As a follow up to our first podcast about Jamulus, today Bob and I provide an update to our journey.
You know the drill … grab a cup of your favourite coffee brew and enjoy the conversation!
Resources:
~Mark
Category Archives: Technology in the Arts
Interview for international clarinet day
Last week, friend and fellow educator Stephen Hurley reached out to me so do a spontaneous chat on VoicEd radio to celebrate International Clarinet Day (Nov. 16). I readily accepted. Music is a strong connection that Stephen and I share so this was a great opportunity to connect around this passion.
Here is our November 16th 7:00 a.m. interview.
~Mark
The Journey to Jamulus – Virtual Coffee Shop Podcast #20
As a musician, tech enthusiast and educator, I have always hoped a time would come that it would be possible to rehearse, jam or perform live over the internet with people in different locations in affordable ways. With all the technology development over the last couple of decades, the time is now.
In this podcast with my long time friend, musician and fellow educator Bob Duff, we share reflections on our journey to the Jamulus software and our experiences along the way to piano (Bob) and clarinet (me) online live synchronous music making.
You know the drill … grab a cup of your favourite coffee brew and enjoy the conversation!
Resources:
~Mark
Music Prompts
The COVID-19 situation is certainly a unique scenario for us all to experience. I hope you are healthy and safe where ever you are.
I have been impressed with the amount of positive sharing of suitable activities for families and children. I also have noticed the generosity of many companies who have offered free or reduced price access to their products. Of particular interest to me is in the music arena, where Moog, Korg, Roland, Arturia and many others have provided an interesting selection of apps as an example.
As I have been learning the apps and enjoying the wide range of capabilities and sounds, I decided to create some 1.5 to 2 minute musical soundscapes that could serve as prompts for drawing or painting a picture, telling a story,video, creating movement/dance, or perhaps using it in a new creative musical context.
There are 3 samples currently available for listening/download and I will continue to add 1 or 2 more samples each week. [Click here] to access the files.
If you would like to share your creation with me, please leave a comment with a link to your creation.
Happy creating!!!
~Mark
The Virtual Coffee Shop Podcast – session 6
This session of the Virtual Coffee Shop podcast features an in depth discussion with music educator Josh Hill. I think you will enjoy learning about his fascinating insights into the fabric of education.
I have my coffee ready. Do you?
Settle in to a comfortable chair and enjoy the discussion!
Connect with Josh:
Watch his TEDxKitchenerEd talk.
Follow @gaelsmusic on Twitter
~Mark
Icons and Artwork
Meet my new icon!
— Appreciating the custom artwork!!!
~Mark
iPad music software
As the calendar roles into August, my thoughts turn to CATC Camp, our Board’s annual summer 3 day, self directed, computer PD session for staff. This year I will be taking some time to explore music applications with the iPad. Some of the things on my explore list are:
MIDI Interface for iPad/iPhone/iPod
What am I looking for? — apps and ideas suitable for classroom use, applications that are easily used in the student performance context and applications that can interact with OSAPAC licensed software (for Ontario publicly funded schools)
As always, I am looking forward to this learning opportunity.
~Mark
Related Links
Kellysmusic
SoundTree Music
A New Twist on the Mobius Strip ~ Music
A few years ago, I formed a music duo with a friend. We called ourselves Rosin and Reeds after our instrumentation – violin and clarinet, and had a lot of fun playing together. Much of the music we played, we arranged since there is not a wealth of original music for this combination of instruments. We had the good fortune of performing live at some interesting venues.
Tonight I had a real flashback to the ‘duo days’. One of the pieces we enjoyed performing, composed by Mozart, was written in a particular way. There was actually only one page of music for a single melody line. We had two copies of the original part. The duet part was created by taking the page of music and turning it upsidedown (top to bottom). In essence, one player played the original melody while the second player was playing the original melody retrograde (backwards) and inverted (upsidedown).
I came across a YouTube video tonight that demonstrated these same composing techniques (original solo, duet, retrograde, inversion) in a very effective visual format – pitch and rhythm punctuated with moving trackers, followed by all the variations and an interesting twist. A literal twist – a musical mobius strip.
I will be sharing this video resource with the music teachers I know. Have a look and listen – Crab Canon on a Möbius Strip by J. S. Bach on YouTube. Enjoy the music, enjoy the visuals.
~ Mark
What if Mozart had MIDI?
After a professional development session this week, I was talking to one of our music teachers who does an excellent job of integrating technology into the regular band and vocal music course offerings. Classroom uses embrace composition, arranging, recording, sequencing, accompanying and theory instruction. Software packages used included packages for both Mac and Windows – Finale, Band in a Box, Garage Band and Sequel. This spun off into a conversation reminiscing about the ‘old days’ – meaning before MIDI, sound samples, loops, powerful notation software etc.
I told him about the WX5 MIDI wind instrument I had been playing over the summer (reaction = wow), he told me about new professional level sound samples he is using for some scoring work he is doing – cool.
As a technology user, it is easy to look at something as the next logical step of development. So yes, maybe a ‘cool’ factor to a new device or sound. Lets pause for a moment and step back. The changes in this technology area in the last dozen years is absolutely phenomenal = WOW. Look at what you can do with home/school level equipment and software. Truly amazing.
Pictured above, are the WX5 MIDI wind instrument, an electric violin and an electric guitar equipped with a pitch to MIDI device.
Think of the impact Bach or Mozart had on the world of music. I wonder what would have happened to music development if this equipment was available in their time or they were alive now. One thing for sure, they would have as much fun with technology as we are!!!
Just wondering ….
~ Mark
Studio Time: Real Time Music Backed with Technology
Saturday night and home with no major agenda. Looks like a good night to get some music time in – and in my favourite way: live music and technology together.
Three Step Plan
1. I bought a book of folk music (jigs, reels etc.) at the Mill Race Festival last weekend. The music is written as melody lines with chord progressions. I will practise a few on the WX5 midi wind controller. My daughter will be learning some too on her electric violin.
2. I will create an accompaniment using Band in a Box. Band in a Box is a great piece of software that allows you to literally create a ‘band’. You create an accompaniment by choosing the following elements:
time signature (4/4, 3/4 6/8 etc.)
tempo (speed of the music)
style (which determines a default instrumentation and ‘feel’ to the music)
Next you enter in the chord progression and create a ‘roadmap’ – the combination of introduction, verses, choruses, repeats and endings. Now you are set to play along with your ‘band’. This leaves you options to practise, perform live, record, make a CD or mp3, or perhaps include your results in an electronic portfolio of some sort.
3. This is all leading to preparing for CATC by the Water, our summer computer camp for staff where the focus is technology integration. Our 4 day event begins mid next week, and there are always ‘campers’ eager to learn and use music applications in the curriculum.
Links:
Learn more about Band in a Box: PG Music
Licensing for Ontario Schools: OSAPAC
Off to the studio!
~ Mark
~ Mark's Musings ~ blog.markwcarbone.ca 