In the 'Picture This' article, Scott Watson talks about using simple audio editing software to let students visualize their sounds. This helps students realize what they need to work on, or how to sound better through a concrete visual. It helps the students realize and correct mistakes, almost intuitively. In addition to the visual aspect of the audio recording software, the software is also used to play back sounds so that the student can realize aurally what they need to work on. This technology may also help raise student enthusiasm about music making.
In the Capturing your Sound article, the author talks about the benefits of using sound engineering software to help students in a variety of ways. It can help a student realize quality of sound. It can also help a student realize progress. It also serves as a relatively inexpensive way for students to preserve their performances for enjoyment in the years to come.
These inexpensive ways to use recording technology fit into the Technology Strategies for Music Education because they can fill a variety of needs. For example, if a teacher uses the audio editing software, he or she can fulfill all of the grade requirements for the MENC achievement standards.
When schools face budget cuts, creative teachers can use some of these inexpensive technologies to fulfill the standards for music technology. A little bit of ingenuity can go a long way to make learning environments fun and rewarding for the students.
Recording is a powerful tool for teaching and learning that can benefit both students and teachers. As evidenced by these articles, it doesn't have to be expensive to utilize this technology. In fact, I just recently learned about a new, free, online audio editor called Myna.
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