Tech Task #4 - Internet Resources for the Classroom

In this Tech Task, I am to share one of my favourite online resources, explain why it's great, how it can be used in the classroom, and some great (or not so great) features about it.

The Tech Task also says this can be for classroom use, or professional use. Does that mean I can talk about both?

Classroom Use

For my favourite classroom use online resource, I must talk about Musication and their series of boomwhacker videos, as I previously mentioned in this blog post. Musication has a collection of boomwhacker play-along videos - think karaoke, but for boomwhackers!

First, I really like these videos because I feel they give boomwhackers a purpose in the classroom. Boomwhackers are one of those instruments that are typically left behind in the music class. Their pitch isn't super clear if they're not played properly, and when you have an instrument that is played  by 'whacking' it, you better have some good classroom management skills and practices already in place. With some students, the temptation to hit others can be strong. However, once you get over that hurdle, boomwhackers can be a lot of fun! Students need quite a bit of practice before introducing the Musication videos, so they are aware of the expectations while they are playing boomwhackers. Some educators also say boomwhackers reinforce C as 'do' (fixed do), whereas students are taught that any note can be 'do' (movable do). I disagree, if there is access to the chromatic boomwhackers - that way, one can change into whatever key needed.

Musication has a variety of different video options available to accommodate different skill levels and different instrumentation. Only have access to do, re, mi? Want some holiday specific play-alongs, like the Nutcracker or Jingle Bells?  Maybe some popular tunes? Musication has it all divided up into playlists for easy-access.

I used Musication has a fun reward activity with Grades 3-5. These classes (2 3/4 split classes, 1 Grade 5 class) had just finished up larger projects for assessment, and since it was one of my last few days teaching at the school, I thought it was a great opportunity for them to relax a little. I think I would have still done this, even if I had more time at the school. They had worked really hard on their projects and I wanted to let them do something that was still musical, but short enough to only last one class. I found students were super engaged and excited to play! They kept asking for more, even to play In the Hall of the Mountain King! I think because it was a change for them (my cooperating teacher didn't use boomwhackers all that often), it was exciting. I was even able to join in with them sometimes. We had a lot of fun!

Professional Use

As mentioned in my previous Tech Task (because I didn't know what this one entailed!) I mentioned a podcast called Music Teacher Coffee Talk. Tanya and Carrie are two early years music educators based in Colorado, and both are regular presenters at conferences about implementing the Kodály method in the classroom. They talk about anything under the sun including lesson planning, activity ideas, classroom management, planning, building relationships.... you name it! I like MTCT because it is music education specific! There are a few great music education sources, but to be found in the giant haystack of general education materials. Granted, many principles translate between the two environments, but I enjoy listening to podcasts that relate directly to me and my field! I also appreciate how every episode has show notes, so any songs they mention you can find the notation in the show notes (for example, here is the show notes for Episode #51, Focus on 2nd Grade)!

I think MTCT is a useful tool for any music educator, simply because of the range of topics and the availability of resources. They also include personal recommendations, sometimes educational and sometimes not (like Netflix TV shows that they binge watch!). The only negative to MTCT that I can see is that I am more familiar with Orff methodology, and would rather be learning more Orff arrangements. However, Kodály is important to incorporate into the classroom as well and I can see the value in his method. That is the only complaint I have! I really enjoy their podcast and what they have to say.


Thanks for reading!