Fall 2023 MECA
Continuing Education Courses
Overview
Learn the fundamentals and practical applications of the DAW (digital audio station) Soundtrap through this hands-on course for music educators. During this weekend course participants will create various projects using Soundtrap starting with basics and progressing through loops, effects, recording and collaboration.
Instructional Materials:
- Access to a Mac or a PC computer, connected to the Internet. A Chromebook is also an appropriate device. Basic computer skills are required such as setting up accounts & usernames/passwords, basic typing skills, and uploading/downloading files.
- Soundtrap (free access provided for the duration of the class)
- Headphones or earbuds, any kind will do.
Course Schedule:
Saturday:
- Introductions
- Creating of accounts
- Introduction to Soundtrap, First Try Assignment
- Layering of Loops project and Reflection
- Introduction to final project: develop a Soundtrap plan
- (Lunch)
- Recording in Soundtrap using the Synthesizer
- Collaboration project, Soundtrap with Google Classroom and Reflection
- Sharing of compositions
Sunday:
- Creating a Ringtone for your phone
- Creating a pop or dubstep song using all available tools
- Working on final project (Soundtrap plan)
- Sharing of compositions
Requirements
Chat Session
Prerequisites
Required Text(s)
Learning Platform Information - Online Courses Only
Schoology is a learning management system that allows you to interact directly with your instructors, fellow students, and members of the greater VanderCook community.
The evening before your class begins, be on the lookout for an email from Schoology with log-in instructions. Once you receive credentials, visit www.online.vandercook.edu to login.
Some courses have specific online chat meeting times (please see course descriptions), while others have a flexible meeting schedule. You can expect all courses to meet together in a live online chat. If a live meeting time doesn’t work, you can work with your instructor to make other arrangements.
More information about Schoology can be found at www.schoology.com
Please see specific software/hardware requirements in the course description.
Online course grades are available within two weeks of the course(s) completion. If you need a transcript, please CLICK HERE to access the online transcript request form. For a faster turnaround time, please submit the transcript request to the registrar prior to the end of your course(s).
Instructor
Sarah Giordano
Sarah Giordano earned a Bachelor’s degree in instrumental music education from Eastern Illinois University and a Master’s degree in choral music education from VanderCook College of Music. Ms. Giordano teaches general music, conducts the choirs and directs the musical at Jackson Middle School in Villa Park. In 2018 the Jackson Concert Choir was selected to perform at the IMEC All-State Music Convention.
Beyond the classroom, Ms. Giordano has a passion for musical theatre. She directs and serves as music director and vocal director with various youth theatre programs in the Chicago suburbs, and she has worked with Naperville’s only professional theatre company. Recent youth theatre productions directed by Giordano include Zombies the Musical (virtual musical), Getting to Know…Oklahoma, Shrek The Musical JR, Elf JR, The Pirates of Penzance, and Godspell. Mainstage productions include Spamalot, Guys and Dolls, The Bridges of Madison County, Hairspray, Joseph…Dreamcoat, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
Ms. Giordano teaches the Secondary General Music Methods 6-12 Graduate Course at VanderCook College of Music. She is active in the VanderCook MECA program, presenting “Bringing Out the Best in Young Singers,” and most recently “Musical Theatre Workshop: Planning, Production and Performance.” She consistently serves as a choral clinician, adjudicator and accompanist.