Cycling Troll Music Education http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org My updates on Music, Education and Technology Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:42:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en Back into the fray http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/08/19/back-into-the-fray/ http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/08/19/back-into-the-fray/#comments Tue, 19 Aug 2008 11:42:11 +0000 cyclingtroll http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/?p=20 Welcome back fellow teachers!  Our inservice days will begin next week at GM schools - then Wednesday we have the kids!  I’m looking forward to improving on the lesson plans that worked well last year and modifying the lessons that kinda went… eh.  Working with the tools on our new laptops should be rewarding!  I’ll be back soon to comment - have a SUPER school year, wherever you are!  ~TH~


Authored by cyclingtroll. Hosted by Edublogs. ]]> http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/08/19/back-into-the-fray/feed/ End of the agrigarian school year http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/05/29/end-of-the-agrigarian-school-year/ http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/05/29/end-of-the-agrigarian-school-year/#comments Thu, 29 May 2008 10:11:23 +0000 cyclingtroll http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/?p=19 A long time between posts, I know.  By some strange miracle I have made it to the end of another school year and on reflection, it was a fairly fulfilling year.  My programs were more organized than ever, and I have immersed myself more fully into the technologies that will improve student learning.  This summer the plan is to reorganize my lesson plan units and tighten them up so they always address various learning styles.  To that end, the ties I have established on the internet should be priceless.

Have a great summer!  TH


Authored by cyclingtroll. Hosted by Edublogs. ]]> http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/05/29/end-of-the-agrigarian-school-year/feed/ The Wiki phenomenon http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/25/the-wiki-phenomenon/ http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/25/the-wiki-phenomenon/#comments Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:08:34 +0000 cyclingtroll http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/25/the-wiki-phenomenon/ I’ve now got the hang of Wiki. For me, it’s easiest to think of it as a large filing cabinet in the office that everyone has access to. Just got done setting one up for a recording project. So far, so good… TH


Authored by cyclingtroll. Hosted by Edublogs. ]]> http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/25/the-wiki-phenomenon/feed/ Tech, and the future of education http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/08/14/ http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/08/14/#comments Wed, 09 Apr 2008 03:56:43 +0000 cyclingtroll http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/08/14/ http://www.techlearning.com/blog/2008/03/web_20_is_the_future_of_educat_1.php

A blog entry for the future of education- TH


Authored by cyclingtroll. Hosted by Edublogs. ]]> http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/08/14/feed/ How to… well, you gotta practice! http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/08/how-to-well-you-gotta-practice/ http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/08/how-to-well-you-gotta-practice/#comments Tue, 08 Apr 2008 22:41:38 +0000 cyclingtroll http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/08/how-to-well-you-gotta-practice/ So I’m fully ensconced in learning various online tools.  The previous post has an embedded video that I created using jing (jingproject.com), a very slick utility that allows you to create videos using screenshots from your desktop + audio from your built in microphone.  Very cool - suffice it to say, I did not format my video size correctly, so the presentation is hanging WAY over my sidebar.  Next time I’ll be sure to format the critter with the appropriate size structures.

My reason for posting this is to remind everyone that the newest technologies require some diligence in learning.  Just as you would not expect to take two trumpet lessons and blow like Miles, don’t expect to grab a new tech and expect it to work perfectly for your application right out of the gate.  Be patient with yourself, and have fun!  TH


Authored by cyclingtroll. Hosted by Edublogs. ]]> http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/08/how-to-well-you-gotta-practice/feed/ History of the Guitar lesson http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/08/history-of-the-guitar-lesson/ http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/08/history-of-the-guitar-lesson/#comments Tue, 08 Apr 2008 20:59:20 +0000 cyclingtroll http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/08/history-of-the-guitar-lesson/ Hi folks - here’s a lesson plan that I used recently with my 4th graders on the history of the guitar.  I’m still getting the hang of embedding video, so I apologize for the gargantuan proportion of the video.  Also note that YOUR controls are at the very bottom of the video screen - don’t get confused by the controls I’m using as I created the presentation.

This lesson plan could easily be adapted for middle schoolers as well…  Enjoy!  TH


Authored by cyclingtroll. Hosted by Edublogs. ]]> http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/08/history-of-the-guitar-lesson/feed/ Kompoz - a user friendly opportunity for collaboration! http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/07/kompoz-a-user-friendly-opportunity-for-collaboration/ http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/07/kompoz-a-user-friendly-opportunity-for-collaboration/#comments Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:51:37 +0000 cyclingtroll http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/07/kompoz-a-user-friendly-opportunity-for-collaboration/ I’m currently researching options for seamless online songwriting collaboration.  I have a friend who will soon be moving away - and my brother who lives about two hours drive away; it will really streamline our lives if we can figure out how to easily toss tracks back and forth.  This site, kompoz.com certainly looks like a good starting point.  I’ll report here again when I’ve had achance to check it out more thouroughly.  TH


Authored by cyclingtroll. Hosted by Edublogs. ]]> http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/07/kompoz-a-user-friendly-opportunity-for-collaboration/feed/ A slick lesson (if I do say so myself) http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/03/a-slick-lesson-if-i-do-say-so-myself/ http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/03/a-slick-lesson-if-i-do-say-so-myself/#comments Thu, 03 Apr 2008 11:23:09 +0000 cyclingtroll http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/03/a-slick-lesson-if-i-do-say-so-myself/ I had a great time presenting my fourth grade lesson on the history of the guitar yesterday.  I’ve presented this lesson before, but I added some content to the lesson that really kept the students engaged.  I created a slideshow presentation showing photos and facts about early string instruments (it only took about 40 minutes to create).  The slideshow sparked some fun discussion, and I think the kids will now remember what a luthier does - fun!


Authored by cyclingtroll. Hosted by Edublogs. ]]> http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/03/a-slick-lesson-if-i-do-say-so-myself/feed/ Need current techie help? http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/01/need-current-techie-help/ http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/01/need-current-techie-help/#comments Wed, 02 Apr 2008 03:03:19 +0000 cyclingtroll http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/01/need-current-techie-help/ Need  help understanding what all the fuss is about RSS readers, wikis, blogs, and other techie internet stuff?  Check this out!  They make it easy to understand stuff that’s new!  TH

http://commoncraft.com/


Authored by cyclingtroll. Hosted by Edublogs. ]]> http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/01/need-current-techie-help/feed/ some general things for practice http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/01/some-general-things-for-practice/ http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/01/some-general-things-for-practice/#comments Tue, 01 Apr 2008 23:53:22 +0000 cyclingtroll http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/01/some-general-things-for-practice/ GENERAL TIPS

bullet Play your kick drum on the beat when you practice your snare exercises.
bullet Count out loud as you play- it really helps!
bullet Always practice new material slowly.  You can always increase the tempo later, but being in control of what you are playing is the most important thing!

Authored by cyclingtroll. Hosted by Edublogs. ]]> http://cyclingtroll.edublogs.org/2008/04/01/some-general-things-for-practice/feed/