Response to: A Conceptual Framework for Technology- Assisted Music Learning by Dr. Willian I. Bauer
Technology enriches the lives of musicians and music lovers everywhere. With the incredible recording technology, the internet, and programs such as Garage Band, people have access to music from all over the world almost instantaneously. Not only do we already have incredible technology, but everyday people strive to create even better programs and computers to make performing tasks easier and quicker.
While many schools have multiple computer labs for various purposes, technology for music education still gets neglected. Administrators feel that the music programs are too expensive and that the money could be put to better use in chemistry labs or towards math programs. While some schools do take a part of the budget to purchase music programs such as Sibelius, they only receive it for a few computers, making it difficult for a full music class to work on a project all at once.
Music educators need to show their administrators the benefits of these programs. Through notation programs, students not only develop their knowledge of note names and the staff of various clefs, but they further develop their ears by being able to hear the music they're creating. They get to hear how different parts work together and make changes instantly to see if they like a different sound better. These programs also help with understand different instruments and how these instruments work together to create a wonderful piece of music.
While part of me fears that technology maybe taking away from the personal connect of musician to instrument and human instructor to student by providing all of the instruments and instructions electronically, I do not doubt the merit of these programs. These programs are not a replacement for live performances or rehearsals or educations, they are merely tools to enrich performances, rehearsals and lessons. Recording a performances and rehearsals helps students see and hear what when well and what still needs improvement. A computer cannot tell us if we like the phrasing of a piece of music or what dynamic to use, but it can help us by either allowing us to hear ourselves or by allowing us to click a button to change the dynamic or phrase to hear what we like better.
In Peter Pan, one needs a happy thought to be able to fly, but that's not all, one also needs pixie dust. Technology can play the role of the happy thought , but without inspiration, drive, passion, and emotion, without the magical pixie dust, music cannot thrive. Technology is a wonderful resource that must be utilized, but it cannot replace the magic of music that comes from the heart of the musician or music lover.
Erin, I really enjoyed reading your reaction. At first, I was a little skeptical about how technology can be used, because you gave the impression that it must always be utilized. However, you then mentioned that it may be taking away from the personal connection to creating music and I could not agree with you more. It is great to use technology for learning the fundamental sides of music (e.g. theory, staff names, etc.), but using it for learning an instrument or how an instrument works with an ensemble has to be completely physical. I do not think that MIDI's or programs such as Sibelius/Finale produce a acceptable sound for their instruments. The true sound must come from the physical and emotion effort of a musician to really learn how a instruments work.
ReplyDeleteErin, well stated! I could not agree more of your assessment that technology is a "tool" to be used to support curricular goals! As teachers, I think we need as many tools in our toolboxes as we can get and technology just might be that added connection we were looking for, never taking away from the personal connection between teacher-student and student-content area.
ReplyDeleteEarly on you mentioned that music teachers often get slighted when it comes to technology. Do you think this is because we get turned down often or maybe we just don't ask for it as much as we should? Could it be something else entirely? It seems like music teachers may have this self-defeating attitude that other teachers and programs will get technology instead of us. If only the words "what's best for our students" were uttered more in schools. That seems to do the trick!