Beethoven

I am currently taking a ten-week continuing education class at Northwestern University on Ludwig van Beethoven. The instructor is Dr. Drew Davies, a professor at the Beinen School of Music at Northwestern University. Undeniably, he is considered the most celebrated composer of all time. It only makes sense that we infuse Beethoven’s concepts in compositions within the 21st century.

Beethoven listened to his own voice and “marched to a different drummer.” Before Beethoven, musicians were employed by benefactors such as the church or royalty, he was self-employed. Music was published through these institutions with single parts only. Beethoven published outside the main stream through publishing houses and sometime published the same piece at a variety of houses, making more money for himself. He published full scores.

21st century – Publish your own works, set up your own publishing company. Have a full and individual parts available. 

He expanded the orchestra, but had a balance of old styles using new techniques. He was comfortable in his own world and created his own rules, but kept a skeleton of musical composition rules as to not to upset the mainstream community. Accessibility of musical instruments though the use of massed produced instruments made it so the masses could now own musical instruments. Performances moved from small venues of chamber music to the huge concert halls for all people to participate. The piano was the new instrument of era. Beethoven composed chamber music, symphonies, and piano concertos, using old instruments as well as new. He composed for the masses to hear his pieces.

21st century – Use new instruments on the iPad or create your own instruments. Instead of huge performing groups, compose for small groups of instruments that create a different sound. Compose using instruments that are not normally used together. Set up a soundcloud account or youtube channel so others can view and hear your compositions.

21st century – Technology has allowed anyone to compose and have playback without hiring musicians to play the compositions. Composition has moved mainstream.

He was famous during his lifetime. However, not a child prodigy. He was what we call a “slow processor” or “late bloomer.” His personal life of hearing loss and unrequited love affairs place his as a tragic figure. He overcame many struggles and is seen as an “emotional” artist.

21st century – anyone can be a composer with access to a computer and free online tools. 

Now, move into the 21st century, taking Beethoven’s life, philosophy and innovations. Many music educators teach composition like they are teaching in Beethoven’s era, not composing how Beethoven created. They demand that students compose for the symphony using forms that are so old that even Beethoven changed them in his time. Let’s compose like Beethoven would if he was in the 21st century using innovative and creative ideas.

I am presenting “Composing Online Is Not Just Notation” at the TI:ME conference in Louisville. What I to intend to expand upon is letting people experiment with different instruments and notation. Click here for the entire presentation.

1. Create your own presentation, don’t depend upon others to create one for you. It is a kin to having someone else do your homework. If you don’t know how – ask. Take ownership. Media presentations are skills that EVERYONE, even administrators, should master.
2. View presentations as a performance. You have to practice, practice, practice. Also practice with all the equipment you are going to use. Practice with the clicker, practice with the sound, practice with the computer or iPad. If others are presenting with you, give them time to practice.
3. Run the “show” before you present with the projector you are going to use. You can see if the colors work and if there are preset settings that don’t work.
4. If you run a slide show, have music with it. It is a very boring presentation if you are silently having pictures and words.
5. If you do have a problem with the settings, stop the show and reset them. Don’t have the presentation continue with problems with slide advancement or sound issues.
6. The presentation is 50% show and 50% content. If your show has problems, the audience will remember the issues first, not the content. If the show is embedded within your presentation, the audience will remember the content.
7. Make the presentation available to your audience either in google docs or slideshare. Attendees can view all the data at a later time and have time to process and understand what you have presented. DON’T print out slides to hand out, very 20th century.

The most important rule is practice, practice makes perfect.

At the IMEA conference this year, one of my friends will be receiving the “Mary Hoffman Award of Excellence.” Debbie Kanyo is a middle school teacher in Alton, Illinois, I met her at the conference years ago, she teaches in a school of need. Over the years she has managed to put in three MIDI labs with grant money and has inspired so many music teachers to teach technology.

So, those simple interactions you have at conferences can blossom into full friendships, like it has done so many times. The face-to-face contact is so important. As you attend conferences, take the time to meet and greet as many people as possible. You will be blessed with amazing life-long friends.

I will be presenting twice, the first presentation is on Friday “50 websites in 75 minutes.” It was extremely difficult to “edit down” my top 50 websites.

The second presentation is with Brenda Muench, (bring your own laptop)  ”Composing Online.” We had a blast collaborating online with our presentation.

So, next Wednesday night the yearly three-hour ride to Peoria will happen. I can’t wait!

It was a blast having my students videotape their experiences and how they create their files using music as the glue for all projects. Here is the trailer, which ironically, is much harder than the 20-minute final video I edited. Trying to put together a short one minute teaser doesn’t capture all the students how they come to create in the variety of ways they do.

I am a music teacher first, so ALL files music is created and composed. That is the common thread throughout the class. But, in this audio-visual environment (my students also must have a visual content) is the real story here. My students use such a variety of visuals, be it flash, iMovie, gaming, Photoshop, or just pictures of themselves. Some start with the music, other start with the visual and make the music complement the audio. Whatever they do, they work in a flurry of activity in class and at home.

We are scheduled go live on Monday at 7:00am. Enjoy! Click here for the schedule.

I have presented this topic many times and even written an article about it. GarageBand is part of iLife program on the Mac (Yes, only Apple)

It seems odd that I have been teaching GarageBand for eight years and still people don’t really know how to compose using this program, or some of the compositions are really “bad.” Now with Aviary, an online GarageBand program, the process of composition MUST be addressed in our high school music theory classes to college-level composition classes. I was invited by VanderCook College of Music to conduct a weekend class for educators to learn how to compose using loops. They will also post and comment on each others compositions.

The composition process, using GarageBand, is different from ANY music theory or composition class taught in college. The wisdom of form, instrumentation, and the I, IV, V chords are out the window! Trying to put the “old” methods of composition into a “new” program doesn’t work. If you would like to read more how to compose using loops here is my wiki with powerpoint, pdf’s, and the entire process. Of course, these are my thoughts.

http://musictechie.pbworks.com/GarageBand,-not-GarbageBand

Or, you could join me on October 30/31 at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. (8-5 on October 30 and 8-1:30 on October 31) I will be teaching, or rather conducting a hands-on workshop for ANYONE that would like to compose. Not limited to music educators. Come and create!

Skype

• Throughout the entire summer I skyped with two of my students concerning their musical compositions. Having the time to compose and create really put these two students into HIGH gear. I really don’t think they realize how much I enjoy and NEED the time to see these wonderful compositions. They are clearly ahead of me and push my musicianship to another level. Thanks Jack and Clay!

Golden Apple

• I started out the summer with the Golden Apple Scholars at DePaul University. I had an incredible group of fourteen scholars who quickly bonded and called themselves the “Dream Team.” As our first group activity, we created t-shirts with our names using wordle, (www.wordle.net) This is a wonderful website that creates word clouds. They created a wordle for me, emailed me the file, then I ironed on a t-shirt  and wore on the last day.
• I got to observe these incredible young educators at their respective schools. Castellanos Middle School and Columbia Explorers, which are both part of Chicago Public Schools. The administration and teachers welcomed the scholars and the cooperating teachers were outstanding. The scholars have such a drive to learn, teach, and empower others. I don’t think they realize how much their inspiration overflows to me. Thanks to “Mama C”  Carolyn Cyriaque and Jim Sorensen for impacting so many future teachers and allowing me to be a part of this program.
• I presented “Google ME!” at IMSA (Illinois Math and Science Academy) with the Golden Apple Scholars. It was a hands-on presentation using Google Documents and other Google products such as maps, alerts, calendars, and much more. The excitement was in the air concerning all the possibilities. My favorite comment was “I wish I had known about this six months ago in college. It would have made my life so much easier.”  The intimate setting with these students and personal touch Linda Newman gives, has created a wonderful experience with these scholars.
• The Golden Apple “Dream Team,” performed at the final evening celebration of the scholars. We chose to dance and involve the rest of the scholars, to a great success. The two-hour program was highlighted by the “Investing in Communities,” where the scholars chose organizations to give $5000. I created a social website that allowed everyone to connect and others to use http://grou.ps/goldenapple
• Representatives from the various non-for-profits attended, along with students that will have new books, materials, or programs because of the wonderful organization that donated the seed money.
• I ended the summer with presenting at CORE, a Golden Apple four-day conference at St Xavier for Golden Apple Scholars. It is for scholars that are now working in schools of need. I presented my top ten websites such as Glogster, VoiceThread, Diigo, Delicious, Doodle, Wallwisher, Prezi, and of course the famous Google Docs. Sister Raeleen Sweeney has the conference completely online and paperless. It was a resounding success, thanks to all the work of the “working” scholars and Sister Raeleen.
• All of my presentations and Golden Apple presentations are available online. You can follow me on twitter or plurk, my nickname is “musictechie.”

ISTE

• In between reflective meetings, I traveled to Denver for ISTE (formerly NECC, International Society of Technology Educators.) Saturday, June 26, I attended the Edubloggercon. a pre-conference activity with a face to face (f2f) meeting with people who blog led by Steve Hargadon. http://www.stevehargadon.com/  If you are not aware of who he is, google his name and EVERYTHING he does, sign up! He is a model of what teachers should be doing and connected me with so many web 2.0 material, my head sometimes spins. Meeting people face to face that I have either followed on twitter or subscribed to their blog, was a amazing experience. Sunday,  June 27, I attended the “Constructivist Celebration” with Dr. Gary Stager. http://stager.org/ He is a progressive, innovative, and creative educator who presents all over the world, to be able to be in the same room and learn from him and other educators of like minds was a rush. Finally, at ISTE over 17,000 people attended, so it was quite an honor that I was invited to be on a panel discussion with six other Google Certified educators. Our topic was ‘Dissecting the 21st Century Teacher.” Here again, I know these people via twitter and met most of them for the first time twenty minutes before the presentation.

People on the panel were:
Selena Ward, Middle School technology teacher from Maryland
http://thetechtiger.blogspot.com/
Gwyneth Anne Jones, ISTE K-12 and Middle School Librarian
http://www.thedaringlibrarian.com/
Andy Losik, Elementary Technology teacher from Michigan
http://mrlosik.info/MrLosik.info/Welcome.html
Kenneth Shelton, Middle School technology teacher from Los Angeles, CA
http://techedanddev.blogspot.com/
Paula White, Middle School Technology Teacher from Maine
http://tzstchr.edublogs.org/

• These I felt we all knew each other for years, because social networking has that effect, if done professionally and productively. Ken was able to get clickers from Quizdom which enhanced our presentations and gave us immediate feedback.
• I attended many sessions and hung out at the Blogger Cafe, where most of my “tribe,” was hanging out.

ADE Camp

• My highlight professionally was my five days in Orlando with the “Apple Distinguished Educators” at Full Sail University. One hundred educators across the world are invited by Apple Computers to attend this technology conference. We placed ourselves in groups of six to eight educators and through “Challenged Basic Learning Model” created websites, movies, and presentations all revolving around our interests. I choose Professional Development. My group created a website and videos for ADE’s to use within their districts. Apple computer is launching many of our projects in iTunes University later this year, which is a clearing house of podcasts, websites, and other material for educators. When you open up iTunes, look for the tab “iTunes University.”  I have a conference call later this month concerning our piece of the project. Thanks to Karen Thompson, Anthony Armstrong, Lee Simpson, Kevin Kneisley, Gayle Berthiaume, and Travis Harder.

MENC

• I was contacted my MENC (National Music Education organization in Washington DC) to be on the Music Education Journal Board. This board decides what articles are published in the quarterly magazine. This is quite an honor since most of the participates are from higher education. I look forward to reading interesting material for the upcoming journals.

Art Institute

• I finished the summer taking a class at the Art Institute concerning “Exploring Green Architecture and Design.” It was a fascinating class where we toured the Lourie Garden at Millennium Park, visited the Chicago Architecture Foundation, and created our own vision of how to “green” our current school. Being around art teachers gives me such a sense of awe. For it is the one art form I am completely incompetent on. I can create and do music, I love to act, and I can dance. (Not well, but I can get by) But, art really puts the awe and takes my breathe away.

ICE

• I was contacted my ICE (Illinois Computing Educators) to help co-chair with Michelle Russell, the poster sessions at the annual conference in February. I am thrilled to be helping this organization, they have allowed the students of Sunset Ridge to present and giving back is just a small thing I can do.

Boating and Mr. Broos

• The one thing I did not mention is the time I spent on our pontoon boat. It is my “happy place.” My husband is an amazing boater and individual. He is my secret weapon and I rarely talk about him. But he knows that he is my rock and without him, none of this summer would be a reality. He allows me to just be me. I enjoy the water and it is a place to disconnect with technology. Of course, I still have my iPhone with me and I love taking pictures of the sunsets on “the chain.” It is the chain of lakes in northern Illinois. I let nature be the rhythm of the day.

Lunch and Dinner Dates

• I also want to thank all those “friends’ that had lunch with me and dined under the stars for reflection and love of life. I treasure the memories as well

Reading

• I also manage to read two books. One fiction (“Private,” by James Patterson) and Seth Godin “LInchpin”) I adored “Linchpin,” it is one book every administrator, parent and teacher should read. I talked about being indepensible in your job and career, not  a slug.

Exercise

• I also joined the social network site “Daily Mile,” and focused on exercise. Trying to two to three miles, five times a week. I post the exact route I take, so one of my former students in seeing the route, realized that he lives only two blocks away from me. He walks by my house when he walks with his nephews. His sister, whom I also taught, lives less than fifteen house away! We do live in a SMALL world.

In conclusion

• So, that’s what I did on my summer vacation. To those people who say teachers only work nine months a year, off at 3:00, have a simple life, think again. Creative teachers are never off, we all always learning, doing and think of new ways to teach. In my world, the summer is a time for learning, creating, reflecting, and connecting.
• So that’s about it. I have great excitement for the new year and meeting the incoming fourth graders. They are the first class completely born in the 21st century! Let the GAMES begin!

Links

http://goldenapple.pbworks.com is the main site for CORE and Golden Apple materials.

http://musictechie.pbworks.com Presentation wiki

http://grou.ps/goldenapple Investing in Communities site

www.carolbroos.com School website

From the moment we arrive, I feel I am with “my people.” IMEA completely takes over the town and every hotel, for this is not just a professional development conference it is ALL STATE. What that means is in the fall, the various districts from across the state hold a contest, those students are considered “all district,” then they compete for “all-state.” in choir, band, jazz, and orchestra. If a student is selected, then they come to Peoria and tryout again for the various performing groups, either regular ALL STATE or HONORS ALL STATE. They rehearse over three days and a concert either on Friday night or Saturday afternoon is presented to family and friends. So, you have students, along with educators all at one conference. In addition, various performing groups from elementary through college also perform over the three days. Everyone is carrying music and/or instrument. Students are giddy with their new found friendships and basic black dress or suit is a common thread. I try to attend a mixture of inspiration speakers, new technologies, and a concert or two.

Greg Wojcik, Taken from GB website

It started out fabulously, one of my close friends, Greg Wojcik, the Glenbrook South Band Director, received “The Mary Hoffman” award, basically “Illinois Music Teacher of the Year,” at the opening ceremony.  He gave a gracious speech and I am honored to know him. In attendance was many of his students, former students, administrators, and fellow music educators. He has molded Glenbrook South’s band department as an inclusive, talented, and caring depeartment, Always willing to share and share alike. Years ago, he was the Band Director at Sunset Ridge School. He truly cares about his students and is a wonderful role model for every educator.

Taken from Glenbrook School’s website

“Excellence truly describes Mr. Wojcik’s 31 years of teaching at Glenbrook South High School where he teachers Titan Band, Marching Band, Zazz Band, Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Winds and Band Exploration.  Mr. Wojcik has been responsible for making our band one of the finest instrumental groups in the nation.  His bands have marched in every major bowl parade and have won numerous band competitions including the St. Rita High School Mustang Stampede this year.  He also teaches our students to give of themselves and to make our community an even better place.  His drum line and band play at local retirement homes, in the July 4th Glenview Parade, the Holiday Parade, at Rotary fundraisers, Booster Club events and so much more.  Simply put, Greg Wojcik teaches instrumentation, marching band and how to share ones’ talents to make our community and world a better place.”

On to the seesions, Dr. Neil Smith, Technology chair, put together a wonderful selection of presentations. Plus, he really pushed for internet access, as well as tables, and lots of extension cords with strips. WOW, the buzz was more people will consider bring their laptops to the sessions.

Brenda Muench

• http://techtempo.com/?p=381
• Brenda is one of my closest friends and we met years ago at IMEA. She is one of the reasons I have learned so much, she is my “tech buddy.” You have to have a tech buddy to test out new technologies and ask questions about stuff. Her entire presentation is on her blogsite.
• Take-away http://wallwisher.com/I have seen this before and never used it. I loved how Brenda integrated it into her presentation. So, of course upon my return I set up a “wall” for all my classes. Tip: have each class have a different color so you know immediately that students are on the wrong wall. Second Tip: Label your wall by class AND year.

Carol Broos

• Here is my entire presentation – Google Me!

Dr. Charles Menghini, Sustaining the Passion

• http://cmenghini.wordpress.com/whos-charlie-menghini/
• “Charlie,” is the President of VanderCook College of Music in Chicago. If you ever get to  hear him speak, run, run fast to hear him. His little sayings and stories concerning teaching, music, and life really hit home. His mentor and best friend is “Dr. Tim”  Lautzenheiser. He is also amazing. If educators really follow their wisdom, we would move mountains. What is so cool, is in the audience were beginning teachers, teachers in the prime of their experience, and those at the retirement phase. He reached all of them and brought humor to all.
• Take-away His “sayings” are quite timeless

7. Success lies in our ability to sustain..to keep the passion alive.

10.Make people feel special.

11.People want…AFFIRMATION, INSPIRATION and INFORMATION

12.Be special by not being special.

18.People don’t get burned out, they just forget to refuel.

35.Change is immediate…growth takes time.

36.Most overnight sensations take 10 to 15 years.

Lori McCaskey and Debby Kanyo

• http://mrskanyosspot.blogspot.com/
• I also met Lori and Debby at an IMEA conference years ago. Then two years ago we both went to Vermont to study the “Vermont MIDI Project” together.  I love her saying “If I can do it, you can do it, I didn’t know how to do Powerpoint.” Then Debby decided to write a grant and get a lab in her school. three grants later, she has been the force behind four labs within her school-district and Lori is her counterpart in the elementary. They showed how they had limited tech skills and pushed ahead. Their program is much like mine, infused with performance and technology.
• Take-away http://www.incredibox.fr/ A really cool website that you create music, given the loops. It is  an online application that offers you to discover the musical universe of “The Incredible Polo,” handling a range of “human beat-box” sounds created by the artist.

Kyle Freesen

• http://virtualpodium.blogspot.com/
• I met Kyle for the first time at this conference. He has started a blog for his band, “The Virtual Podium.” He had many good points and walked the “newbies,” through setting up a blog.  After Kyle saw my presentation about Google forms, he went ahead and used it in his presentation! He’s on twitter as well, so I can follow his journey of technology from a band director.
• Take-away “Newbies, are important as Techies.” It reminds me that “newbies” need to feel that all this “tech stuff” is not for the techies. Although I didn’t take any new thing away, I added a music educator to my PLN, which is more valuable!

Jazz Night

On Friday night, the all-state jazz band performs. Wow is my only term. The students are incredible with their passion and talent.

There is also the traditional nights of connecting with the various eating establishments. As always, there are tables and tables of musicians, young and old. Being able to connect with the rest of the music department was a plus as well, since every music teacher from Sunset Ridge attended the conference.

I see this as a ban on educational resources. Some administrators and teachers are working hard ALLOW students to use all proper technologies. Luckily, many schools are adopting google docs or have a password for teachers to by-pass the filter in order to get to what they need to teach. Yes, what they NEED to teach.

I believe it is going to take at least five to ten years to radically change administrators minds because they don’t teach in this environment. Having a filter creates a false security for the administration to ensure that students are not involved with the two P’s – porn and predators. I believe the ownership of the filters should be the teacher within the classroom. When teachers find cool resources, they have to spend the time to make sure they and the students are not blocked. Think of all time that is spent on this and not on actual teaching.

But, we as digital web-based teachers must take some control ourselves. Here is what has to be done in our classroom to ensure a safe and productive work environment with computers.

• First, no more rows! Computers around the edge of the room in order for YOU and the STUDENTS to view EVERYONE’S computer. You must have the screens facing you NOT the student. I know this is a radical idea. But, I have this in my classroom and amazing things have occurred. Students look at everyone else’s computer plus, it is easy for them to ask questions with other students. Also, I can easily get the the student’s computer to help. Finally, it is a safety issue, no more are there cords on the floor, they are plugged directly into the wall.

• Second, empower students to help. Students are a great resource. They know how to navigate around websites and we have really done a good job in teaching internet safety.

As we move more and more into videos, blogs, websites, and all web 2.0 technologies, this is going to be a social issue. Schools that have a “high” filter will be behind and the more “liberal” environment of empowering of teachers will have their students far ahead in both knowledge and 21st century skills.

This conference has an amazing list of presenters that spans the globe. We were quite humbled by being accepted into this company of amazing educators. When I talked to Carol (on the phone) we both were so gitty, but realized the real work is ahead of us. We want other educators to see the magic that comes and is experienced within our music classrooms using the new model of music education of creating and composing.

K12 Online Conference Link

Students are so conditioned to stay in their seats, that in the beginning the ask permission to get up. They quickly realize that I have empowered them to direct the class as to when to work, listen, comment. Amazingly, their own work becomes increasingly more important. They want to work harder, make more innovative projects and see the class as a breeding ground of incredible projects. Many times they COME to class with a file they have created at home. Recently, I had a seventh grader create an amazing movie. I immediately posted it and now the comments are pouring in. He saw one of the videos in class and decided to try one himself.

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Thomas Edison

It can get loud and busy, with all the walking around and of course you have to monitor it, but as the class develops, the behavior problems are less and less to the point of a total work zone.