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Culminating Summary: Music Education Technologies
“Music is shown to be beneficial to students in four major categories: success in society, success in school, success in developing intelligence, and success in life (Petress, 2005).” I see music as a vital component of the primary school curriculum, but unfortunately from personal experience, I have witnessed how it has been significantly overlooked and ignored. Where I have seen it been taught in the classroom, it has been quite bland and conformist. Music in the class should be celebrated, enjoyed and inspiring–children should be given the freedom and opportunity to take on the role of composer, performer and listener, so that they are active learners. As a musician I have been exposed to some music related technology; and as a pre-service teacher who has observed the lack of motivation in music classrooms, I was zealous about investigating music education technologies–current and emerging trends and issues.
From numerous readings I investigated and websites and software that I researched, I have discovered that there are so many ways to integrate technology into a music curriculum. Music composition software is continually emerging, as “inventors” have heard the cry of teachers to design one which can be implemented in the primary classroom to assist them teach music to their students (Olsen, 2007). I found that Sibelius is currently the most used software in schools and colleges. Research suggests that the emerging music education technologies are based on the constructivist and constructionist learning theories. The learning process using the technologies is active and a social process; student can learn co-operatively; and the teacher takes on the role of the facilitator (Harel, 2003).
Research shows that there is a great push in making much of music education technologies in the classroom, but there is a lack of professional development training for teachers (Williams, 2007). From the readings, most of the “happenings”, or where music technology is really being embraced and widely used, is more evident in the United States and the United Kingdom. There seems to be a great lack here in Australian schools. Unfortunately, I was not able to really find out why. However, from one reading by William (2007), music education standards in Australia have declined incredibly. From a conversation with a practicing music educator, I discovered that a lot of teachers in Australia have very little knowledge and experience in music, they therefore do not have the motivation to teach it effectively in the classroom.
By integrating new technologies into the music classroom, students are exposed to new and exciting modes of artistic expression (Roblyer, 2003). Students can have the opportunity to appreciate and learn music in a fun and active way. In the future, I intend to “get my hands on” music technology, I aspire to make music in my classroom interactive and fun. I will music everything about in a positive way, using the available technology to help me. I will ensure that my knowledge and experience is constantly updated by researching and professional development–even if I have to teach myself because my school can’t afford it! I want to expose the musical talent and passion in all my students.
“Music when helthy, is the teacher of perfectorder, and when depraves, the teacher of perfect disorder.” – John Ruskin
References:
Estrella, S. (2005). Preparing Tomorrow’s Music Teachers. Music Education Technology. Retrieved 27 February from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.lib.uts.edu.au/ehost/pdf?vid=5&hid=105&sid=a73ca6d6-9d74-4116-acc0-50f536bec259%40sessionmgr102
Grabe, M. & Grabe, C. (2001). Integrating Technology for Meaningful Learning. New York, USA: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Harel, I. (2003). Sandcastles Go Digital. Retrieved March 6, 2008 at: http://www.mamamedia.com/areas/grownups/new/21_learning/sand_castles.html
Olsen, S. (2007). Software for Kindergarten Beethovans. Retrieved February 16, 2008, from CNET News.com Website: http://www.news.com/Software-for-kindergarten-Beethovens/2009-1027_3-6
Petress, Ken. (2005). The Importance of Music Education. Retrieved March 6, 2008, http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3673/is_200510/ai_n15641914
Roblyer, M. (2006). Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching. (4th ed.). Columbus, OH: Merrill Prentice Hall.
Rudolp, T.E. (1996). Teaching Music With Technology. Chicago, IL.: GIA Publications, Inc.
Storey, C. (2007). Technology in the Rehearsal Room. Music in Action, 5 (2), 16-18
Williams, A.D. (2007). What Are Music Educators Doing And How Well Are We Doing It?. Music Educator’s Journal. 94 (1), 18-23.
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