Apparently, you're somewhat interested in technology, or you wouldn't be on this site! Why not carry that interest into your elementary music classroom? There are several ways to incorporate technology in teaching music, and not all of them cost an arm and a leg.

In doing research for a state grant for getting keyboards and a MIDI-station, I ran across several sources which give good arguments for adding technology to the "palette" of sources already used. The technology does not have to replace what you're doing; rather, it should help enhance it. Keep up on the Orff and Kodaly! You don't have to throw away your series.

Look at it this way.......I'm willing to bet that the majority of your kids either own an electric keyboard or have access to computers. This is what gets kids' interest now. Technology is a selling point on willing those kids who aren't so hep on music now. Whenever I've done keyboards, or have kids do composing on the computer, I have trouble getting even some of my hardest cases to leave. Gradually, they begin to realize that the rest of music ain't so bad, either!

Technology is also wonderful for your special-needs students. Keyboards are a good tactile and visual tool in getting across theory basics, such as intervals, scales, and chords. They also help students develop eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills. Using computer programs for creativity and composition give these kids instant feedback. On many programs, they don't even have to have a grasp of rhythm and music notation. They can play their melody on the keyboard, and it will record. It's amazing how many of these students have really innate creative skills, but have difficulty bringing them across because of the concrete details such as having to write them or notate them.

On the other side of the spectrum, look at all you could do with your gifted students. In working on keyboards, these are the students who could experiment with the style and voicing settings, figure out one-finger chording and the notes used in the chords, and progress to more difficult songs. This is also a wonderful peer-tutoring tool. In the composition software, these kids can go into the more complicated settings, reconfigure voicings and timbre, and improvise and do theme and variations on existing tunes.

How to Start?

OK, let's say you have to start totally from scratch, and your budget isn't exactly bursting at the seams. Like I mentioned, I'm willing to bet that at least one-third of the kids in each of your classes own their own keyboards. Why not have them bring 'em in for a keyboard unit? I've done this for several years, and it's been a success. I send home a note a couple of weeks ahead of time asking the parents' permission. I also give the parents the option of deciding whether all the classes of that grade level can have access to their keyboard, or if they prefer their own child and his/her partner only to use it. Also, reinforce the rules of caring for other people's property. I make sure the kids know that if they break it, they pay for it,and that I will contact their parents about replacement costs. So far, in the years I've done this (I've used these for 6 school years), the worst that's happened is that the adapter cases crack. Use the student books from your series, or have a file of easy sheet music handy.

Of course, if you have it in your budget, get smaller keyboards and order headphones and splitters so that you can have two on a keyboard. You really don't need to spend more than $145 per instrument. Just have the keyboard big enough that two can work together on it, and that it will have a good variety of rhythms and voicing. You'll probably want it to be able to do one-finger chording, also.

If you've got the space and the money, you might want to investigate Yamaha's Music in Education keyboard lab. This is an actual lab network in which the keyboards connect to one teacher terminal (computer). You can observe exactly what each student is doing. It assists in grading and even helps take attendance (because of the build-in seating code). I've observed this in action, and it's fascinating. However, if you want to incorporate other activities such as Orff into your curriculum, make sure you have the facilities for this, because it isn't very portable!

Having a computer in your classroom is another wonderful tool. There's so much software out there for music, it can get overwhelming. Right now, I use Music Acefor theory basics. It's so cool, even you can get addicted to it! There are lessons that walk the kids through the very beginning basics up to key signatures, and several good ear training lessons. Each lesson has a game the kids can play that correlates with the lesson objectives. This game is similar to PacMan. If you get a wrong answer, the note head pops. It sounds easier than it really it sometimes! MusicAce also has a neat "doodle pad", where kids can create their own simple songs. This isn't done in normal notation, but with colorful little "balls". I have private students who actually try to make a geometric work of art with the Doodle Pad, then see what it sounds like.

For composition, I use MusicTime Deluxe, a fairly easy program in which the students can write one melody tunes up to songs with melody and piano accompaniment. This is a program in which the students can play a MIDI-keyboard, and have what they play register right in, as close to the tempo and rhythm settings as possible. It's not precise (this is where those gifted students can really experiment), but it's a good start. The tempo and time signature can be changed, text and lyrics can be added, as well as ornaments and dynamics. The color of the manuscript can even be changed, and the file can be copied into a midi file if desired. The configurations can be set so the playback can either come through your speakers or through the MIDI.

I also use Freestyle, and use it for orchestration. It interfaces with my MIDI and enables the students to take existing MIDI files and change the voicings. You have never heard the theme from "Star Wars" done in so many styles!

An absolutely wonderfully fun project I need with sixth graders last year: divide the class into groups and have them take simple tape recorders and record environmental sounds. (Please set your limit as to what is acceptable to avoid bathroom humor!) Once the group is through, have them record the sounds into the computer as a .wav file and run them through Cool Edit. It manipulates the sound waves into a variety of different ways. They can cut, paste, stretch, distort....you have never heard door slam sounds come out so different!

Hey, don't forget the Internet. Check here for some sites your kids can check out.

Here are some ideas and recommendations from other educators:

Kelly Demoline has a whole site dedicated to music technology, including software and lesson plans. Check it out!

There are some places on the Internet that will allow you to get in touch with other music educators and exchange student Midi-files, including The MICNet Project and Composers-In-Electronic-Residence.

Janice Glore Noblitt has had fourth and fifth graders write midi compositions to create an original opera in four musical moments. She uses Encore and MasterTracs Pro.

Hope this can get you started in your venture into music of the 21st century!

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