Change

Here's are some words of wisdom I wanted to share, by Dr. Wayne Dyer

When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.

I find this phrase so powerful and have applied it in my life.

12 weeks in 2.5

I was thinking this morning, how quickly our class has flown by. I remember registering in March and anticipating with excitement for the start.  What's incredible is the amount of information I have learned in the past two weeks. We've learned an entire semesters worth of material.  I now can build a website using HTML! We're just scratching the surface and I look forward continuing work on my site and learning more so I can design my page exactly the way I've been picturing it.  Late last night, I spent some time writing tables.  I made a demo page called homepage to play around with some of the ideas.  I'd like my page to have a tool bar either to the left or on top consisting of 5-6 different links. Bio, music page, movie page, etc.. I'm also interested in having a photo in my background which remains stationary as you scroll up or down.

Blogging is new for me and it's been interesting connecting with our classmates and sharing our thoughts. I named this blog "Sarah's Thoughts" for that particular reason.   To be able to blog anytime, anywhere is all in part of all the technological advances we've seen in the past few years. Having an Iphone, Blackberry, laptop, or any other portable device with internet connection has given us unlimited access to be able to do this. I am writing from my laptop here in NYC.  

I love that I am more comfortable with programs like Imovie and Photoshop, and I will continue developing projects for myself, other artists and my students.  Having these resources and knowing how to use them is empowering.

Technology and My Lessons

In the past 6 months, I have been incorporating different computer programs as a tool during my lessons. All my students are keyboard/piano players between the ages of 5-12, all girls. The evolution of the computer has changed the way we learn and perceive information.  Our cognitive skills have sharpened and this is evident from an early on.

Earlier today, I was thinking about the first time I used a computer.  It was 1988, a prehistoric Apple. The screen black, the fonts green.  Computer class was once week for us fourth graders. Sometimes we had to take turns. I think about some of my fourth graders. Most have there own personal computers that they might share with another sibling. All with the latest programs including music related ones like ITunes and Garage Band.  Having access to a program like Garage Band exposes them to a library of musical sounds and allows them to create original compositions without even having to know how to play the specific instruments. Although some may look at this as a hindrance to ones' musicality; I see it as inspiration.  They gain the confidence to be able to create these original compositions which can then spark there curiosity in wanting to learn the actual instruments.

To be a great writer, be an avid reader. To be a great musician/song-writer, listen to all kinds of music.  Developing these habits at an early age is optimum.  A program like ITunes allows us to keep libraries of our favorite tunes, share them with others and make portable, uploading to an IPod.  I have used Itunes in my lessons.  Back in March, I gave a few voice lessons to one of my students in preparation for a competition she had with school.  She had never taken any vocal lessons before and I wanted her to listen to singers with unique, rich and sultry voices. We then went through my library to sample a few songs. The task proved to be successful as she was very curious about the singers she heard and wanted to hear more. I exposed her to a whole new world of music and voices she had never heard of before.  I recorded all of her lessons using GarageBand.  She was fascinated with these programs wanting to learn how to use them herself.

Teaching has become a much more interesting experience for me.  I love that I can integrate the latest technologies to enrich their minds beyond learning the instrument.  

Postings On My Homepage

I'll be posting a few things on my website this weekend. This will include, images that I created using image editor, my movie that I'll create through IMovie08 and my literacy page. I also want to spend time redesigning my page.  I'm glad we spent time in class yesterday learning about creating tables.  Just the other day, I was asking my cousin who's a graphic artist about a particular look I wanted my page to have that would require this knowledge.  Now that we've learned how to use tables, I have an idea that I'd like to follow through.  Although we have little less then a week till the end of our class, I'm confident that I can get the process started.  It helps to draw out your ideas on a sheet of paper, one sheet for every page that you'll be creating before you start working in HTML or any web program.  I find myself spending time deciding which colors and fonts I want to use.  Even this blog has gone through some changes. The best websites in my opinion, are the ones that present information in a clear, organized manner that is aesthetically pleasing to the eye and is easy for users of all ages to navigate through.

A Gift

We are precious; every single one of us. We are magnificent human beings who have been given an almighty gift-the ability to create our own lives, without any limits.

-The Secret

Teaching this kind of mentality to children at an early age equals endless possibilities for a happy, fulfilling existence.

 

Inspiration

 Seems like only yesterday when I received the good news about my piano audition for the masters music education program.  I had my first class yesterday, Technological Resources for Performing Arts Educators with Professor Gilbert. 

I have been teaching piano to students of all ages in Long Island and New York City since 2004.  It's been a rewarding experience which inspired me to apply for this program for certification to teach in NYC Public Schools.  The gift of music is one that I am so grateful for. It has taught me discipline, patience and has given me an outlet to express myself through writing and performing.  It is so important to develop these qualities at an early age. We are all creative. 

I attended public schools and loved the music teachers I had.  My fourth grade orchestra teacher encouraged me to take private lessons in violin in addition to piano lessons that I had started the year before.  My best memories at school were involving music.  As a teacher, I will have the power to encourage and inspire the lives of future students and teach them the beauty and joy of creating.