Document Cameras

In this chapter the author explains that a document camera is a commonly forgotten tool that usually collects dust in a lot of music classrooms. Document cameras are an untapped tool to add more to the learning experiences in the classroom. This chapter offers lower-tech activities such as displaying manipulatives or a puppet show. The document camera can also be hacked to use as a video camera for video conferencing or as a regular camera to take regular photos.

Interactive Boards and TVs

Take interactivity to a new level with interactive boards and TVs. These devices go beyond what the standard projector can do and add a new level of engagement through interactive activities. This chapter guides the reader through creating visual scores for classical pieces to composing accompaniment tracks for lyrics or raps and encouraging students to work together as a class to create and collaborate while relating to real-world experiences and possible future careers. Interactive boards and TVs can take the music classrooms a step further into the digital generation.

Resources Index

The Resources Index contains a long list of apps and websites to take the learning with devices to the next level or to substitute tools to make the activities in this book more personalized. Each resource is labeled with recommended grades, prices, concept tags, and a short description of the product. Each one of these resources is classroom-tested and comes highly recommended to use with students for grade levels pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. There is something for every type of instruction in this chapter.

Streaming Media Players

Streaming media players are newer devices in the music teacher’s toolbox but are becoming more commonly found in the classroom. Being one of the more modern kids on the block, there are even more opportunities to create activities and resources specifically for these devices. Use your devices as a tool for your instruction. Such as a remote for your computer or as your recording device for assessments. Students can use interactive instrument apps to perform together, create VR and AR experiences on their own, or use their devices to interact with their recorders to practice. Mobile devices are perfect for allowing students to have more independence in their learning and create their own musical works of art.

Introduction

The importance of having a projection system in a music classroom is that it can not only benefit students but also benefit the teacher. Systems like these have helped to bring more engaging, interactive and educational visuals into the music room. They can become integrated as the heart of the music room to improve students’ learning success and create memorable experiences that they will take with them for a long time after class is over. Projection systems, whether interactive or not, have become so crucially important for instruction to meet the needs of today’s digital generation.

I-Can-Do-This-Tomorrows

This chapter contains five suggestions for beginners to use right away in their classrooms. It describes how the teacher can project music for students to play. It also mentions how to show video clips that drive a point home for concepts you are teaching. It also explains how the teacher can encourage a class to research questions together as a group.

Conclusion

This chapter describes how a simple activity can become an engaging experience with the use of a little technology. It explains the ease with which technology can be implemented it as long as the instructor is willing to put in a little bit of work. It mentions that thousands of resources exist to help the teacher to discover how to use visual projection systems in the classroom, and that many people are willing to help the instructor find what is right for him or her and his or her instructional needs. Projection systems are one of the first pieces of technology a teacher perfects in their instructional use. They are a necessary part of the educational environment for every educator in the digital generation.

Projectors

This chapter includes activities using the projector, a standard tool found in most classrooms that has more possibilities beyond first glance. The projector can bring students together to sing holiday classics, to connect with users from across the globe to share music and cultures, or even to create unique backgrounds for performances. Each activity has objectives and assessments, and takes the reader step-by-step through experience so he or she can discover ways to turn a classic tool into a new digital resource.