TECHNOLOGY ON A DIMEHow to Incorporate Music Technology in Your

Classroom Without Breaking the Bank

by Mike FedyszynInstrumental Music DirectorLake Country School District

Hartland, WI

2009 Midwest International Band & Orchestra Clinic

Technology in the 21st Century Classroom (in a nutshell)• Why is it necessary?– Today’s students are “digital natives” –

they have grown up in the digital age– It encourages creativity in the

classroom– It enhances good instruction greatly

(but doesn’t replace it)

Technology in the 21st Century Classroom (in a nutshell)• Why is it necessary?– Students have come to expect that

technology is a part of their lives in all facets (including school)

– It is our job as educators to relate our teaching to our students’ lives

BUT THE BIG QUESTION IS…HOW DO YOU PAY FOR ALL OF THIS?

Find Deals!• Comparison shop at a variety of

retailers• Ask retailers about discounts you

may be eligible for but not know about

• Check the Internet for deals– TigerDirect– Slick Deals– Price Grabber– BizRate

Find Deals!• Use online shopping services– Google Product Search, MySimon,

NexTag, eBay, Craigslist, Half, etc.• As always, buyer beware – be sure

of what you are purchasing (do your homework)

Gently Used/Refurbished/Off-Lease Products• Technology doesn’t have to be new

to work• Don’t shy away from these items• Many times, these type of items can

come with some sort of warranty• You will receive a vastly lower price

on these sorts of items• However, do your research – make

sure you are getting quality

Ask for Donations

• Money from PTO groups, education foundations in your district, booster clubs, etc. for a selected item

• Gently used items (old iPods, DVD players, VCRs, TVs, stereos, etc. – these things all can still be used and are FREE) from parents, community members, friends, etc.

• Donations are tax-deductible for donors

Grants• There are numerous grants available to

teachers looking to incorporate technology into their curriculum

• Where to find grants– Online sites (Grant Wrangler, Grants Alert,

Teachers Count, Google searches, etc.)– Professional associations will often

announce grants in their journals– Local and national retailers often have

some sort of educational grant program

Grants• Where to find grants (con’t)– Ask your colleagues – they may have

received information about grants that you did not know about (administrators receive information about grants frequently)

• Networking with parents, community members, etc. (they may be aware of grant opportunities in their workplace, civic organization, etc.)

Grants• Register your classroom with a grant

match service that links donors with projects they are willing to support– Digital Wish, Donors Choose, and

Adopt a Classroom are all sites that offer this service

– Think of this service like posting a resume on an online job site such as Monster.com – only you are posting your project online

Sharing Items With Other Teachers/Departments• Combine forces by sharing a purchase• Gain access to a product wanted by

both parties at a lower price• This plan works best for items not used

on a daily basis and are not music-specific– Example: The music department and

physical education department team up to buy a Wii console and the games Guitar Hero (music-related) and Wii Fit (phy. ed. related)

Sharing Items With Other Teachers/Departments• Use the technology purchased for

the entire school– In my district, when the first Smart

Board was purchased, only four teachers used the technology – administrators and school boards can only justify these types of purchases for their schools if people actually use the technology. If people don’t, those types of purchases become fewer and more far-between.

Recycle!• The Great Scavenger Hunt!

– Ask other teachers if they have anything of use

– LMCs often have older items that can still be useful

– Contact your technology aide/director of technology – they may have older equipment that can be used

– Look around your own classroom – you may have some things that can be used

– Use existing items and adapt to new ideas

UNIQUE (AND INEXPENSIVE)

WAYS TO UTILIZE TECHNOLOGY

Part I – Gadgets & Gizmos

Gadgets & Gizmos

• Buy a projector• Probably one of the most significant things you

can purchase if you haven’t already• They are going down rapidly in price and are

ESSENTIAL in creating a 21st Century learning environment

Gadgets & Gizmos

• Buy a projector• Projectors can and should be used as outputs for

computers, VCRs, DVDs, etc.• Specs to look for• 2000 lumens or more• At least 1024x768 resolution• HD (if you can)

Gadgets & Gizmos

• No Money For A Projector?• Connect your computer to a TV with an S-Video

input• AVerKey converters used with TVs also work well

for this purpose• Not as great of quality, but still gets the job done

Gadgets & Gizmos

• Wireless Keyboards can easily become “remotes” for your computer• Be sure to look for 2.4 GHz RF Wireless

connections (other technologies, including Bluetooth, don’t quite give the same range in a large music room)

Gadgets & Gizmos

• Have an overhead screen in your classroom and a projector? Make your very own “Stupid” Board

Gadgets & Gizmos

• Take a Bluetooth-enabled computer, a Wii remote, and an infrared pen and make your own Wiimote Whiteboard

Gadgets & Gizmos

Some newer and low-cost gadgets• Portable MP3 Recorders• These powerful tools are like having an iPod that

records (with a high quality microphone) to some sort of removable media (most often SD memory cards)• My favorite brands

• Roland Edirol R-09HR• Zoom H2 or H4n• M-Audio MicroTrack II

Gadgets & Gizmos

Some newer and low-cost gadgets• Camcorders and Portable Video Recorders• Camcorders are rapidly going down in price (one can be

had for as little as $300)• For those looking for an great

portable option (with less features),check out Flip Video camcorders ($150, $200 for HD)• Keep an eye on the new Zoom Q3

(portable audio & video recorder) – this could be a revolutionary new piece of technology

UNIQUE (AND INEXPENSIVE)

WAYS TO UTILIZE TECHNOLOGY

Part II – Current Technology Is Our Friend

Current Technology Is Our Friend

• As stated earlier, one of our jobs as educators is to relate our teaching to the lives of our students

• What better way to incorporate technology into your classroom by using technology in which your students use on an everyday basis?

• There are NUMEROUS ways to achieve this• Ways to utilize “student-friendly” technology are

only limited by your imagination

Ideas To Utilize “Student-Friendly” Technology• Present a “Cell Phone Concert”

• Have students bring in their cell phones to your class (be sure to receive permission first from administration)

• Instruct students to find one person (mom, dad, grandmother, family friend) that can be called during this performance

• Before the performance begins, students call the person who will be their audience

• Once cell phones are placed on a table in front of the ensemble, the performance can begin

(Many thanks to Lisa Werner for this idea)

Ideas To Utilize “Student-Friendly” Technology• Text Message Alerts to Your Students• It goes without saying that SMS (Text) messages are

extremely popular (especially with our students)• Why not use this technology to our advantage as music

teachers?• Use a group text messaging service like

JabberText, TextMarks, or Upoc to send alerts to your students• Many possibilities (rehearsal & performance

reminders, cancellation alerts, homework reminders, etc.)• Use your judgment if this would work in your

situation

Ideas To Utilize “Student-Friendly” Technology• iPods (and other similar players)• There are many great uses for iPods• Use one for listening libraries,

play-along accompaniments, and other types of recordings utilized in the classroom• Create your own podcasts

• Performances• Online-based instruction

Ideas To Utilize “Student-Friendly” Technology• iPod Touch and iPhone Apps• The App Store is one of the defining

features of the iPod Touch/iPhone – there are over 100,000 applicationsthat have been downloaded over 2 billion times• There are apps for everything –

including powerful tools for music educators

Ideas To Utilize “Student-Friendly” Technology• A couple of my favorite apps suitable for the music classroom…

• Instruments In Reach• Rhythm In Reach• MooCow Pianist• Pitch Pipe• Karajan• ClearTune• Tempo• iPro Recorder• Musictionary• iRealBook• Mobile Air Mouse• Remote• AirSharing

Ideas To Utilize “Student-Friendly” Technology• Video Creation• There are many unique ways to integrate video creation

into a performance-based curriculum• Portfolio-based assessments• Videos for concerts• Recordings of performances

• You can create and edit your own videos inexpensively while still maintaining a high level of quality

Ideas To Utilize “Student-Friendly” Technology• Music-Related Video Games• Music-related video games have (some) educational value• Used the right way, they can hold great extrinsic rewards for

students while transferring knowledge learned using traditional methods• They shouldn’t be used exclusively in a

classroom – but can be a unique tool (much like a rarely-used kitchen utensil)

Web 2.0

• Web 2.0 is the new wave of information sharing on the Internet, focusing on interactivity and collaboration

• The focus of Web 2.0 is….YOU (the Internet user)• Examples of Web 2.0 include such functions as

video sharing sites, web applications, social networking sites, wikis, and blogs

• Most are FREE to use and are very education-friendly

Web 2.0

• Facebook– The most popular social networking site allows groups to make

their own “Fan” page– Facebook users can then follow a selected group and have

access to various things (photos, video, calendars, links, etc.)– Users can also receive news updates from these groups– Used the right way, Facebook can be a great resource for your

program

Web 2.0

• Twitter– Twitter is a micro-blogging site (write something in 140

characters or less)– Micro-blogging can be used to broadcast updates and news-

worthy items to your followers

Web 2.0

• Ning– A relative newcomer to the social networking field,

Ning offers users to create their own networks for their own interests

– Thus, you can make a site that is extremely personalized for your music program

Web 2.0

• Blogs & Web Sites– It is extremely easy to develop your own web site using Web 2.0

tools (using a blog-based site or traditional set-up)– Web site building tools

• WordPress• Weebly• BlogSpot• ClassJump

Web 2.0

• YouTube– Share your performances– Analyze other musicians of all levels (think National

Standard 6)• SchoolTube– YouTube’s more school-friendly site – devoted to

educational media

Web 2.0

• Keep an eye on…– Google Wave

• A brand new service that merges E-mail, instant messaging, social networking, message boards, and other elements of Web 2.0

– iSchoolBand.com• One of the best

options I have seen for music educators to create a web site that is truly interactive

FREE STUFF!

Freeware/Open Source Software• Freeware is exactly what it sounds

like – free, unlicensed software• Open source software are programs

that are continually updated and rewritten by the general public– They are free for all to use; no license

is needed• Chances are that any type of utility

will have an open source option

Freeware/Open Source Software• Where to find them?– 100-downloads.com – a depository of the

best free software– Sourceforge.net – a leader in organizing

open-source projects– Mustech.net – an outstanding blog on music

technology – includes links to music education-specific free software

– FreeMusicSoftware.org – a site that emphasizes pro audio software; many options available for Mac and Linux-based systems

– An internet search for “open source” or “freeware” will yield many options

Some Of My Favorite Free Programs• Audio/Video– Audacity – a multi-track sound

recorder that is extremely powerful– iTunes – Apple’s media player and

music store interface– CinemaForge – transfers video file

formats (very helpful for uploading videos to a web site or portable media player such as an iPod or downloading a video from YouTube)

Some Of My Favorite Free Programs• Audio/Video– SongBird – an iTunes alternative– WinAmp – a media player that has set

the standard in the industry over time– VideoSpin – free movie making

software from Pinnacle (industry leader)

Some Of My Favorite Free Programs• Audio/Video– VirtualDub – open source movie

making software– Jahshaka – another open source movie

making option– Windows Movie Maker – the Windows

option for movie publishing– iMovie – Apple’s movie publishing

software (comes free with iLife)

Some Of My Favorite Free Programs• Productivity– OpenOffice – an open source version of

the Microsoft Office suite– CutePDF – a utility that creates a PDF

file from any document on your computer

Some Of My Favorite Free Programs• Pictures and Imaging– GIMPShop – an open source version of

Adobe Photoshop– Krita– Paint.NET (Windows only)– ChocoFlop (Mac only)– iTag – image tagging/organizing

software for your pictures

Some Of My Favorite Free Programs• Web Site Creation– KompoZer – a powerful web site

publishing program that is very easy to use

– Flash Slideshow Maker – make professional slideshows for use on the Internet

– Powerbullet Presenter – make your own Flash movies for the Internet

Some Of My Favorite Free Programs• Notation/Composition– TrakAx – An open source, PC version of

Apple’s GarageBand– MuseScore – Music composition

software– Anvil Studio – MIDI sequencer

Some Of My Favorite Free Programs• Other Music Education Software– E-Chromatic Tuner – free tuning

software– JAM Chord Player – a simple chord

player– Tempo Perfect Metronome – an

extremely powerful metronome; includes subdivision patterns

– GNU Solfege – Music theory training software

– TabPlayer – Guitar Tab Player

ALMOST FREE STUFF!

(Other Inexpensive Software Options)

Other Inexpensive Software Options• SmartMusic – a subscription-based practice suite

for students that holds thousands of songs and evaluates the progress of students (among MANY other things)– Think of SmartMusic as a combination of iTunes and

Guitar Hero for your students– If you are unfamiliar with SmartMusic, you owe it to

yourself to check this powerful program out

Other Inexpensive Software Options• Notation/Composition/Sequencing– Acoustica MixCraft

• A great PC alternative for GarageBand; intuitive interface, numerous loops included ($50 institutional price per license)

– Sony JamTrax• Another GarageBand PC alternative; newer to the

marketplace and some nice features ($20)

Other Inexpensive Software Options• Notation/Composition/Sequencing– Finale Notepad

• Once the “gold standard” of free music notation software, Finale’s software publisher (MakeMusic) no longer offers a free version of this software

• Instead, it is offered with expanded capabilities from previous versions for $9.95

• Regardless, the program is still HIGHLY recommended• Finale is to Microsoft Word as Finale Notepad is to

Windows Notepad (i.e. limited capabilities, but still gets the job done)

INTERNET RESOURCES

Internet Resources

• There are THOUSANDS of resources for free on the Internet

• Another whole session could be devoted to great web sites for music educators

• This list focuses on some of my favorite sites (and is by no means a comprehensive list)

Internet Resources• Performance Aids– Metronome Online

• Theory and Composition– Ricci Adams’ Musictheory.net– Good Ear– Noteflight

• Instrument-Specific– Vic Firth Education Resource Center

(AMAZING site)– Conn-Selmer Educational Resources– 8 Notes

QUESTIONS?

Final Thoughts…

• Prioritize• What are your priorities when it comes to

technology? Spend available money here first• Never let your creativity get into the way of

budgetary concerns• There are NUMEROUS ways to incorporate

technology with little to no funds

Feel Free To Contact Me!

• If you have any further questions, I would be happy to help out

• Visit my web site at: http://www.fedmusic.com

• Contact me at: mike.fedyszyn@fedmusic.com