Look what I got...

Zoom H4n recorder

It happened!  My project from Donors Choose  came in on Friday!
It's a digital recorder that I plan to use to create audio portfolios of students' work.  I have to learn how it works, and am getting ready to hook it up to the school's Mac Book!

If you've never heard of Donors Choose, then I recommend it.  This little device was very expensive.  But thanks to the generous gift of Aija, and KIA motors, the project request was funded and within a week of funding, it arrived!

You can check out my project called Rock, Rock, Record and get some details.

The process of signing up for a project and the steps to qualify each time are a little challenging, but definitely "doable".  When creating a project you gain, earn and spend points.  The more points you collect, the bigger the funding projects you're allowed.
Project materials, become property of the school district.  You can't take it with you if you leave for parts unknown.  That's a newly stated policy it seems.  But that's ok.  I don't mind leaving it for the next person-if the technology doesn't improve in the next 10 years (right-LOL).

So, when I get some student songs and works recorded, I'll try and post them here, so you can HEAR what it sounds like.

In the meantime, try donorschoose.org if you need some funding for a project.  There are all kinds of examples, and help if needed.  It's worth the look.

Teaching aid for teacher

I found this site today.  What a great tool!  It is called the Teaching Channel and it is really cool.  It gives short videos usually between 1-20 minutes in length about all kinds of topics.  It gives you a place to keep notes in the video, with a time stamp, gives questions to consider in using the techniques or video in class, and gives you online work space to keep all of the information you collect.

Better still, the site gives you a button to put on your tool bar so that if you find something on the Web that you would like to use in a lesson, you click on the button and it saves it for you in your account for future use.  You can even schedule reminders in your account; suppose you find a site in September, but the timing to use it isn't until November.  Schedule a reminder for yourself!  No more searching through bookmarks!
(There's a sample video below...yes, they allow you to embed their stuff on to your website or blog too, and all of it is FREE!)

I'm just learning all of the details, but what I've experienced so far, I recommend trying.  There are some great ideas for all topics and they are looking to add more.
Check it out!

I just found this from the Music Teachers Facebook page.  What a great way to analyze music and get an idea of cultural interpretation. See the full explanation at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8SD3ToKDsw

Awesome video and teaching lesson on HOW TO LISTEN by deaf percussionist, Evelyn Glennie. from www.TED.com

Copyright 2012. Magnifying the Universe by Number Sleuth.

I saw this on a blog for music education and technology that I receive.  It is truly amazing.  Thanks MusicTech.net for sharing this first.  But try it with the music playing...It is awesome!  





Just joined Spotify-free music to listen to.  It allows embedding too.  I recommend checking it out!  You can connect with it through your Facebook account.  Talk about connecting music technology and science... very cool!