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Where the most Inspired Musicians
become the most Inspiring Music Teachers

Summer 2023 MECA

Continuing Education Courses

Online

Popular Music, Songwriting, and Technology in the K-12 Music Classroom

Date

June 5-July 28, 2023

Course Code

7373

Credits

3 Graduate Credits

Tuition

$1,080 is due in full with registration.

Overview

Registration for this course has closed as of 6/6/23.

 

Making musical connections through popular music can unlock students’ understanding of music fundamentals, provide avenues for deep listening and analysis, and provide direct connection to creating and performing. This course will explore different approaches to incorporating popular music in the classroom and look at a variety of computer and cloud-based music creation applications and resources that can be used to facilitate listening and responding, creating, and performing. Applications explored in the class will include Noteflight, Soundtrap, and Ableton Live Note, as well as myriad online resources. This course is designed for middle school and high school general music, but all grade levels are welcome.

 Course Requirements:

  • This course requires a Schoology account
  • A Journal – This can be a notebook or a digital journal
  • Access to a Mac, PC, or Chromebook, connected to the Internet. Basic computer skills are required, such as setting up accounts with a username and password, basic typing skills, uploading and downloading files, and familiarity with using the Internet.
  • Soundtrap EDU (free access will be provided – Details provided in course materials)
  • Noteflight Learn ((free access will be provided – Details provided in course materials)
  • Wakelet account (free)
  • Ableton Note – iOS app ($5.99) Details provided in course materials.
    • Alternative: GarageBand iOS 
    • NOTE: These are both iOS only apps.
  • Google Workspace and YouTube accounts
  • Myriad free cloud-apps and online resources. Details provided in course materials.
  • Wired Headphones   – NOTE: Bluetooth headphones can be used for listening only, but wired headphones are required for recording in a DAW

Helpful, but optional:

  • Spotify or Apple Music
  • Voice Memos on your phone

An inexpensive USB microphone, such as:

An inexpensive MIDI Controller, such as 

Requirements

Chat Session

This course is asynchronous.

Prerequisites

None.

Required Text(s)

Holley, Steve, et al. Action-Based Approaches in Popular Music Education. Denver, Mclemore Avenue Music Fflat Books, 2021.

This book is in digital format, and can be purchased at the following link: 

https://fflat-books.com/product/action-based-approaches-in-popular-music-education/

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

Langol Stefani 1

Stefani Langol

Stefani Langol is a music educator, clinician, author and education technology consultant. She is an associate professor of music education at Berklee College of Music and serves as the technology coordinator for the music education department. In addition, Langol is an adjunct assistant professor at the Boston Conservatory of Music, where she teaches music technology classes for the Master of Music Education degree program. Langol is a certified instructor for the Technology Institute for Music Educators (TI:ME) and offers graduate credit and TI:ME national certification courses at numerous sites throughout the Northeast. In addition, Langol served as editor-in-chief of the TI:MEs newsletter from 1997-2004 and the technology editor for the Massachusetts Music Educators Journal from 2004-2012. For more than 20 years, Langol has designed and delivered technology training to K-12 and higher education music educators, and has been a featured presenter at numerous state, national and international music educator conferences in New York, Pennsylvania, California, Ohio, Rhode Island, Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Texas, Illinois, Toronto and Nelson (Canada). Langol is a co-author of the Alfred Music Tech Series, which includes Playing Keyboard, Music Production and MIDI Sequencing; and Composing with Notation Software as well as the accompanying Teacher’s Guide: Book 1. In addition, she has published several articles on music technology in the Music Educators Journal, Music Education Technology Magazine, Music and Computers, Artists House, and the Massachusetts Music Educators Journal.

The mission of VanderCook College of Music is to enrich the lives of present and future generations by developing uniquely skilled music teachers who exhibit strong character, professionalism, and a commitment to excellence.

© 2023 VanderCook College of Music. All Rights Reserved.
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