Multimedia and the Web (Readings Week 10)

This first artifact for this week focused on the different types of media that can be used on the Internet. I thought it was a great, descriptive tool that went into detail about how text, pictures, sound, and video are used on the web. The articles included a lot of information that will be helpful when I am creating my own website, especially when it tells what types of files everyone can access on the web. It would be sad to post a picture of the orchestra for the parents, only to find out that Tommy's parents couldn't see it!

The second article discussed sound files. It discussed the strengths and weaknesses of compressing files: while more people can access it faster, they will receive a lower quality sound file. As a musician, I will most likely someday have a website which includes audio files of myself. I will be able to pull up this article again, and look at the helpful tips it includes, such as posting both higher and lower resolution files. I really liked this article because I feel it addressed things that I might not have thought of, until it became a problem for me. I plan on referring to this article in the future, when I create a website for myself or my school program.

The Other 80%

The Other 80% is a site that came up on my PLN thanks to Dr. Bauer's delicious site. I think it is very important to include as many people as possible in creating music. Why should it only be instrumental or vocal musicians? There are probably many students who would love to create their own music. This website recognizes those possibilities, and promotes Non-Traditional Music programs. We are living in a time when these avenues are wide open. I believe that including non-instrumentalists/vocalists in music courses would be a popular idea with administrators and communities, and a great way to promote traditional music courses as well.

Ohio as a piano

This is a link from Dr. Bauer's delicious site, that shows a map of Ohio as a piano. How funny! I really wish I could load the site, because the buttons look interesting. Did anyone else get it to work? I want to see what happens!

del.icio.us

The article written by Dr. Bauer clearly explains why and how to use delicious, a social bookmarking site. I found it helpful, and it reiterated the video we watched in class. I think that using delicious will be a great way for music educators to connect and share valuable information. It is always worth noting, however, that we need to be careful to know about the author of any sites we may bookmark. Credibility should be examined thoroughly, least we share faulty information. Overall, though, I believe that delicious will be a useful tool for me as an educator.

Eartraining

This came from a blog recommended by Vanessa, and already I really like the information I receive. This lists websites that have free theory and ear training resources. What a great thing to have available.

CAI, SMART boards, and Accompaniment Gererators

The article that stood out to me this week has to be the one that focused on having only one computer in a classroom, and using it for classroom activities. Even the pictures in the article speak for themselves. There is a large group of students, straining to see a small screen. I think that this article needs to be updated, perhaps to include what a SMART board can do. While I believe that there can be a focus on one thing, perhaps it is more logistical to have a large screen for all students to see comfortably.

The article on CAI is exactly right, and I believe that music teachers are in a unique position to really utilize the technology available. Perhaps it is the saturation I am experiencing through this course, and having my PLN set up with that focus, but I see so many opportunities for music educators. The CAI article explores the many facets of this technology, including student and teacher based uses. It demonstrates the wide range of things that can easily be accomplished in the music classroom using the resources available.

The final article, Automatic Accompaniment Generators, presented ideas on how to fully utilize accompaniment software. I believe that this article expanded the idea further than what we did in class in past discussions, and I think it had some very valid points. I especially liked when the author discussed intonation issues. As a string specialist, I feel that this area can be difficult to address. The very nature of a string instrument makes intonation very vague for young students, and listening to an accompaniment can help create a tonal foundation. Overall, I found this article to be more thought out than some of the previous ones on accompaniment ideas.

Music Rhymes

This came up on my PLN today, and I think this shows how great technology can be. The author is asking for suggestions to help students remember the order of sharps and flats. If anyone has ideas, please comment on the blog! What a great way to make the world seem smaller.

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