In the Key of "See and Hear": How Students Can Learn to Play the Recorder by Playing Musical Computers
By Richard W. Dillon
This article, written by Richard Dillon, explains the benefits of using "Recorder Teacher" in the classroom. "Recorder Teacher" is a software that teaches music concepts through the study of the recorder. Dillon suggests for teachers to navigate their students through the program and its main menu before allowing students to do it on their own. There are many different sections for students to link to through the main menu. Some options include: the first 5 notes, tuning & sound, finger chart, listening, reading a note, and recorder family. Dillon explains that his students' favorite section is the "tunes" section. Here, students can create their own songs by dragging notes and rests onto a staff that is displayed on the screen. Once the song is completed students can play it or just watch the on screen notes change colors as the song is played and see the fingerings displayed on a recorder on the screen. Since the software allows students to hear and see the recorder play a song, more of the students' senses are involved which often means that more of the learning will be retained. Another favorite for students is the "finger chart". This area shows and describes for the students on how to finger a certain note. Hands are color-coded for students to reduce the amount of confusion when trying to finger a note.
I could see myself using this software in my classroom. It seems like this software inspires students to be more involved in music. I'm not sure if it is required in the state of California to have third graders begin music lessons but I have personally observed two third grade classrooms that would take a weekly music course with recorders. If music lessons are required in the third grade then I think this software would be very beneficial to second or even first graders. "Recorder Teacher" would help prepare students before they actually had the chance to play an actual recorder. The "Recorder Teacher" not only helps students with music concepts but it also helps them work with computers. Students can navigate through many different sections from the main menu. I would let my students work with "Recorder Teacher" on their free time or as a reward. I think that it would be very rewarding and fun for the students to compose their own songs.
Even Recess Can't Beat Technology
-
"Who Are Today's Learners?" is the question that Christine Greenhow asks in
her article regarding how students feel about technology use in the
classroom. ...
16 years ago
As a private music teacher, I wish that I had more exposure to music in my classroom. Music helps develop study skills, fine motor abilities, spatial relationships, and can be applied to help students learn other concepts such as mathematical ideas. This program sounds like a really useful one, as I find that my students love to write their own music, having a software where they can create it on the computer themselves sounds like an invaluable tool.
ReplyDeleteThis tools illustrates another creative way teachers can "sneak" in education into their lesson plan. Like you mentioned, they're not only receiving music lessons, student are also familiarizing themselves with computers and its infinite purposes and functions. Instead of using music lessons as a reward, I think music should be an essential element to the regular curriculum. It is important that students are educationally stimulated through all their senses. Students from all levels of education should be inspired and excited to learn and I think integrating music and the arts in the classroom will do just that.
ReplyDeleteI think it is a great idea to have recorders in classroom. Were I work I know alot of my 3rd graders have recorders, they get them around the end of October and they just love them. All they want to do for homework time is play their recorder, they tell me its their homework. I seen the positive outlook in having recorders in the children's lives. I think the program would help teachers and the students to enjoy the recorder and see other ways to create music.
ReplyDeleteKey recorder is an advanced surveillance tool which is powerful and also easy to use. It allows you to stealthily find out and investigate everything that happens on your PC when you're not there. All you have to do is to install it and it will do the rest. It's that easy!
ReplyDelete