Teaching with Technology

This article discusses the effects of technology on teaching music and conducting recitals. Internet audio and video can provide an alternative stage for recitals and performances. The emergence Podcasts and Internet radio or TV show help a lot in the music industry and teaching. These technologies allow anyone with a computer and a microphone to create Podcast.

Music teachers, including myself, often associate music technology with theory, notation or sequencing software programs. However, there is technology that we might not always consider to be relevant to our classrooms (or studios): Internet audio and video. The author claims that the music teachers need to recognize this medium for delivering content and start incorporating it into their classrooms (or studios). This article explores how the development of technology can give our students an alternative outlet for performance in contrast to traditional recitals through video and audio Podcasts and posting recital videos on web such as youtube and Google video.

The popularization of the iPod or iPhone has led to a new genre of media called podcasts. And this technology allows virtually anyone with a computer and a microphone to create their own podcast. The author suggests that teachers may assign students to produce periodic educational music podcast shows and upload students’ performance on it. The author also points out the concern of copyright law when “uploading” their assignment. Students should be educated with copyright law and be careful about the content of the material they would share on Internet. The author suggests the websites such as Google video and youtbube as a place to contribute students’ performance. He says that it can be handy for students who want to share their performance video with other people because students can expect to receive comments not only from their peers and teachers but people around the world if they choose to share the video with a global audience.

Integrating such technology tools in classroom or private studio can be a daunting task for both teachers and students. Especially some college music students can be sensitive or feel uncomfortable with sharing their performance on web where complete strangers can watch and judge their performance skills. Musicians perform in public all the time, but it can be a complicated issue for some students if it becomes an “assignment” as they may not feel comfortable “performing” where their video can be delivered outside of the place.

People won’t be able to recognize the benefit of educational technology until they become beneficiaries, but they will be able to appreciate it once they learn how to apply the tools appropriately in proper spots in their teaching field. I believe that both teachers and students should have a rock-solid understanding on using certain web tools for their teaching and learning.

Mario Ajero. The 21st Century Recital Hall: How Internet Audio and Video Can Provide an Alternative Stage: American Music Teachers,  January, 2007. pp. 58-59.