Technology has always gone hand in hand with Music, from development of instruments through to the digital technology that is commonplace nowadays.
I enjoy using digital technology and I like learning new skills and getting to grips with unfamiliar software. In the last few years, I have taught myself to use various software packages that are beyond the 'norm'. For example, I now use Adobe InDesign to create posters and programmes for concerts and I perform regularly using Mainstage (from Apple). During the recent e-learning time, I began to find that iMovie was a bit limiting for the resources that I wanted to create and so I learnt to use Filmora (from Wondershare).
However when using technology in the classroom, care must be taken to ensure that it enhances the children's understanding of a topic and is not just used as a gimmick.
Below are some examples of when I have used technology either to make resources or in the lesson itself.
I enjoy using digital technology and I like learning new skills and getting to grips with unfamiliar software. In the last few years, I have taught myself to use various software packages that are beyond the 'norm'. For example, I now use Adobe InDesign to create posters and programmes for concerts and I perform regularly using Mainstage (from Apple). During the recent e-learning time, I began to find that iMovie was a bit limiting for the resources that I wanted to create and so I learnt to use Filmora (from Wondershare).
However when using technology in the classroom, care must be taken to ensure that it enhances the children's understanding of a topic and is not just used as a gimmick.
Below are some examples of when I have used technology either to make resources or in the lesson itself.
Please note: for safeguarding reasons, children's identities have been protected on this site by pixelating certain areas of photos and by blurring videos. This has been done on purpose and is not an artistic effect.
|
|
Sampling and Recording:
There is a screen shot of a Y4 composition. The children have been learning about musical texture and form by arranging pre-recorded samples to create an piece of music with an ABA structure, keeping the texture thin. Y6 have used GarageBand to learn about chord structure within a piece of music, using 'All Together Now' by The Farm as a starting point. Y2 have used technology to reinforce their understanding of staff notation and to learn about structure and texture. |
|
Composing Rhythms: Some Y1 children using Explain Everything to write a simple rhythm. Some added pitch to the notes and played and recorded their composition. They could then review their work and were encouraged to think about areas of improvement. |
|
A Skoog is a digital musical instrument. Children have been learning to play it and then tried combining it with traditional instruments to create a performance.
|
|
|
|
This montage combines two videos that I created during the e-learning period due to COVID-19. The first is for a Reception Choir video and the 2nd for a Y1 taught session about body percussion.
|
|
This video was recorded for the school's Founder's Day video and the Year 2 Leavers' Video.
It features all 220 children from Year 2, a Year 1&2 Strings Ensemble, a teacher's band and the Year 2 teaching staff. It was recorded under difficult conditions forced upon us by COVID-19 restrictions and the impending tightening of these regulations. We're Better Together (Matthew Crossey) Sound recording and editing: Dan Shaw Video recording and editing: Adam Briggs Versions of this video have appeared on the school's Facebook feed and are available for the public to view but it has been blurred on this website. |
|
|
|
Technology and Performances:
These photos and screen shots are taken from performances during which I have utilised technology to improve the quality of performance for the students. I have used Mainstage (coupled with a MIDI controller) for a number of concerts, including 'High School Musical' with the Secondary School students and 'Lights, Camel, Action 2' for the Y2 Christmas Nativity. I also use GarageBand to play supporting parts that it is not possible for me to play. |
|
Due to COVID-19 restrictions in Singapore, the infant children could not perform a nativity although they could learn the songs in class.
I organised a 'Online Nativity' which involved the children recording their song at home and then submitting it to me. I received nearly 350 recordings which I had to edit together! The performance was a Zoom webinar where the infant Music department collaborated with the Library and PE team to produce an interactive show that children and parents could enjoy at home. We streamed live to 215 households, within Singapore but also from in the UK, Australia, Japan, Denmark and Spain. This video shows the view of the teachers- the children as webinar participants only saw the 'speaker view'. |
|
The school use Firefly as a parent/student portal. I use my DUCKS Music pages to communicate with parents and to organise the Enrichment programme for Year 1 and Reception via the forms facility. Firefly was also used during e-learning so that I could post resources for children who could not make the scheduled live Zoom lessons.