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Future Music Educators be relevant!

I had an experience recently with several college seniors majoring in music education. I know that they are receiving a quality education in music, but I also know that the field of technology is rapidly expanding, as well as changing. These students were not nearly as familiar with technology as I would have expected. My point to them was to be current in the area of technology, because they will find themselves looking in from the outside when they try to relate to their students. I have a colleague whose 5 year old son already navigates his way around an iPhone as if it was something from Fisher Price or Little Tykes. The iPhone is a sophisticated device, and he has absolutely no problem scrolling through apps and searching for things he enjoys. Not only that, he also showed me a thing or 2 when playing a game that I was experienced with!
Kids today are using electronics like we used stereos and radios. The difference is that the modern devices go WELL beyond our ancient toys. Stay current with the marketed products. It will give you more "street cred" as the kids say!

Cool Music Apps for Smart phones, iPad, Macs, or whatever!

Since becoming an iPhone owner I discovered the world of Apps. Actually I new about apps when I got an iTouch at school. After some time I have grown to appreciate the multitude of tools available for free or at least very inexpensive with just a few clicks. As a band director I find tuners and metronomes all too often lacking in my students cases, or backpacks, or anywhere! BUT...iPhones and Droids are not lacking! Connecting students with good tools to help them develop as musicians is one of my goals this year. So many are free, so there's no excuse that I don't have the money to buy an expensive tuner. I have one by ClearChannel that cost $2.99, it's chromatic and displays pitch in 3 ways, including hertz. The dial is easy to read, and there is the classic view as well. Metronomes are available as well, and some are free. Multitrack recorders are available, as well as pitch pipes and drum machines.

WARNING: I'm not a fan of getting music for free in an illegal fashion, so don't share apps that can steal other peoples livelihood, please.

The variety is very cool, so...

...this is the place to share your apps that are useful as a music teacher or musician. What say you!?

Top iPhone apps - click here to see some cool music apps!