I ran across this video this evening while preparing other articles for the site. The film is of a very brave thirteen year old boy striding out onto the British version of American Idol and in front of thousands of live audience members and millions at home, singing what can only be described as an incredible performance of Pie Jesu. This kid is scared to death, but it only makes you wonder what he could do if he wasn't. Such talent, and yet he is so humble. Check it out!
It was only a matter of time I suppose until technology found a way to move onto the conducting podium. Welcome to the future ladies and gentlemen. On May 13th a robot will stand atop a conductor's podium and conduct the Detroit Symphony Orchestra!
I often mention Guitar Hero in my blog posts. Not because I am fascinated with the game so much as I am fascinated with the hold that it has on my band students. Students that I can't get to practice for ten minutes on their clarinet will instead play for hours at a time on Guitar Hero Garage Band. Many times I have lamented that if only Activision would do something to incorporate REAL instruments into the franchise that music educators would stand up and beat a path to their door. Well, it may be time to start lining up!
This may be a little off topic for a music education site, but since so many music educators also are avid Macintosh fanatics I thought it might be fun to post it anyway. Considering the recent Illinois earthquake it seems a little timely to show how people with a mac computer can now help to analyze the jolts from the next big earthquake.
At the 2008 MENC Conference I was able to attend a session given by
Robert Duke of the University of Texas at Austin and James Byo of
Louisiana State University regarding a new instrumental band method
book that they have been working on over the last several years. Since
the conference the method has been getting some significant attention
on the MENC message boards
from teachers who are looking for something new and innovative to
replace the old, traditional method books that have been used in our
classes for decades. What is making The Habits Of Musicianship
generate such a buzz? Maybe it is because many of the premises behind
it make so much sense. Maybe it is because the progression of
activities in the book is completely different than almost any other
method book out there. Of course, it could also be that "The Habits of Musicianship- A Radical Approach To Beginning Band " is radical in that it is FREE for use by anyone that chooses to download it!
It was only a matter of time I suppose until technology found a way to move onto the conducting podium. Welcome to the future ladies and gentlemen. On May 13th a robot will stand atop a conductor's podium and conduct the Detroit Symphony Orchestra!
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This may be a little off topic for a music education site, but since so many music educators also are avid Macintosh fanatics I thought it might be fun to post it anyway. Considering the recent Illinois earthquake it seems a little timely to show how people with a mac computer can now help to analyze the jolts from the next big earthquake.
.jpg "Music Image")
At the 2008 MENC Conference I was able to attend a session given by
Robert Duke of the University of Texas at Austin and James Byo of
Louisiana State University regarding a new instrumental band method
book that they have been working on over the last several years. Since
the conference the method has been getting some significant attention
on the MENC message boards
from teachers who are looking for something new and innovative to
replace the old, traditional method books that have been used in our
classes for decades. What is making The Habits Of Musicianship
generate such a buzz? Maybe it is because many of the premises behind
it make so much sense. Maybe it is because the progression of
activities in the book is completely different than almost any other
method book out there. Of course, it could also be that "The Habits of Musicianship- A Radical Approach To Beginning Band " is radical in that it is FREE for use by anyone that chooses to download it!