Response to "Creative Thinking and Music Technology"

This article was informative and upbeat; author Peter Webster offers a multitude of useful ways to use technology creatively in the classroom.

Some of the ideas he presented I thought would be particularly useful, such as using ear training software during class or rehearsal. Ear training is extremely important and something I wish I (and my classmates) would have had more training in during high school. Pulling individual students out to work with these programs takes minutes each day, but I would imagine the rewards for additional ear training are enormous.

Another technology Webster mentions which I have personally found to be helpful is accompaniment software online - used for posting MIDI files on a website. I have used this with Case Concert Choir and it has been very helpful for songs or passages needing additional work outside of class. For a high school or middle school level ensemble, this could be an invaluable resource for students and a huge time-saving tool for teachers.

The second half of the article discusses technological outlets for creative thinking for students, such as etude/scale construction, writing a rap, scoring a film, creating musical toys, multimedia presentations, and writing listening blogs. I especially like the rap-writing and film-scoring ideas, because I think it would attract a different genre of typically under-served student musicians (especially those also less interested in performing).

I really appreciated the stress Webster places on the importance of using technology creatively. I know I've said this before and it's been echoed by my classmates, but the use of technology does not always make a lesson better. Very often, it can make it worse. It is so important for those using technology in education that we understand thoroughly how to use it, can troubleshoot basic problems, and use it only when it can enhance or facilitate the learning process. A poorly planned/executed lesson that utilizes technology is still a poorly planned/executed lesson.

This article was a refreshing, optimistic look at many of the positive effects the use of technology in music education can have.