After a number of years presenting music technology to K-12 music teachers at professional conferences and workshops, I have seen an increase in the number of teachers who either have some degree of proficiency with technology and are already using it to support their teaching, or those who see technology as a valuable productivity and teaching resource and want to jump on the bandwagon. There are many music programs across the country that are using technology in the curriculum, and these programs serve as models of how a music lab can provide students with opportunities to explore their creativity, work collaboratively or at their own pace, and expand their knowledge of all aspects of music, all while giving them hands-on experience with contemporary music technology tools. An excellent example of one such music program can be seen at http://www.musictechteacher.com. However, it is not necessary to have a room full of computers and electronic keyboards in order to teach effectively with technology. Some teachers either don’t have the funds or the space for even a small lab of three or four stations. The good news is there are myriad ways that just one computer can be used to support music teaching and learning.

What You Need to Get Started

Before incorporating technology into your classroom you must carefully consider how the use of technology can support and enhance your curriculum. Do you arrange music for your students? Do you teach music theory? Would you like to teach composition? Could you use an accompanist? Would you like to record your students’ performances? Would you like to customize the resources you use in the classroom? If you answered yes to any of these questions, the use of technology will provide you with invaluable tools for supporting and expanding your curriculum.

The ideal one-computer music classroom setup consists of several components. While you don’t need all of the following components to get started using technology in your classroom, it is helpful to be aware of what is in a complete setup.

A computer, preferably with a CD burner. This can be a Mac or PC, and can either be a desktop or laptop. Most computers, if they have been purchased over the last five years, will have the necessary ports, such as USB, audio in and out, and video out built in. These ports will allow you to connect the computer to other essential components in the setup.

A MIDI-compatible electronic keyboard. An electronic keyboard will give you the ability to easily input music into a sequencing, notation, or computer-assisted instruction program. Most electronic keyboards today are MIDI compatible, and some can connect directly to the computer via a USB cable. If the MIDI keyboard does not have a built-in MIDI interface, you will need an external MIDI interface in order to connect the keyboard to the computer.

An LCD projector. It is important to have a way to show what is on the computer to the students. Having students huddle around a computer monitor can cause unnecessary classroom management issues. While it is preferable to have a dedicated LCD projector in the music classroom, most schools use projectors for meeting presentations and staff development and are often available to teachers for classroom use. If an LCD projector is not available, another option for projecting the computer is to use a television. All that is needed to connect a computer to a television is an inexpensive VGA-to-component RGB (TV) adapter. The image quality of a television is inferior to an LCD projector, but it certainly is a viable option.

A set of speakers. With the correct cables you can connect your computer directly into the stereo or other sound system you have in your music room. If possible, though, it is best to get a pair of small, powered monitor speakers. A good pair of monitors will ensure a high-quality listening experience for your students. There are plenty of models to choose from on the market that are both cost-effective and high fidelity.

A microphone. Hooking up a microphone to a computer to create digital recordings is a powerful way to record student performances. If your computer has a built-in microphone recording couldn’t be easier! If your computer has an audio-in port, it is possible to plug a microphone directly into the computer using an XLR-to-mini-1/8’ adapter. If your computer doesn’t have an audio in port, or you want to make high-quality digital recordings, you will need to have a digital audio interface. While there are many digital audio interfaces on the market, there are two basic types of connections a digital audio interface can make with a computer: USB or FireWire. The main difference between USB and FireWire lies in the type of cable that is used to make the connection, and how fast the data travels through the cable. The type of digital audio interface you can use will depend on the available ports on your computer.

Software. There are many categories of software that are useful in the music classroom: technology-assisted learning software, notation, MIDI and digital audio sequencing (also known as DAW software), productivity tools such as Microsoft Office, graphics and video editing tools, and web authoring tools. The kinds of software you use in the classroom will be determined by your curricular goals.

Strategies for Using Technology in the Music Classroom

Using technology effectively in the music classroom takes preparation and planning. Having equipment and software that support your curricular goals, being knowledgeable about the equipment and software you are using, and having effective strategies that will guide your use of technology all play a major role in creating positive experiences for you and your students. A computer can support and enhance music instruction in many exciting ways. Let’s look at four effective methods for using a single computer as a teaching tool.

A Multimedia Blackboard. One of the most common ways to use a single computer in the classroom is to hook it up to some kind of projection system and use it as a presentation tool. Unlike the chalkboard or whiteboard, a computer loaded with the appropriate software allows you to easily incorporate multiple types of digital media such as graphics, audio and video, along with text and web links, into a single document. Using a program like Microsoft’s PowerPoint or Apple’s Keynote, you can create stimulating instructional materials that can easily be edited, saved, and reused multiple times. In addition, a PowerPoint or Keynote presentation can be saved as a QuickTime movie or web page and easily posted on your music department web site, allowing students and parents to have access to the materials your are teaching outside the classroom.

A Recording and Archival Tool. Back in the “old” days, cassette recorders made it easy to record and archive student performances. Enabling students to hear and evaluate their performances exponentially increases the opportunities for musical understanding and growth. Unlike the cassette recorder, digital recordings made with a computer and a good microphone offer superior sound quality and the ability to edit and store the recordings in a more manageable way. Be sure you are aware of any copyright issues regarding recording material that is not in the Public Domain if you intend to put it on a CD or the school web site. If you aren’t sure what’s legally included under Fair Use, visit MENC’s Copyright Center or the “Copyright and Fair Use Guidelines for Teachers” web page for more information.

Practice and Accompaniment Tool. Many commercial curriculum materials, such as those published by Silver Burdett Ginn, McGraw Hill, or Alfred, now come with MIDI or digital audio accompaniment files that can be played using most sequencing or notation programs. In addition, MakeMusic’s SmartMusic software comes with literally thousands of accompaniment files that can be used with all of the standard beginning band and string method books, a broad variety of solo and jazz repertoire, and numerous technical exercises. If you don’t own or have the budget for any of these commercial materials, you can use any notation or sequencing program to customize or create your own accompaniments. The big advantage of using a computer with a sequencer or a notation program as a practice and accompaniment tool lies in the ability to easily and quickly change the tempo and key of any MIDI file (note: this is not true for audio). And while you most likely won’t use the computer as the accompanist for a concert, it will obey and play for you as often as needed during any class or rehearsal!

Resource Creation Tool. Armed with a word processor, you can easily create worksheets, quizzes, exercises, and homework assignments that can be edited, saved, printed, and reused multiple times (just like those PowerPoint presentations). In addition, music notation programs like Sibelius and Finale give teachers the ability to easily create worksheets and exercises from templates within the program that can be saved and printed. Beyond text-based resources, the ability to create digital resources such as pictures and graphics, audio and video recordings, web pages, and electronic portfolios makes the computer an invaluable resource creation tool.

The Computer as Administrative Assistant

Perhaps the most common way teachers begin to use a computer to support their teaching is in the area of administrative tasks. Communication is vitally important to the success of any music program, and the use of email, word processors, spreadsheets and databases make mundane and repetitive tasks easier and more efficient. Newsletters, budgets, instrument and music libraries, concert fliers and programs, to-do lists, class and attendance lists, and grade books are some of the many administrative documents that can be created with the appropriate software and a computer. It’s important to note that having an organizational and backup scheme is paramount to keeping your documents safe and in order. Just as you organize and file paper documents in a filing cabinet, so should you organize, store, and backup your digital files using some kind of dedicated storage device or the school’s server. When the inevitable, catastrophic computer crash occurs, you’ll be glad you made regular backing up of your files part of your administrative activities.

Where Do I Begin?

There is no question that the use of technology requires training, time, energy, flexibility, and creativity. There are avenues music teachers can take to learn about music technology and how to use it in the classroom. First, take a summer course. There are many professional development courses offered across the country every summer that focus on using music technology in the classroom. Organizations like TI:ME (the Technology Institute for Music Educators – offer a wide variety of classes. Second, take an online course. Berkleemusic, the online extension school of Berklee College of Music, offers many online courses for credit as well as CEUs, that will help you build a solid foundation in music technology. Another avenue is to read magazines like Music Education Technology magazine. MET is a professionally produced magazine that is filled with lesson plans, tutorials, and timely and pertinent information for music educators interested in incorporating technology into their teaching. Just go to the MET web site and click on “Subscribe to MET” for a free subscription. Lastly, talk to other music educators who are using technology creatively and successfully. One-on-one support from colleagues and the sharing of ideas, lesson plans, and resources will go a long way in helping you get started.

Music Technology Resources

If you are just beginning your journey into the world of teaching with technology, remember to start small. Buy only what you need and have enough time to learn, and make sure you have access to reliable tech support. There are some companies that can help you make decisions about appropriate technology for your teaching situation. The following companies have solid track records working with music educators. Their web sites contain articles, lesson plans, tips and tricks, and other valuable resources that will help you see how other music educators are using technology in their classrooms and rehearsal rooms.

SoundTree

Kelly’s Music and Computers

Lentine’s Music

Successful technology integration often requires teachers to re-think and re-tool their teaching methods. Choose an area that you would like to focus on and incorporate one strategy at a time. Trying to learn and incorporate too many applications at once can be frustrating and ultimately lead to a lack of interest or vision. Start small, and use only those technology tools you feel comfortable with. Over time your arsenal of skills and strategies will grow and your teaching methods will evolve. Using technology can be very rewarding for you and your students. The educational return far outweighs the initial time and energy investment.

Stefani Langol is a music educator, clinician, author, and consultant. She is currently Assistant Professor of Music Education at Berklee College of Music and also serves as the technology coordinator for the department. In addition, Stefani is a member of the Technology Institute for Music Educators (TI:ME) Advisory Board and served as editor-in-chief of the TI:MEs newsletter from 1997-2004.