Technology that can make a huge difference in music education doesn't always come from the most obvious sources. Howevery when random sampling of music teachers where asked which of any of the new electronic devices now out on the market has the most beneficial for altering the way we work and teach, many answered with the iPad. MENC, The National Association for Music Education's monthly publlication "Teaching Music" had an article on using the iPad in the classroom. I found this rather interesting since I have been trying to convince my wife why on I need one!
The article highlights favorite apps among music teachers. One that was mentioned is Percussive. This app allows your students to play on a virtual xylophone, glockenspiel, marimba, vibraphone, or kalimba. This is amazing!! I can see my kids excitement level go up just from playing an instrument simulated on an ipad.
I have found myself many times looking for my tuner to tune an instrument before a performance. With Cleartune, one can play into an ipad which in turn tells you if you are flat, sharp, or in tune.
Another cool and useful app is Singing Fingers. This application lets you finger paint with sound. As you touch the screen color appears and sounds are made. This can help students with creativity and motor skills.
These were just a couple of the apps mentioned. Although this device seems far from musical or educational, it may turn out to be an invaluable aid in tomorrow, I mean today's music classroom!
I'm more than a bit of a fan-boy, but I knew the little device was going to be a game-changer when they first introduced a year ago last January. I just upgraded to the iPad 2 because i wanted to do video conferencing with my 80-year-old mom across the country. And I've been moving my song charts to it and my friends are very jealous that all I need is my iPad instead of carrying heavy piles of binders and notebooks. And that doesn't begin to address all of the virtual instruments you referred to. Amazing.
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