In this 21st century world, technology seeps into every aspect of our lives. It affects the way we travel, eat, communicate, relax and even think. So, students today must be using and learning about technology in a positive and engaging way while still challenging them to learn.
The Music classroom provides a great opportunity to relate to the students and their lives. Technology must be used effectively to create individuals who are able to think musically in performance, composition and musicology. With so many great resources a few clicks away, teachers must utilise what is in front of them.
Today I discovered a two great resources that are available on the internet.
Chrome Music Lab is a web-based program which encourages students to discover and create various aspects of music using engaging designs and game-like activities. The emphasis on graphic notation enables every single student no matter what prior learning or music skill they have, to be involved musically. different ideas of pitch and rhythm and texture can be explored through different types of activities. Overall, it is extremely accessible to both music specialist teachers and general classroom educators.
Soundtrap is another web-based program that allows students to experiment with sound by either utilising the available samples or recording their own material. Students can explore various musical ideas including looping, sampling, beat making and it can either be used individually or collaboratively.
Here is a quick Crash Course Video on using Soundtrap
Both of these resources are available for both PC and Mac based devices and should therefore be on a teacher's list of classroom resources!
MUED4002 lecture 1: 1/8/18
