!

Be a Rockin' Rhythm Master
http://www.classicsforkids.com/games/rhythm/rhythm.html
Listen to the rhythm that is played on the drum, and repeat the rhythm by clicking the space bar. When the rhythm is right, the "Rockin' Meter" will rise, and you will receive a special prize!

Compose Your Very Own Music
http://www.classicsforkids.com/games/compose/compose.html
Drag the notes and rests onto the staff, making sure that each measure has 4 beats, then play it back to hear your masterpiece!

Composer Time Machine
http://www.classicsforkids.com/games/time-machine/tm.html
Scroll through the time periods, and the composers of that time automatically appear! Then read about the composer, choose a song or show, hear the song or show, and read about that particular song or show. What an exciting way to learn about many famous composers!

San Francisco Symphony Kids Site Music Lab
http://www.sfskids.org/templates/musiclab.asp?pageid=4
Pick from the numerous categories of music to learn more about each category! Tempo, harmony, rhythm; you name it, you can learn about it!

Week 5: Web Apps

During class this week, we discussed web apps. These web apps are created for students to make learning exciting and fun. From a musical standpoint, web apps range from exciting musical tools to fun activities and games, which are beneficial learning tools to have when I become a music educator. For example, some web apps help students perfect their rhythm or pitch skills, as well as learning about the various types of musical instruments. I feel that these web apps will be a great tool for me to utilize during class, especially for the younger students I will be teaching. It's definitely a fun way to learn! Look forward to another blog post full of numerous web apps that allow for a fun learning experience! 

Prezi Presentation: Claude Debussy

http://prezi.com/w2eakhxkjves/claude-debussy/

Glogster Presentation, Claude Debussy

<iframe src= "http://edu.glogster.com/glog.php?glog_id=27039858&scale=100" width="960" height="1300" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" style="overflow: hidden;"></iframe>

Google Docs Presentations: Claude Debussy, Impressionistic Composer

Week 4: Children/Teen Use of the Internet

Under what conditions should children and teens use the Internet? So many people have different opinions about this subject. As a future educator, I feel that the use of the Internet for my future students should be limited. I feel that using some sort of social media site to give updates about a certain subject is fine to a point; for example, making a professional Facebook account, seperate from my personal Facebook account, to create a page for my class to give updates and such is acceptable, as long as my personal Facebook account is not seen. However, this would work for the older students I will be teaching; I will not do this for my students who are younger than 13 years old. Children and teens younger than 13 should only use the Internet for learning purposes. Finding information on the Internet for a research project should be the only reason to be on the Internet, and having a social media account of any kind is just wrong. Again, I speak for the students who are younger than 13 years old. That's just how I feel. What are your thoughts?

Week 3: Social Networking in Education

There are numerous pros to social networking in education. As discussed in this video, social networking allows for an interesting and engaging learning environment for the students. There are two main points I would like to mention about this very topic:
1) Social networking enhances communication skills for the students, allowing them to communicate better to their peers and teachers.
2) Social networking, also, promotes creativity.
As a future music educator, I would like to incorporate these very points into my teaching. I want to communicate to my students through social networking in order to create this engaging learning experience.