What new and inventive ways are you using technology to teach your students musically?

Technology like GB has an almost miraculous effect on my students; it invites them to create and compose regardless of whether they identify as "musical" or not. It's a constructivist's dream come true and it has allowed me to reach students otherwise considered "impossible" or "difficult." Those students have been transformed through the experience of creating.

Chris so wonderful to learn about your experience! I know as an educator there is nothing more rewarding than to see that transformation. It would be great to learn more about the technology and how it connects to the arts from your perspective and experience. Please share more with our readers. It would be interesting if you would interview your students and quote what they say as well. Wishing you an amazing new school year!!

I'm a board member with the Phoenix Conservatory of Music. We just became an affiliate for the Berklee City Music Network and will be offering their innovative online PULSE program free of charge to our students. This uses contemporary music styles and technology to teach music theory to 6-12th grade students. I think every music educator should seek out the Berklee affiliate in their community.

A little over a year ago I traveled to a small village in Ghana to study drumming. I found a school there (elementary school, ages 5 - 19) and started teaching GB to children with no prior exposure to computers (and to electricity, for the most part).
The interest was so huge, and the progress so quick, that within less then month we had composed - produced - performed about 10 GB tracks of various aesthetics - traditional ewe, hip-hop, poetry and sound design, pop covers, original compositions. perhaps even more important was the sense of self esteem one could see grow in those kids in four short weeks. Music and performance gives a true sense of empowerment and is a powerful tool, which comes especially important in challenging living conditions.
This experience led me to founding an organization (Give to Grow, I am building a website for it as I type this, literally, www.givetogrowproject.org), and made me go back to Kopeyia and build them a music tech lab.
I will be going back every year for several years and will continue to look for other places where I can do the same thing.
Milica Paranosic

I'd be curious to know how many computers you use and how many students you have per class when you use garage band as a compsoing tool with your students?

I would like to establish a trade with classes of high school art students.

I have just started using GB in music class myself. The students are engaged, they help each other. As you said, even my most difficult students have become genuinely interested.

I have also started using GB in music class. The students are engaged, they can work at their own pace and comfort level, they peer-tutor, and are genuinely motivated to participate.

I play classical and musical comedy's on my CD player softly in the background while I teach. Next week I begin poetry, and with the Harlem Renaissance I will play Louis Armstrong, Dizzie Gillispee, Billie Holliday, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Jellyroll Morton and Porgy and Bess.

It is great because the room is filled with beautiful sound and everyone loves listening.

There are only 11 students who take orchestra and 45 who take band. We have 850 enrolled in our school. I insist that my classes WILL receive the arts. NO MATTER WHAT!!

Music is only one of the arts I integrate.....all of this is very important to me. I do not want to cheat my children any more than they are being cheated in our public schools.

(My arts classes were canceled this year..)

I use GB with my students and an amazing program called Reason. My students are on the autistic spectrum and have just blossomed musically with these programs. Just make sure you have computers that can handle the wonderful music your kids will come up with. Apple i-books do not do well. Many crashes and unhappy students.
Try the Reason demo on Propellerheads website.
http://www.propellerheads.se/products/reason/