Ring Tone Rage

One of the greatest tools in Apple’s iLife is, of course, GARAGEBAND. Multi-faceted programs like GB provide both novice and moderate composers a user-friendly platform on which they express their art in musical style.

Having just taught my students an IMovie lesson, we observed THE OFFICE PARODY @ teachertube.com.  A fascinating concept we discovered is their use of the actual THEME SONG from The Office television program. This led our class to COLLABORATIVELY work on finding various THEME SONGS on the web.

By searching for TV Theme Songs in Google, we discovered multiple FILE FORMATS including .Wav, MP3, MP4 as well as MIDI.

An often overlooked — or underused — feature in GB is its ability to convert file formats. GB allows us to IMPORT files in MIDI.  GB will “default” to particular instruments such as piano, guitar, drums, etc. based on the data stored in the MIDI file.

MIDI is an acronym for Musical Instrument Digital Interface. One “eye-opening” feature for new learners to discover is that MIDI is only data. In other words, there are no actual SOUNDS in a MIDI file.  The quality of an imported MIDI file is the result of several things including the musicality of the one who created the original file. Also, the tone generator on the host computer or software program will also greatly affect the quality of the tones heard.

Our students imported MIDI files into GB from THE OFFICE.  Several students added their own creativity by adding SPECIAL EFFECTS, DRUMS or A DIFFERENT INSTRUMENT than the original MIDI file designated.

Once completed, the song in GB needed to be SHARED. Most often, files are shared to ITUNES. In this case, we shared to RINGTONE.

As students prepare to be relevant in the REAL work force, I believe that projects such as creating ringtones for cell phones is as viable a concept as learning math. After all… what’s YOUR ring tone set to today?

(Please be advised that we must follow copyright laws when creating new works — especially if they are being created for profit.)

Your thoughts?

Music Education Blogger!

I am proud to be a Music Education Blogger! If you haven’t joined the ME Blog? What R U waiting on?Christmas? That’s too far away. But these guys are here. Right now and we are willing to help YOU become a better music tech educator. You’ll glad that you “blogged on”.

Googling Around: TOP 12 List

Educators! For many of us, this isn’t a new theme park ride. For some of us, if you haven’t experienced the thrill of using much of GOOGLE’S free tools, you’ve missed lots of FREE FUN. As an educator, you are given many industry-standard options to use at no expense. Better still… they are worth using.As a new WEB 2.0 guy, I learned that collaborating with co-workers online is working smart. When you are away from your computer, are you LOST without your calendar? As an avid EXCEL and WORD user, I struggle to keep the latest update at hand. The list goes on and on unfortunately.

What options does Google offer for you? http://www.google.com/intl/en/options/

Some of my fav’s include:

1. Gmail. The world’s best email.

2. Chat. Send your wife love notes online!

3. Google search… just “Google it!” Like McCain said, we can even “Google it” to find out the top 20 candidates for V.P.

4. Maps. Much more reliable and accurate than MapQuest.

5. Earth. Have you seen your own home online yet using Google Earth? Great virtual field trip option.

6. Scholar. Working on an advanced degree? Need scholarly research for your website?

7. Notebook. Keep your “clips” you find during online searches.

8. Calendar. Keep multiple calendars online (personal, school, church). Link into one calendar if you want to.

9. Documents. This is my NEW FAVORITE! Upload from MS Office any file (.doc, .xls, .ppt) and it’s there. Unfortunately, PDF is not a format in which Google operates… yet.

Part II with Google Documents. Here are the WEB 2.o features. Share your documents by inviting them to “view”. Or invite them as a “collaborator.” Which means… you build a CONCERT PROGRAM. Send it to a colleague. Invite them to ADD TO THE DOCUMENT. Google then notifies YOU when every time the doc has been edited! Google works FOR you.

Then, invite others as a “viewer” to see what is forthcoming at the concert, yet they can’t change the layout. Only collaborators can make changes. Then, email to a Google GROUP that you have set up in GMAIL. (Import/Export addresses to/from various email programs.)

10. Picasa. For our High School Spring Musical, we share pictures among 3 collaborators. No time to meet? View online. Collaborate using Google’s amazing features.

11. Code. For those who understand code, Open Source is a wonderful collaborative tool. Get info using CODE. Incidentally, for those of you who need a free OFFICE program, begin to search the OPEN SOURCE programs available to you. OPEN OFFICE is fully functional on PC/Mac. No longer must EDUCATORS sit in the wings crying because we don’t have funds to purchase software packages. There are hundreds of amazing programs available to those who… seek and find.

12. Translate. Two years ago, we met our German cousins…for the first time! Communicating effectively across languages can be daunting to say the least. Now, using TRANSLATE, you can not only read other languages but Google will translate for you into other languages.

ENJOY Googling Around!

Edit this entry.

Belkin TuneTalk + iPod: Recording Student Performance for Evaluation

Twenty-five years ago, I began a career as a music educator in 1983. Lean, green machine, naive, etc. I fantasized that I could be the next ROBERT SHAW — maybe not. But, I did have a passionate vision for becoming an inspiring teacher who loved to teach students to love singing. Today, that same passion exists. My perspective has changed some through the years.

Because of the capabilities that inheritant in D.A.W.’s, I’ve just seen, once again, the power of audio recording for singers. In my high school, a single A (smallest school size), my students competed in a local regional competition. End results were very positive. Here’s why…

OUR PHOTO SHOOT. Here’s the picture of my school. We have students who compete outside the school day yet are unable to actually take choral/vocal classes. Actually, only 2 students in the boys’ quartet actually were enrolled in my classes. One girl in the girl’s trio was enrolled. Our rehearsals were at best intermittent and fragmented. A pretty dismal scene actually in terms of “finding time” to rehearse.

DIGITAL AUDIO ON THE FLY! As the boys breezed in (usually for approximately 5-10 minutes during “break”), we found intonation issues to be a real problem. Very little vocalizing and warm-ups happened due to time constraints. The Trio experienced even less time to practice. We often squeezed in about 10-15 minutes approximately 12x prior to our first competition!

At times, we managed to utilize digital audio recording during rehearsals in order to evaluate our rehearsals. By audio recording REHEARSALS, we can predict adjudicator comments. An audio picture is worth… more than 1000 words. Recording and playback is often sufficient for students to hear their own “problems”. Once we all acknowledge (via analysis and synthesis) what needs to be corrected or what is being performed with excellence, the role of TEACHER-AS-FACILITATOR can work to foster excellence in student performance.

For the first time in my career, I was able to actually audio record student vocal and choral competitions using our own equipment! Here’s what happened. We attached the BELKIN TUNETALK to the base of an IPOD, then pressed the red RECORD button. Once the performance(s) were completed, I raced to my computer to SYNC the IPOD. The recordings appeared as VOICE MEMOS (date and time were default memo names). ITunes stored each of the recordings. The following class period, each of those students welcomed the opportunity to listen to their own performances using iTunes.

End result? Students have now evaluated their own performances on two separate venues. The usually ask for a CD copy for their own keeping to share with their family. As we read adjudicator comments, we are able to honestly evaluate our scores because we could HEAR our own performances firsthand.

All for a few hundred dollars. It’s worth the investment.

Italian Anyone?

So, what do the traditional singer and the non-traditional E Gtr dude have in common? Little you could say… and usually you’d be correct. Hold on!

Get this picture. “Big sis” just sang an ITALIAN AIR – Se Tu M’ami in a competition– at a Kiwanis competition tonight. Little brother — E gtr Christian band guy, presented his HOW TO RECORD IN PRO TOOLS podcast last week before the entire board of education. Talk about two worlds apart! Man.

Not TOO Faaaaaasttttt, buddy. Big sis actually started the ball rolling!

Her audition for competition team back in September was RECORDED in PRO TOOLS. I took her audition for soloist and for girls’ trio — which was also recorded “live” — to the N.S.M.I.T. Conference and to the TI:ME Conference in Grand Rapids!

Let me clarify. The genre, style of music to be recorded is irrelevant to the CONCEPT of using D.A.W. in the classroom! What’s dire is this.

These kids continually ASK to be recorded. The bottomline issue here isn’t the student. It isn’t the style of music. It’s the mindset of the TEACHER.

I’m not boasting. I’m saying to US. Let’s get relevant and socially on board with as many students as possible.

So, Italian anyone? If you can’t sing it… then let’s go EAT SOME ITALIAN. Both are excellent choices.

Whatz your thinkin’?

John Wilborn

Student Podcasting: Reel ’em’ N

What does this imply in terms of REELIN’ em’ N in 2008?

Did you know… that most normal, whatever that means, students in 2008 — at least on the secondary level — are savvy. I’m mean… REAL tech savvy? Ever asked a fish to swim? Or, asked a butterfly to show you how to dance on a hot summery day? Some things are sort of just common knowledge. No explanation necessary.

NOW HEAR THIS!!

Just 5 months into our brand new course @ Bremen High School (www.bremencs.com/~jwilborn), we have tons of kids asking me every single week “Hey! I hear your class is really cool. Gonna offer it next year? … Yeah, like. I “wanted” to take it this Fall but… you know. BUT I’M DEFINITELY gettin’ in next Fall.

ROCKIN’ and A-REELIN’ ’em’ N

These kids are podcasting out the wazzoo. News Reporter Podcasts, HOW I MADE MY OWN PODCAST podcast, + more.

Last Monday evening, I took a 15 year old girl – Level 1 student – and a 16 year old boy — Level 2 student — and had them tell the BOARD OF EDUCATION why they LOVE Music Technology.

GET THIS

The boy sayz… “You wanna know why I get OUT OF BED every day and come to school? For THIS!!!” He proceeds to play his 4 and 1/2 minute podcast with every eye glued to the wall observing some totally incredible stuff.

HIS JOURNEY

1. Pro Tools recorded his guitar in 3 tracks at 160 beats using a click track. Sings a couple more tracks.

2. Garageband. Next day. Creates/Edits drum tracks. Adds his own bass guitar part.

3. Imports Garageband file via his jump drive into Pro Tools. Clicks, drags. ShaBANG. This guy has his OWN original music totally self-produced ready for upload.

4. Creates a tutorial podcast on HOW I CREATED THIS PODCAST USING MY OWN MUSIC.

5. Takes the iMac home for the weekend from school. Works ALL DAY SATURDAY on it.

6. He and She sell the BOARD OF ED on WHY YOU NEED TO SUPPORT/FUND this program.

7. Ends with THIS IS WHAT I LIVE FOR!

What does this imply in terms of REELIN’ em’ N IN 2008?

The Moving Sidewalk Analogy

Recently I was rushing through the airport — late as ALWAYS! I saw the moooooooving sidewalks. “Yes!” I thought, “It’s the perfect answer. I can get to the same destination but only faster.”

As teachers, we are called to be just that — moving sidewalks. We serve our students by facilitating them throughout the CONCOURSE. As the ULTIMATE FACILITATORS, we carry our students along with us!

How have YOU played the role of a MOVING SIDEWALK recently? Think about it. Post a comment and let me know!