MIDI really does offer a wide variety of options when it comes to music education. I am a huge supporter of using live musicians when possible, but MIDI does give more flexibility than a recording. For example, the Kersten article notes, a MIDI file can change tempo or repeat sections as needed. This type of flexibility would greatly help an educator. Rather than making multiple recordings, the MIDI could be adjusted to fit a specific need. It is also great for student compositions, providing an instant sound rather than a playback later (as in handwritten works).
I think Kersten's idea of having a website is awesome. Students would be able to explore it on their own time, and be able to look at what interests them. I know that in high school, I spent a lot of time outside class researching music. Having that available on a website would be great. Even today, I would love to have access to chord progressions, etc, at my leisure.
I will be referring to this article in the future, especially because of the page including technology tips. Some of those details could make a big difference in the success of a project. The lesson plan also could be adapted for different ages and purposes. MIDI isn't a perfect solution, but it is a useful tool.
The Sequence-stration article was interesting, and had some good points. Using sequencing to use as an accompanist would be a very simple solution to a very costly issue. For some programs, this may make a big difference in budget concerns. Being able to mute parts and slow it down gives the educator much more freedom, and really gives MIDI a lot of credit.
I did not know about the "Humanize" option, which seems to be an interesting way to create a more pleasant sounding track. I really liked the idea of changing the instrumentation to fit the character of a piece, especially for younger students. This is the type of application that I think MIDI is well suited for. The author's doubling of instruments, and changes to make them sound more real, are good tips for those of us who are not as used to MIDI. This article is something I will reference when making MIDI files for use in the classroom.
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I'm glad that you found these articles to be helpful. In my experience, the more you play around with the available software, the easier it is to understand how to approach the technology. Regarding websites, many school districts want their teachers to develop them as additional resources for students. It's easy to make one that is used for nuts and bolts information (announcements, links to other sources, etc.) but I think a website that actually enriches student music learning is extremely valuable.
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