Summer 2023 MECA
Continuing Education Courses
Overview
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:
- M-Audio Uber Mic – https://bhpho.to/3dpVN8z
- Rode NT-USB Mini USB Mic – https://bit.ly/3lZyJ0X
An inexpensive MIDI Controller, such as
- Native Instruments M32 – https://bit.ly/3N8gGSb
- M-Audio Keystation 49 – https://bit.ly/2Z8Dd8D
Requirements
Chat Session
Prerequisites
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
