Module 2 Blog Reflections

The focus for Module two was on using technology with creativity, including composing and improvisation.  The use of creativity in the music classroom is often overlooked by educators.  In many music classrooms, time constraints and pressures to meet other expectations get in the way of incorporating creativity.   Composing and improvising, though, are important ways of interacting with music for all music students.  Not only are they important to teach in their own rights, they are both ways in which to help solidify concepts that music teachers would already be incorporating into the classroom anyway.  Composing and improvising, especially through technology, are also ways in which music educators can reach those students who would otherwise have no interest in being part of an instrumental ensemble or theory class (Bauer, 2014). This week, we were introduced to many programs and websites that are free of charge to a school district or classroom....

The website, Noteflight, seems to me like it would be a really great educational tool to use in the classroom. It is very easy to sign up for and just as easy to use. There aren't too many features to the program (in comparison to similar programs that one might have to pay for) that would make it difficult for students to navigate through composing music. The only difficulty that using an online program such as this for an assignment, in particular a homework assignment, might cause is for students who do not have internet access at home. It might be something that needs to be used in class instead of at home. I think that a couple of ideas that would be good to use the Noteflight website for include: composition projects for students, playing music along with accompaniment during practice time, and improvising a musical line along with accompaniment composed by the teacher.