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music educators

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    Computer Music Lab 101

    Mike Lawson | August 1, 2000

    You can create and teach music with your computer! Music educators are in the best position to take advantage of computer music technology in their classrooms. Prices for both hardware and software are incredibly cheap, compared to prices only two years ago. And the instruction and creative capability you get is vastly superior. If you are new at this, consider establishing a computer music lab at your school with just one workstation. You can always expand later as you gain more experience and understanding of computer music technology. There are four or five different levels of computer music labs. We'll focus here on getting started with basic MIDI components and selecting MIDI software applications. More advanced computer music labs are really upgraded MIDI-based labs with capabilities in burning CD-ROMs, video production, Internet Web making, digital audio production and other applications. Traveling teachers might want to consider a mobile computer lab in which component parts of the lab travel with you to different buildings and plug into a master computer in each school you teach.

    MIDI can control sounds and effects, synchronize sequencers and recorders and has even been implemented in lighting control and video/graphics applications. Unlike audio, which actually "stores" the sound as a digital representation for the sound wave, MIDI stores only the name of the note that was hit, how hard it was struck, which effects or sounds were used and the number value of all your levels. This means three things: (1) MIDI music can be stored in incredibly small files, which are perfect for fitting on small disks or playing over the Internet. (2) MIDI is easily editable after the fact, with all tempos, notes and levels available for change in real-time. And (3) MIDI relies on the sounds in your synthesizer, the controls available to you in your keyboard and the software, so the equipment you use to create and enjoy MIDI music will greatly affect the way you hear the production.

    Sound Philosophical Roots
    Don't put the cart before the horse. Never purchase computer hardware first without considering the software applications that you will primarily use. The software will require different hardware configurations at different expenses. Don't be over or under sold when purchasing hardware. I will describe three levels of operation in this article in which hardware configurations certainly differ. So do your software homework first before purchasing hardware and you will be safe.

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  • Acquiring & Updating Used Computers

    Mike Lawson | March 1, 1999

    As an elective, music frequently gets the short straw in school budget allotments. Consequently, music educators have few opportunities to incorporate technology in their curriculum. But with a little networking, music educators can obtain used computers via donations and grants as well as updating computers. There are a lot of useable 386, 486 and first-generation Pentium computers available in the business world waiting to be recycled. As a middle and senior high school teacher, I have had many successes over the years in getting nearly 60 used computers donated. I will share with you here several recommendations of where to purchase used computers at bargain rates and music software that really works with these computers.

    Strategies for Used Computer Donations
    Begin by contacting local civic organizations about providing entertainment for their weekly or monthly business meetings. Your music groups are excellent sources for stimulating awareness of your organization. Businesses look favorably on donations that put their name before the public. After you do a short music concert for their luncheon, for example, you can present a proposal about technology needs that the school district is not able to support for creative instructional purposes. The Kiwanis Club, the Lions Club, the Elks Club, the Moose Club and the Rotary Club are local organizations that have responded very generously to my proposals. I have also gone to government agencies, such as HUD and to organizations such as Martin Marietta for generous donations. The result is that I have been able to put together two complete computer labs with over 50 recycled computers. Imagine getting over 50 computers donated to your school with only two phone calls and setting up computer labs for your students to actually use!

    Let's not forget about your school's PTA for a donation of used computer equipment or money to purchase technology equipment. Many teachers I've talked to have had great success working with the PTA. For one reason, the PTA as a national organization is a strong supporter of arts in education. Plus, members of the PTA are connected to the business community and can provide necessary links between school and business, such as a contact at their company to solicit hardware donations.

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