computer apps in music classroom

Musical composers use computer software apps such as garage band, Sibelius and Finale to compose music. But nowadays, through this app, everyone can be involved through class or individually. A music teacher finds it enjoyable for students to use technology such as computers for activities so that they can engage and interact with peers by working together to compose their music. These apps can increase the students understanding of the musical elements and enjoyment of the music making. For example, when I was in high school, I took music tech/theory, and most of the class we used computer apps such as Garage band and I was able to create my own music tracks by listening and combining sounds together. Through the class, I learned to compose music and had a better understanding of music elements. The best thing is, the work I created, I was able to share with friends and family.

            One thing for sure, composing on the computer was clearer than writing on a piece of paper. Since computer users are used to add and delete, in these apps, it is also possible to add and delete notation changes or other musical elements. It also seems that using technology grabs young students attention and encourages them to continue to learn academically. During my high school years, I took an understanding of music class and a music tech/theory class, in which one class use technology; such as computers and other class didn’t use technology. Through my experience, I found that the class without technology wasn’t interesting; however, when I was in music tech/theory class, I wanted to engage in the class because the usage of technology motivated me. Also in the school where I went to observe for a music methodology class, I saw that students were engaging more when they were able to use technology than when they are not using it. For example, I sat in a general music class, where the teacher used PowerPoint and projectors for the students to read and remember the lyrics of a song as they listened to the CD on iTunes on the teacher’s computer. It seems that by using technology such as computers in a music classroom, students are able to interact with peers because they can share their ideas and their musical creations with others.

            Using technology in classroom isn’t all that great because all the computers are capable of accessing Internet. Many students use the Internet during class which sometimes it distracts them from concentrating. Also, most schools don’t have enough computers for students to use because of budgets. I believe students should at least learn their basic music elements from books and paper, so that they have a more familiar sense and experience of how composing through paper feels and they can listen to the sounds of real instruments, rather than listen through computers.

Technology Autobiography

The three most influential communications technologies that are used in my life are:  phones, laptops and mail. All of them are commonly used in this generation. However, mail is not considered advanced technology, but rather it is another way to communicate with one another. But surely, all three are used for communication and two enable us to find information by using the Internet. These technologies have their pros and cons.

The form of technology that is most frequently used nowadays is the phone. Smart phones are what most people carry. Since phones are easy to carry, finding information takes a second. They are used as mini-computers, for navigation, looking up maps, and finding other information. Phones are for calling people and messaging, but these days, they can do more than that. The cons are that they can endanger people who use phones while driving because teenagers or even young adults today, are texting while driving. I guess, that’s why in NJ and other states driving while texting isn’t allowed.

Laptops are different from phones, because laptops require service, such as Wi-Fi. When there is service, then I can go on the Internet and receive or gain new information, and also, I am able to communicate with friends using blogs, messenger, via-emails, and so on. Laptops are also used for watching movies, TV shows etc. online for free. In addition, with laptops, you can research any information that you want to look for. The only bad thing is that some of information can be false, depending on the websites. The biggest difference between phones and laptops is the size.

Finally, mail may and may not be an advanced form of technology, but some people like handwritten mail. Even mail can be used to get information by asking and getting the answers from the receiver. The con is that it takes forever to send and receive it. But other than that, it’s a useful tool to learn information and contact people who aren’t familiar with advance technology.

In the clip, the students has said, “Writing and reading has been taken over by technology… The cool thing about technology is you can change things.” These students found interest in technology because using them helped them with their academics and also encouraged them to continue their education. For example, the girl who talked about phones, she said, “my phone takes good pictures, if I want to share it or post it I send the picture through my email and then post it online.” And then another student a boy, he said, “In a soccer game you miss your shot, you can’t go back, but when you use computers you can fix your mistake by going back.”  Technology is inspiring.