Computers Are Beneficial in Music Education
Computers are a great tool for teaching and learning as they are beneficial in music education. Music is a form of expression and an art form as well as this can not be taught by using a computer but what can be taught is the individual aspects of music knowledge, music history, and the arrangements of music and sounds by the use of computers. These aspects are all greatly enhanced by music technology and it is beneficial for the student to learn these areas in music education.
New technology is always being created for the making things easier and better and as technology is integrated in most all music that we listen to today, whether it is in creating, playing, or producing music computers are used in all of these processes. According to the European Telematic Network for Education (RTEE) which is a project that has the objective of developing educational projects which make use of Information and Communication Technology. In developing skills to make, play and compose music the RTEE states that, “Technology is a tool for developing these skills. The new instruments and techniques it provides are inherent to the use of computers.” The use of technology, especially computers, has increased the information and communication range to a great extent in the past few decades.
In an article entitled “Information Communication Technologies as a Tool for Re-imagining Music Education in the 21st Century” published in the International Journal of Education & the Arts it states that considering students can gain many musically artistic opportunities the role of technology in music needs to be reconsidered, also in expanding the goals of curriculum. Within the last decade there have been major changes of new technologies and in music education as within schools, especially in England and The United States, it is common to find the use of new technology whether it be software or hardware.
Computers can be used as tools for heightened communication as in any subject once a computer is used as an aid the teacher is not the only source of knowledge as they work with the students. Using computers also gives the students a sense of learning independently as well as in their own pace as this is more lasting and satisfying to the student as a result. Another aspect of using computers in the classroom in musical education that is beneficial is the fact that by learning more about computers and technology it can help in others area of the students education as well as teaching them skills that are vital in the age of technology in which we live. But perhaps the greatest advantage of music technology, according to the RTTE project, is the fact that whether the sound is good or bad you can hear everything so detecting mistakes is quicker and this can foster a more critical aspect of what you are working on.
In educational software there is a relationship between the common teacher driven instructional strategies and learning theory. They are:
1. Drill and Practice
2. Socratic dialogue
3. Coaching and monitoring
4. Exploratory
The majority of computer related educational software involves activities like teaching students Music Notation or having them do “aural” tests which involve recognizing and dictating patterns in rhythm, musical intervals, melody patterns, the quality of individual chords, and progressions in harmony. Because music is a heard medium through the use of computer programs it is less stressful on the student as opposed to a group based practice of music, as it can be seen that this is useful as students feel more comfortable performing without an audience. This is an important aspect of music education technology as with most things people perform better when they are not nervous. Children are also more sensitive and to critisisms when they make mistakes in front of an audience which sometimes can hinder their performance.
With the new musical software it requires a minimum of experience in technology by the student as this lets the teacher design specific interactive CD-based educational packages that feature such things as synchronised text, graphics, and audio. The amount of hypermedia applications is growing larger as it contains relevant examples in music history, analysis, and orchestration.
Much of the music software available now has the possibilities for using the internet for learning from wherever you are. All of these aspects of music education are more readily available with the advent of technology and especially distance learning through the internet.
In conclusion music education is enhanced with the use of computers and the new technology available. As music is an art and the ability of the art form differs from individual to individual computers can be used as a beneficial teaching tool. Music history and especially learning musical arrangements are things that computers can be a great deal of help. Also with computers the teacher is not the focus of sole knowledge so as the student can learn from doing and not just by listening. With the computer oriented society we live in it is also beneficial to the student to learn computer skills as they will help in other areas of education.
Annotated Bibliography
1. http://www.xtec.es/rtee/eng/tutorial/intro.htm
Website for the European Telematic Network for Education (RTEE) project and its goals in using technology in music education
2. http://ijea.asu.edu/v6n2/
International Journal of Education and the Arts article titled “Infromation Communications Technologies as a Tool for Re-imagining Music Educaton in the 21st Century”
3. http://www.soi.city.ac.uk/~geraint/papers/AISB99c.pdf
Journal article from University of Edinbourough division of Infomatics titled “Computers in Music Education”
4. http://www.fmc-ireland.com/publications/factsheets/music_and_technology.htm
