The Next Black Mumbazo???

http://www.npr.org/2013/11/27/247481464/blitz-the-ambassador-fighting-against-invisibility?ft=1&f=1039

Yet another artist, much like Simon from Simon and Garfunkle, has now explored the rich music of Africa to bring it to America!

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/lifestyle/education-bosses-hit-out-ofsted-6351520


This is quite shocking…the place most likely to have a successful music program…does not!

West Point Band member who played at JF Kennedy's funeral interviewed

"Approximately one million people lined the route of the funeral procession, from the Capitol back to the White House, then to St. Matthew's Cathedral, and finally to Arlington National Cemetery to witness the farewell to America's 35th president."

"The band members were in rehearsal when they heard of the president's assassination. 

"I was scared," Platamone said, recalling hearing the news. "I thought everything was going to fall apart - that the country would fall apart. It's like yesterday," he said of the tragedy a half-century ago."

What a touching story, well worth a read as well as time for reflection in memory of the youngest president of the USA. How he describes JFK's assassination and funeral is close to how I felt when 9/11 occurred.

http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubsectionID=1&ArticleID=125642

Three things to keep in mind when modeling for your students.

In this article, the author presents three points that are often ignored by music educators when modeling for students. However, this could possibly happen even in the general classroom.

http://www.smartclassroommanagement.com/2013/10/26/the-3-most-common-modeling-mistakes-teachers-make/

PS4: Could it be used in music education?

http://www.engadget.com/2013/11/14/sony-playstation-4-review/?ncid=rss_truncated

Although this article doesn't mention music at all, I often wonder when will Playstation and Xbox  begin to have their moment in the music room…or really in the classroom as a form of useful technology? Perhaps educational video games aren't such a bad idea. The only problem is that most educational video games are really designed for 5 and under. Is it possible that have these game systems as a classroom station could be useful in the general classroom or music classroom or is this just going too far with a society already addicted to gaming? I'm interested in hearing everyone's thoughts.

World Science Festival

http://worldsciencefestival.com/videos/notes_neurons_in_search_of_the_common_chorus

Bobby McFerrin, a very familiar face from Police Academy and perhaps one of the best sound creators (with his mouth), starts off the presentation with a great concert of music the audience has not heard before. The presentation was meant to show how music connects with the brain. It was a really awesome presentation.

The Breathing gym

My husband used this as a band director and now that I am an assistant band director at one of the local high schools, the director tells me that he would like to use this program. I really need to look into the Breathing gym more and place some time aside to use it. However, I feel that it would be affective only with the support of the band doing some cardio such as running laps around the field.

http://modernvocalmusictech.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-breathing-gym-is-great-resource-to.html

The Flawed grading System in music?

I found this in my feedly and I thought it was an interesting topic on which to reflect. The fact that music is so prestigious should not be the reason that students choose to opt out of taking chorus, band, strings, or general music. This flawed grading system comes from the fact that we do indeed expect perfection out of our students…so this is a very rough way that we grade students.

100 - every note is perfect

90 - 1-5 errors in music

80 - 5-10 errors

70 - 10 - 15 errors

60 - 15 - 20 errors

Some teachers are more strict on their grading system. I, however, am an elementary educator who is limited to N - needs improvement, S - satisfactory, P - progressing. So basically, my class is a either you get it or you don't grade. You either have a satisfactory performance in my class, or you don't. What causes performance to not be satisfactory? 9 out of 10 times the issue that drops a student to a needs improvement is behavior related. On occasion I will give a progressing rating if I feel the student is trying his best to learn, but is easily distracted. Well, enough of my rant. Here is the link to an article about why students are afraid music classes are bad for their GPA

http://modernvocalmusictech.blogspot.com/2013/11/how-music-can-hurt-students-gpa.html

Bicycle Built for Two using Noteflight

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I think that this is a cost effective program that can be used in the music classrooms. I'm going to see how to go about allowing my students to use this website safely without internet problems. I would also like to know if this is open to my school or if it is blocked like many other programs.

The New XBOX one

My husband and I are anticipating receiving our new XBOX as we have ridded ourselves of business from Direct TV and Dish in favor of watching Netflix. It is nice not to be plagued by the news and tons of channels with nothing useful. We also are expecting our first child and are happy that we can control what our child watches later in life. Here is an article on the other uses of the new XBOX one.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/11/01/xbox-one-dlna-streaming-mp3-playback/?ncid=rss_truncated

OSU Marching Band

I found this wonderful video that my Bro-In-Law recommended. It was an article listed on my feedly. I think it was wonderfully entertaining. The Band is missing a color guard or any form of dance line, but they make up for their lack of a pit and color guard by creating unique and familiar drill. After my own band that I serve as assistant band director is finishing with a great season, I'm grabbing ideas for our show next year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNe0ZUD19EE