I recently finished a review of the new Rhythm Heaven video game for the Nintendo DS portable game system. I was looking at it as a part of my research for an article on using portable devices in the music classroom (iPhones, Nintendo DS, etc). What I expected to find was another Guitar Hero type game but what I was pleased to discover instead was that Rhythm Heaven is a game that I don't think I would mind letting my students play as a reward or as a put away activity.
If you are like me and love to go to Drum Corps International shows but there are none in your immediate area during the summer DCI has a wonderful alternative available. Again this summer DCI is providing live big screen broadcasts of the world championship quarter finals from Indianapolis.
Is this irony, stupidity, or just plain... dumb? Pasted below is a link to a video at VIMIO that shows an actual DMCA hearing at the Library of Congress where the Motion Picture Association of America actually demonstrates the proper way to copy a DVD movie for educational purposes. I'll give you a quick hint. It includes using a camcorder, a television screen, and a darkened room...
Today I sat on a panel discussion at the national MENC conference in D.C. on the topic of whether or not we should develop national standards for music technology. I had my own feelings and ideas about the idea, and I let my voice be heard, but several of my colleagues also had very interesting points of view on the matter. Don't worry, from what I saw and heard there will not likely be any national music technology standards in the near future, but the discussion was interesting and I have to say enlightening in many ways.