Overcoming stage fright

Edutopia had an article referring to stage fright and education students. I know that even as a semi experienced teacher I get nervous before a big class/observation/or a presentation. I also know that my students get the same way before performing at a solo contest. The article gave 9 tips to overcome this stage fright and trick our brain into almost "faked confidence". When I'm teaching I use the phrase "Fake it till you make it" - meaning that nerves can get in the way, but you you have to perform like you intended to make any mistake and that you stay in the character of the piece.

Here is the link to their page - http://www.edutopia.org/blog/overcoming-classroom-stage-fright-todd-finley

If you want to, perhaps you should consider teaching confidence and techniques to create confidence.

Virtual Choir

Eric Whitacre is known for his compositions and most recently has been known for his Virtual Choirs. Via TED talk you can hear Mr. Whitacre speak about his Virtual Choir project and shows examples. In this video you can see a live virtual choir through the use of Skype and a live choir. This is a crazy thing to do thinking of the chance of delay and other uncontrollable features.

Click here for the TED Talk.

To take this a step further, my choirs struggled with the thought of singing a foreign language. Thank goodness I found Mr. Whitacre's virtual choir of the piece Sleep. Here he is the sun - heliocentric, with orbs/planets representing different countries with different singers. They are all connected through a golden thread that flows from one planet to another. I shared the though that people in Italy don't sing English... Nor do people in Germany - why can't we sing in a different language... Silence! It was perfect!

Click here for Sleep by Eric Whitacre.

Other Virtual Choir performances are available. Most recently he has composed a piece "Fly to Paradise" that he invited individuals to participate in. We recorded videos and uploaded them. To do this we would record a video of us singing the part and listening to the whole group via tracks through ear buds. This was such a cool thing to be a part of. This piece has been remixed and put into so many different forms.

Click here for Fly to Paradise by Eric Whitacre

Mary Poppins - Autism Awareness

Here's a video of Mary Poppins performed for children with Autism. This video shows how the company made accommodations for children with autism by correcting light cues etc. This was originally access through NBC Learn K-12, but here's a YouTube link to the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrb-opIcMWw

Artistic and the Common Core

I know that teachers cringe when they hear "Common Core", but I'm choosing to remain optimistic. Looking through blogs and posts I found an article with lessons plan ideas for elementary and applying music to the common core. I think that since music is the "catch all" discipline it is fitting that we can apply the common core the easiest. We easily teach every subject in the matter of a class period! Check out the article below to find more.

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/music-and-common-core-karin-nolan

Digital Citizenship - Something to think about

This cite in my Feedly showed me what really is digital citizenship. In the age we live in, everyone needs to know how to use the Internet in an ethical manner. This cite reminds of of how to teach digital literacy, etiquette, health and wellness, etc. This website gives several ideas of how to do it!

http://www.edudemic.com/teaching-students-digital-citizenship-skills/

Music as Protest?

Esperenza Spaldin, a bassist and vocalist, wrote a piece and created a music video about the closing of the detention camps at Guantanamo Bay. This could be a great discussion of how music can be used in protest without being the protest that people think of... for example the 60's. Watch the video and see how it could be used in your classroom.

http://vimeo.com/79294714

KUNO tablets and Curriculum Loft

My school is in its 2nd year of KUNO and Curriculum Loft implementation. On the general discussion board of our Technology and Music Learning class I have attached a presentation regarding the implementation and what the pair of KUNO and CL could offer your school. Let me know if you need it and I can also send it to you directly. Thanks and have a great Monday!!