Enhancing Creative Thinking with Innovative Technology in Music Teacher Education
Presentation
Overview
Overview
Description
The ubiquity of technology in the 21st century creates new and exciting opportunities for performing, creating, and disseminating copied or original music. Used widely, technology is being explored as a tool in music teaching and learning contexts to support creative thinking and as an instrument in musical performance. In either of these approaches, technology continues to influence the landscape of primary, secondary, and tertiary music classrooms. Previous research suggests that, when utilized appropriately and often, technology may enhance creativity and exploration in ways otherwise not possible (e.g., multitrack recording, sampling, beat making, and combinations of digital and acoustic instruments). In our quickly evolving and changing milieu of contemporary culture, music teacher educators are tasked with providing preservice music education students with opportunities to play, teach and explore a variety of learning opportunities with these technologies. The purpose of this session is to present examples of successful approaches towards technology implementation into two ‘traditionally’ conceived music teacher education coursework requirements: brass and woodwind technique classes. In these courses, two music education faculty implemented a variety of applications on iPads to support creative musical engagement. Our presentation will provide examples of student work, student perceptions and experiences, and outcomes. Our experiences suggest that technological integration was simple, through moderate modifications to existing coursework assignments. Implications for the field of music education and suggestions for further research will be provided in conclusion.
