Curriculum Ideas by Australian Educators
There are a number of real-live, “in the trenches” music teachers around the world who are willing to spend a little time to share what they do in the classroom: both the good, and the not-so-good. Reading about their experiences allows us all to pick up new ideas for the classroom as well as learn from their mistakes.
Because there are rather a lot of excellent links to share, I’ve decided to post two articles: the first will showcase some Australian educators and the second will showcase educators in other parts of the world.
James Humberstone
James is a close friend who lives and works in Sydney. He is a composer, teacher, lecturer and author of the first authorised Sibelius courseware book Sibelius 7 Music Notation Essentials (Avid Learning Series)
James shares a generous amount of lesson plans, original music, and music resources on his two websites: Composer Home and Having Nothing To Say and Saying It.
I would encourage you to have a close look at the vast array of information on his sites. Here are a few highlights:
1. GarageBand
A collection of GarageBand resources including how-to videos, film scoring and jingle-writing units of work and more.
2. Sibelius
A collection of Sibelius resources, including a link to his Learn Sibelius in 1 Hour videos.
3. Original Compositions
James’s original compositions that you can use with your own students for performance or composition and analysis tasks.
4. Film Scoring
James’s own in-depth report on a film scoring unit he did with some senior students in 2011.
5. Avid Scorch for iPad
Ideas for using the Avid Scorch iPad app in the Classroom.
Samuel Wright
Another New South Wales educator, Samuel has a plethora of projects and articles about using music technology in the classroom on his website. Samuel frequently shares the resources he has made – for free. Two examples:
1. Reason PBL Course
A complete project-based learning course using Reason software. The course comes with files and other supporting material and it’s beautifully presented thanks to his talented wife Laura Wright.
2. Left-Hand Finger Exercises for Guitarists
An interactive app that contains a series of left-hand finger exercises for guitarists titled FROGS (“For.Really.Outstanding.Guitar.Skills”). Samuel writes about the creation of the app in his post Hyped About Frogs and you can try the app out by visiting this link (it will work in your internet browser, or on an iPad).
Gabrielle Deschamps
Gabrielle – a music educator in Queensland – took up blogging after attending last year’s mtec2011 conference, and she writes about her classroom experiences using music technology. Gabrielle’s posts include:
1. Musical Analysis
Teaching senior students how to write a musical analysis.
2. Music Notation
Strategies for teaching students to read music notation.
NSW Curriculum and Learning Innovation Centre
In January, Steve Wilkins wrote to inform me of some new online resources he has created in his role as Learning Designer 5-12, Learning Services. Steve has put together some interactive guide for using music technology in the classroom.
The guides include:
1. Finale Notepad +
Tools4U: Finale Notepad
2. MuseScore +
Tools4U: MuseScore
3. Guitar Riffs
Others?
Have you come across other Australian music educators sharing their use of technology in the classroom?
8 Comments
Thanks for the mention Katie!
The other resources are fantastic – any music teacher who hasn’t visited James’ or Gabrielle’s blog should do so now!
Anytime! You know I think you do great work 🙂
Hi Katie. Thanks so much for including me here.
And thankyou to Samuel as well.
🙂
Thank you for sharing! I love reading your updates.
Torrington High School
Torrington, CT 06790 USA
Thanks Wayne! I’ve also been a long-time fan of your music tech program at Torrington HS. You might find yourself a part of my follow-up article to this one 🙂
Thanks Katie! A lot of my ideas originated with YOU tho, I have to mention that!
Cheers,
James
[…] that looks at music teachers who are sharing their teaching experiences and curriculum online. Part 1 covered Australian music teachers and part 2, middle and high school teachers from the USA. In this final part, we’ll look at […]
[…] large section on engaging lesson plans that encourage creativity. Pat Toben Richard McCready 1. 2. Sharing Music Tech Classroom Ideas Part 1: Australia | Midnight Music. Curriculum Ideas by Australian Educators There are a number of real-live, “in the trenches” […]