technology
Students are engaged in music lessons through hands-on use of the technology.
Announcements and the day’s agenda are posted on the SmartBoard as students walk into the room. With a quick touch on the screen, an orchestration activity of Radkey’s own design splashes to the forefront and after a short briefing on what the task is the students dive in and start creating their own re-orchestrations of “This Old Man,” which the full ensemble immediately performs. Attempting to implement a lesson like that without an interactive whiteboard would be 10 times more time-consuming and even less time would be allowed for students to actually be playing on their instruments. By the end of the activity (about 10 minutes), the tune “This Old Man” was thoroughly learned and students had multiple opportunities to take a simple exercise from their method book and make it uniquely their own and share it with everyone in the room.
Radkey goes on to say, “When I ask students to recall their favorite moments of band, many students will share these projects in which they were able to create something original, using technology. It is definitely worth the effort in the end...” The orchestration activity made it onto Kevin’s ‘fun’ list. “...I use technology to engage all students, especially ones that may struggle in the performance aspect of music. I feel that it is my job to give stu- dents a well rounded musical experience, so they can find an area of music that they enjoy or excel in.”
Radkey concludes by saying, “I have been fortunate to be in a school district
Wisconsin School Musician
that is pushing technology integration in our teach- ing. However, with the abundance of technology available, it is a bit over- whelming to get started. We were able to purchase a SmartBoard with the help of our music boosters. It has been a great teaching tool, but takes some time and patience to figure out. Once I develop some good SmartBoard activities, I can save them and use them in the future. It takes
plenty of trial and error at first, but it is well worth the time. Because there is so much new technology in our schools, our technology employees are hard to track down and are extremely busy. The trick is to plan ahead and figure as much out on your own as possible.”
Due to space limitations in the print ver- sion of WSM, the rest of this article along with supplemental materials can be read by going to the digital version of WSM at
www.WSMmagazine.org. There, you can also download some of Radkey’s lesson and unit plans, a PowerPoint presentation on teacher’s favorite bands, see photos of PCMS’s music facilities, and a brochure, which PCMS uses to assist with their recruiting of new band members.
There’s still space! If you wish to have your program profiled in WSM, please fill out the Music Technology Survey at http://
www.surveymonkey.com/s/THF7SNN.
David Johnson teaches band for the Williams Bay School District. He is also a member of Wisconsin Youth Band Directors Association and Wisconsin Advocates for Music Education steering committee.
Email:
djohnson@williamsbayschools.org
Music at
St. Norbert College, a nationally recognized liberal arts institution, offers degree programs in music education, liturgical music and performance. Located north of Milwaukee and Chicago on the banks of the beautiful Fox River, St. Norbert College offers students the opportunity to interact with a dynamic faculty of exceptional teachers and performing artists.
Visit our website for information about our 2011 summer music camps, held June 13-17. Summer band and choral commuter camps are offered for students completing grades 5-9. Camp information at:
www.snc.edu/music/camps.html
www.snc.edu/music • 920-403-3112 47
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