New iPad Apps

iMotionHD: This runs very smoothly to make either stop motion or time lapse movies.

Chess.com: We started an informal chess club and we are running it through this website.  Also has iOS and android apps.  Syncs great.

The Wider Image: Reuters story app using images.  Good journalism.

DragonBox:  Super cool app to teach algebra, but without doing "algebra".  My 4 year old and 6 year old love app, as does my wife.

Haiku Deck: Presentation app that sets up your images really cool.  Uses CC images.

iPad in the Music Classroom

Jim Frankel write this post about iPads.

Chris Russell wrote this response.

Amy Burns wrote this response.

All of the above are smarter than me.  I have a bit of trouble writing still, so bear with me...

In general I completely agree with Jim.  There is a lot of wasted technology going into iPad programs.  I waste a ton of time.  I haven't wasted a ton of money, but I spend a LOT of time making mistakes.

Why I hate the iPads:
1. They take forever to update, sync, maintain, count, lock-up, charge, clean.
2. In general, nobody cares.  If they didn't care about music before, they still won't care when you have iPads.
3. Most people don't get it.  I'm always explaining.  I wish people would visit.
4. Its really, really hard to stay "innovative" and think of new projects that will get funding.  Especially now that iPads are everywhere.
5. iPads/Apple do not fit in with the school or grant budget cycle.  Nobody had iPad mini on their horizon 12 months ago when they were writing this years budget.

Why I like the iPads:
1. I could never, never do most of the things I do in class.  I can't bring my band to the computer lab to record/compose 8 measure songs.  I can't tell the sopranos "watch the youTube video" of their part while I work with the altos.  I can't pass a desktop to a Downs Syndrome kid so he can create drawings of our sound while the band plays.
2. I never teach software.
3.  I get to do stuff like this:

Choir Classroom Activity

Students will work on this research activity while I meet with them today to go over their benchmark assessments.

Likely Winter Concert Repertoire

I think we will be doing the following:

Choir:

Mister Santa 

A Girls Garden (Thompson)

Evergreen (Pinkham)

Dirait-On (Lauredson)

Bring Me Little Water Sylivie

Carol of the Bells
Little Drummer Boy

Band:

Cantaloupe Island (Hancock)

Cute (Hefti)

Jingle All the Way

Christmas Concerto (Robert W. Smith)

Child is Born (Jones)

Chorale:

Sweet Dreams
Assorted 3 part carols

Podcasts Project

I have started a podcast project in my Computer Applications class.  You can find the podcasts here.

I assigned a few students a team but I asked all students to choose something that they are passionate about.  If you are passionate you can build an audience.

Our workflow is as follows:

1. Write script and take notes in Evernote.
2. Record using Garageband on the iPad.
3. Post on Soundcloud.
4. Reflect in Blogmeister.

The objectives are:

1. Have students write, listen, evaluate.  What do I want to say?  
2. Use the technology to broadcast, collect surveys, publicize.
3. Collaborate with staff and peers for technical help and interviews.
4. Use podcasts as a device to teach audience.

If you have a soundcloud account please leave a comment on the podcast!!

Update

September 19 update:

Choir: I have 34 kids in class, 24 are new to the program.  They are singing well.  We have started using Smartmusic every day in class to work on our reading.  I have started all four Italian songs that are part of the CMEA auditions.  Italian songs are a big change for 9th graders who don't quite understand that we sing in foreign languages.

Band: I have 13 in class, 5 are beginners on their instrument.  We have started the F and Bb scales and have been improvising arrangements each day.  I tried to go paperless and have all the music on the iPads, but I cant get through our school filter.  Working on it.

Theory: We finished the Chapter 1 of AP Book.  Students have been doing real well as they learn new vocabulary.  Some of the students have to do some heavy lifting to learn bass and treble notes and some other basics.

Band Improvisation Lesson

I try to get right to three things:

1. Chords, scales, theory.
2. Improvisations.
3. Arranging on the fly.

So I taught students three riffs based on blues scale.  We also practiced the major scale do-sol-do.  I asked them to decide what riff they would play and when they would switch.

There are 13 musicians in the room.  Some are 2nd-3rd year players, 5 of the 13 are on their 3rd lesson on their instrument.