Interactivity #5

The teacher I emailed is actually no longer considered a teacher. She was a teacher for many years in physical education/health and special ed in the high schools. She then became the head of the child study team at just one of the high schools in my town (Hamilton Twp, Mercer County). The high school is considered the "worst" school in our township, many kids with disabilities (mental and emotional) and low financial standing for most of the families in the area.

When I first inquired about the NETS-S, she said she was unaware of these standards. She stated that she did not know of any specific changes within the school to accommodate the standards, but she does know that the teachers in the schools are required to include technology into their lessons in some way. The teachers are to include technology into their lessons daily, and she also mentioned a test in 8th grade to assess the students knowledge of technology. She imagines that if these standards were to be fully implemented, the school would need funding for a lot more technology based devices. Because of the area, many families cannot afford to own these devices at home, so if the students are required to learn to use them, they would have to be within the school. She finally states that its somewhat impossible for a school to "finish" a transition into these standards because technology is always changing, improving, therefore the standards will never be permanent.

I actually was not surprised at the responses. I was more surprised to learn of the existence of these standards. I was still in high school in 2007 (graduated in 2009) and I never saw any change towards more technology in the classes. It was really considered a "good day" when we were allowed or required to use the computers in our science classes to complete labs/assignments.

In the future, I will plan to include technology into my lessons wherever they may fit. I feel that the problem with including technology, especially in music, is that it lowers the value of the actual act of creating and listening to live music for my students. At the same time, it offers an opportunity for them to listen to different musical cultures and music around the world that they may not have been able to experience before. So I believe that technology, while part of our evolving world, is better used in moderation, no matter the subject matter or content area. I will speak within my school about the importance of knowing how to use technology to better their students education, but I would also warn them about the possibility of technology being a crutch or an easy way out of an assignment or class.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Atb02nrpTTXpdHI0SkJYWWp3WHRHQ1J0QzI2RngzUmc

(link to original spreadsheet with NETS-S standards added)

"It gives me the feeling of love. I figure right now, the world needs to come into music."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKDXuCE7LeQ&feature=colike

(link to youtube video)

There are often times, I'm sure everyone goes through, that I doubt what I'm doing in life.

Why would I ever want to do this?

The odds are against me, how could I ever succeed?

Will I be able to be happy later in life?

These questions plague me more than they should, and I find that I am constantly reminded of my distaste for a lot of what teaching music contains. But then, I come across videos like the one above. Any my entire perspective is altered...

I found this video so inspirational, and emotional, and meaningful! Its a reminder that the people who try to tell us that music is a waste or "not a logical career," have NO IDEA that things like this (in the video) happen. They know nothing about the power of music in general, let alone the power a teacher/professor/advocator/lover of music embody.

When I saw this, I knew I had to post about it. I knew I had to somehow relate it to music education so I could share it with whoever reads my blog because the message is that important. This video, this act of recognizing music, being able to bring someone out of whatever room they were locked in in their own minds is something anyone who has been educated about music can do. Knowing the history of music, contemporary in this case, is a major part of this encounter. But after rummaging through what I've been taught over the last three years, I eventually found that the reason I wanted to share this post in the first place, is educational in itself.

Music in general, isn't something like math, so simply used and once its complete its not thought about until its needed next. Its not like science or english or a language...its part of someone. Its constantly inside you, constantly changing, we (educated or not) are always able to create it and shape it. This is something I will forever instill in my students. I will teach them that, like this man, music can bring out who you are, however lost, or compressed you may feel. And that, is a major part of life. Dealing with their emotions and reactions, is what we as teachers are here for, isn't it? To shape them and guide them into society without fear and with enough skills and abilities to handle all that life may throw at them, be it academic or emotional.

(Of course, I'll mention that some forms of technology are needed with teaching my students about this. Recordings of certain pieces, recording software, computer, speakers, iPod, notational software, headphones, etc. etc. )

As expected, the inspiration and motivation I feel while writing this will fade. I'll find something to be negative about, something to bring me down, because as Frank Sinatra said, "That's life!"

But, I think that's the beauty in the relationship between life and music..its there when you need it most. You just have to let it in... and sometimes back out.