Technology

Technology

These articles address questions I am often asked having to do with the use of computers, keyboards and other technological components in my teaching.

How I Use Technology to Teach Composing and Arranging

COMBINING LOW TECH AND HIGH TECH

I use technology in addition to traditional "low tech" teaching techniques. The studio is so full of wonderful technological teaching aids, both locally installed software and online applications, that it has become quite automatic and intuitive to reach for whatever is needed during a lesson. I find that students enjoy learning different ways of creating and producing music electronically, using music software, a keyboard controller and synthesizer sound sources. Depending on lesson priorities, students can learn a great deal about how music software often works and what’s available.

Types of Computer and Electronic Equipment Used

Q: What types of computer and electronic equipment are most often used in the studio?

Our studio here, and those of enrolled students, are often equipped with a Mac or PC, which can run several types of music software programs. More often than not, each studio's configuration is slightly different and unique. Here, we have the use of three Macs. Music software can perform many different tasks, such as notating, arranging, recording and mixing music. Multi-track or single-track music can be recorded either as MIDI data, or as digital audio data.

Here in the studio, we have many sound sources available for the recording of MIDI files, including electronic keyboards, sound modules, synthesizers and software synthesizers. Those who are proficient piano players enjoy entering notes using our 88-key weighted controller, because it feels most like a real piano. It's worthwile to mention that there are also real (acoustic) pianos available on the market today, both uprights and grands, that are equipped with MIDI, with which one may enter notes into a computer.

How MIDI and Audio Recordings are Different

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MIDI RECORDING AND A DIGITAL AUDIO RECORDING?