Compose This!

     I am a firm believer that anyone can be creative. Yes, I think some individuals are naturally "gifted" in this department. They have the ability to create easily and with a systematic approach that comes to them instinctively. However, there are many who are, as the book states, "the other 80%" (Williams, 2011). These types can be creative but need to be guided through the process in a simple, understandable way. As a music educator, I thrive on connecting with this population and helping them to unlock their musical creativity. "The creative process is what music educators need to engender, a process that can be facilitated through technology"(Bauer, 2014, p. 48).
     I was very fortunate to work in an elementary school where iPads AND chrome books, Dell laptops, and desktops were available. I want to highlight the iPad part as the fortunate part because we all know that most professionals in the music industry use Apple products first and foremost. My school had a portable cart that stored 30 iPads! This could be checked out by any teacher in the building. I was in technology heaven. One way I utilized this was to introduce GarageBand. This program is amazing for fueling musical creativity. I was able to teach 4th and 5th grades: 1. How to use the program 2. iPad etiquette 3. how to explore in the program 4. how to record and share 5. how to accept creative trial and error. The end product was a composition that fit within a simple rubric I provided. Students could choose the genre, instrumentation, effects, sound, etc. Students then shared their songs with the class for all to hear.
     GarageBand is such an easy program to navigate. It does not take that much time to learn. It is easy to understand and it provides pretty quality output. I've used GarageBand myself when recording. It is so much cheaper than paying for studio time! Albeit, I don't have the latest equipment and I am a novice at mixing... but when it comes to recording songs for classes, re-arranging pieces for concerts/musicals, recording parts for students, GarageBand is my go-to program. It not only helps students tap into their creative side, it also gets my own creative juices flowing!
     As Bloom's taxonomy lists creativity as being the highest level of cognitive complexity, we are so fortunate as MUSIC educators to have this be part of our job. Sure, students can be creative when writing stories, finding ways to solve problems in math or science, but to create something from nothing and have a product that people enjoy and praise, is the ultimate gift to us music teachers. I only wish there was more time (at the elementary level) with students to really help them develop this very important characteristic.
     On the other hand, music education has a unique component in the concept of improvisation. I will admit this is my weakest link to my musical background. I grew up learning the piano from a book. I learned every song from a book. I can read music with my eyes shut! lol. But when it comes to improvising, I am still a bit afraid. The reason? I never had practice at it! I was never given the opportunity to try it!
     At the elementary level, I see improvising as a difficult task to undertake. However, after reading about learning to improvise in the text, I do feel I can teach lessons on this to younger students. There can be lots of parameters such as only giving students three or four notes to choose from while I play a rhythm on the piano. They can choose how and what notes to play. This is a great introduction! At the secondary level, improvisation can really be honed in on. Students have more aural skills, theory understanding, and performance opportunities to really practice improvising. One app I found that can help students improvise with each other is Rockmate. It is very simple and four students can work together on one iPad. This app allows students to collaborate in real time, improvise and create using one device!

I've tweeted a song I recorded in GarageBand. FYI: I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL SOUND ENGINEER!! But you will get the gist!

Bauer, William, I. (2014). Music Learning Today: Digital Pedagogy for Creating, Performing, and Responding to Music. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.