3 Jan 2009

MusTech.Net To Upgrade Plugins And WordPress To 2.7 Tomorrow

Notice:

There may be some bumps in the the service of MusTech.Net tomorrow as I migrate the site to WordPress 2.7 and upgrade all of the plugins.  If you experience any difficulties please check back at a later time.

2 Jan 2009

The First Music Education Blog Carnival Of 2009

Theresa White over at the Music Education Blog has posted the 7th Music Education Blog Carnival.  Make sure you visit her carnival to acquire some great information and music tips from the great music education bloggers.   Anyone maysubmit an entry to the music education blog carnival.  Just visit this link to find out more information about it: http://mustech.net/muscarn

Also, www.blogcarnival.com has selected the Musical Education Blog Carnival to be the featured carnival on their site for the January 12th and you’ll see it splashed on their homepage all day.   I was informed of this today via e-mail.  They recently congratulated our carnival for this accomplishment and added a featured carnivals section to highlight and acknowledge carnivals they really like.  Congratulations to all those who have participated in the Music Education Blog Carnival for making this happen!

In addition, if you’ve already successfully submitted an article and have been posted in a music education carnival, why not consider being a host?  Please let me know if you are interested via the contact form or in the comment section below.

Next month’s, carnival will be hosted by Dr. Chris Foley of the Colloborative Piano Blog.  Submit your article/post for this edition today!

               

1 Jan 2009

A Bold New Year, The Official List Of The 100 Music Education Bloggers

[caption id=”attachment_960” align=”aligncenter” width=”273” caption=”Me Blogger 2009!”]Me Blogger 2009![/caption]

 
Welcome to 2009 and the Official List of the 100 Music Education Bloggers (ME Bloggers)!  When I first announced that I would be setting a goal to have 100 Music Education Experts Blogging by January 1st of 2009 back in December of 2007, some believed it wouldn’t actually happen… but it did!   I believed from the start that I/we would be able to start a community of Music Education Bloggers in only a year’s time; but, I can tell you that the road was a long one complete with its “ups and downs”…but the road less traveled usually is the one with the most benefits at the end of the journey.   This campaign certainly has been a benefit not only to those that are included in the list, but every single person that reads what they are writing about.
 
There were a number of aspects of the campaign that I wanted to instill in the essence of the ME Blogger Campaign.  First, I wanted to build a community of Music Education Expertsthat would take advantage of the Web 2.0 platform and start a community that would allow them to share their expertise with each other and the world.   My hope for the community, and the community that builds upon those of the 100 ME bloggers, is that we continue to have an open a dialog about our profession, mission, and the importance of music in the daily lives of people, not only among our ourselves, but among all those that come across our writings, freely, with each other.
 
Secondly, I wanted to build a community that was non-exclusive, not completely ivory tower, not completely practice oriented, not completely acting educators, nor exclusive of those in the so-called “fringe areas” of acceptable music genres - all types of music are acceptable for learning, discussion, and enrichment.  This community would also not be centered around one country, nor any particular gender or ethnicity.   With this in mind, you will see that the 100 ME Bloggersare made up of established professionals, professors, doctors, teachers, music merchants, performers, practitioners, and even a few inspiring music students.   The ME Bloggers comprise of multiple ethnicities, multiple diversities, and are from varying geographical locations and all of them have one ideal in common with one another: the pursuit of the application of music for the betterment and enrichment of the lives of people everywhere!
 
Lastly, I wanted to show how easy it is to utilize the Blog platform as technological means to multiple ends:
  1. Reflection, Introspect, & Thought Crystallization
  2. Sharing knowledge with their students, peers or the world (global conversations)
  3. Contributing to a larger database of information (active research)
  4. Writing Practice (There is a tree-ware book in all of us!)
  5. Creative Outlets
  6. Digital Mentoring
  7. Active Sharing of Media (Pictures/Photos/Webcasts/Podcasts/Vidcasts)
  8. Create a network of peers and colleagues
  9. Advertise your concerts, clinics, yourself, or whatever (publicity)
I hope that those of you who are able to gain from the fruits of the efforts of the 100 ME Bloggers come to know the real truth of the grass-roots, and pioneering effort that is accomplished by the existence of this campaign and the works of those that are a part of it.   Regardless, of whether or not those that are a part of this campaign (or those not part of the campaign that are giving of their time and music expertise freely) blog for another year or 50 more years (or migrate to the forthcoming Web 3.0 phenomenon), the digital imprint of this campaign is cast in binary and has been unleashed on the networked world.  In a digital world full of “mis-information” of “no-information” about our field, the void of “better” and free information, is starting to populate the long un-filled void… baby steps… In the months to come, it is my hope to write more about how to continue to grow as a Music Blogging/ Web 2.0 Integrated Community.   In the short future, I will be posting a number of ways to keep track of all of the information being put out by the 100 ME Bloggers and show how this tremendous resource can be contained and utilized efficiently by anyone who would like to glean the gems that are coming out, daily, by the ME Bloggers. To answer a few questions up front that some of you may be asking now the ME Blogger Campaign is over, I will not be extending this list in the future as the number of Music Education Bloggers has exploded with the excitement that has/is being generated by the pioneers on this list.  I will, however, continue to highlight, encourage, all the “newbie” ME Bloggers through posts and direction.  I also can tell you that any of the ME Bloggers will help you get started if you ask them.  If you are thinking about starting a Music Blog or Website for any reason, don’t wait, contribute today by starting your own. I intend to make one more official graphic for the 100 ME Bloggers so that they can post it on their sites.  It is also my intention to take this year and highlight the 100 ME Bloggercampaign in a number of journal articles and written publications.  I will post the availability of these as I become aware of them.   In addition, I plan on speaking at a number of clinics and music education conferences about this project as well…I’ll post my upcoming venues soon at MusTech.Net.  It is with both humbleness and a sense of pride that I present to the world, the Official List of the 100 ME Blogger Campaign!  Please congratulate them, visit them, comment on their sites AND, BY ALL MEANS, please reprint this list on your own BLOG or Website!  If you have a chance, say hello here as well in the comment section below… THE OFFICIAL LIST OF THE 100 MUSIC EDUCATION BLOGGER CAMPAIGN 2008-2009:
  1. http://www.mustech.net Dr. Joseph M. Pisano- MusTech.net
  2. http://digitalmusiceducator.wordpress.com Owen Bradley -The Digital Music Educator
  3. http://etobiasblog.musiced.net Evan Tobias- Catalysts & Connections
  4. http://musiced.about.com/ Espie Estrella -About Music Education
  5. http://jamesfrankel.musiced.net/ Dr. James Frankel-  Music Technology in Education
  6. http://weblog.siba.fi/msalavuo Dr. Miikka Salavuo-  Music Education, Technology & Social Media
  7. http://pwhitfield.edublogs.org Pete Whitfield-  e-Learning for Music
  8. http://www.musicedmagic.com Chad Criswell- Music Ed. Magic
  9. http://jsavage.org.uk/ Dr. Jonathan Savage- Jonathan Savage
  10. http://musictechforme.com/ V. Keith Mason- Music Tech. for Me.
  11. http://tjweller.wordpress.com Travis J. Weller- Composing Like Mad
  12. http://mystro2b.edublogs.org/ Ken Pendergrass- Music is Not for Insects
  13. http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/ Joel- So You Want to Teach
  14. http://stengel99.wordpress.com/ Steve Engel- Music Ed. Lounge
  15. http://fsharpbflat.wordpress.com/ Linda Granite- Bb, F#
  16. http://doublebassblog.org Jason Heath- Double Bass Blog
  17. http://musicisfree.ning.com/ Robert Brannan- The Music is Free
  18. http://dvzmix.wordpress.com/ Deborah Valdivia-Zwolinski- DVZ’s Mix
  19. http://choirteachers.blogspot.com/ Kyle Gardner- Choir Teachers
  20. http://www.pauldraper.org Paul Draper- Draper’s Blogspot
  21. http://johnwilborn.wordpress.com John Wilborn- John Wilborn’s Weblog
  22. http://iknowithink.blogspot.com Leo Park- I Know…I Think
  23. http://gluedtothestring.blogspot.com Stan Haskins- Glued to the String
  24. http://musicedtech.wordpress.com Barbara Freedman- Music Ed. Tech.
  25. http://tomrudolph.berkleemusicblogs.com Dr. Tom Rudolph-  Make the Most of Notation Software
  26. http://teachingthewirechoir.com/ Dale Lewis- Teaching the “Wire Choir”
  27. http://docandry.edublogs.org Dr. Kevin Andry-Dr. Andry’s Band Blog
  28. http://sperham.wordpress.com Steffany Perham- Perham’s Prattlings
  29. http://alexruthmann.com Alex Ruthmann- Alex Ruthmann’s Blog
  30. http://www.beatechie.com/ Carol Broos- Be A Techie:)
  31. http://musicanthology.org Geejay Arrioloa and Jeffrey Langlois -Music Anthology 
  32. http://southiowamusiced.blogspot.com/ Michael Compton -Southern Iowa Music Education Network
  33. http://qachsband.edublogs.org/ Eric Wright- QACHS’s Band Blog
  34. http://alleyjazz13.wordpress.com/ Alison Hulihan- Marching Music
  35. http://rogerwhaley.blogspot.com Roger Whaley -The BandEd ToolShed
  36. http://mgrondin.edublogs.org Martha Grondin-Artful, Tuneful, Beatful
  37. http://percussioneducationonline.com Kevin Tuck -Percussion Education Online
  38. http://www.musicteachersblog.com Janice Tuck -The Music Teacher’s Blog
  39. http://bnceducation.blogspot.com Steve Raybould, Kriston Feldpausch -Band and Chorus PMS/PJHS
  40. http://musicedshare.wordpress.com Kyle Krstolic -Music Education Share
  41. http://musicedforall.blogspot.com Dan Leeman -Music Education for All
  42. http://amymburns.musiced.net Amy Burns -Elementary Music/Music Technology
  43. http://www.music.erinnwrobel.com Erinn Wrobel - Notes From The Mitten
  44. http://dougbutchy.wordpress.com Doug Butchy - Confessions of a Band Director
  45. http://studiobeemusic.com/mutech Rich Blenkinsopp - Studiobee Music
  46. http://musicmiddleschoolandweb20.blogspot.com/ Susan Hurst - Music, Middle School and Web 2.0
  47. http://www.kirki.co.uk Dr. Phil Kirkman -Music Education and Technology Blog
  48. http://tufsdblogs.org/winze Ann Winze- WI Orchestra
  49. http://thirddivision.org David DeVoto - Third Division
  50. http://collaborativepiano.blogspot.com Dr. Chris Foley - The Collaborative Piano Blog
  51. http://bandguys.wordpress.com Matthew Pelandina and Mike Lewis - The BandGuys’ blog
  52. http://tanbur.wordpress.com David French -The Music Education Blogspot
  53. http://musicteachers911.blogspot.com Larry Marra -Music Teachers 911
  54. http://www.pianoteacherblog.com Rebecca Brown -Piano Teacher’s Retreat
  55. http://wordtogo.wordpress.com Steve Mugglin -Creativity and Songwriting in Music Education
  56. http://totalmusiceducation.blogspot.com Greg Albing -Total Music Education
  57. http://teachingmusicbs.com Ben Baker -Teaching Music
  58. http://susanadavis.blogspot.com/ Susan Davis -Music Technology Musings
  59. http://www.howtopractise.com (yes it’s a “s”, it’s an English spelling) Mike Saville - How To Practise
  60. http://www.free2create.com/blog Valerie Kampmeier - Free 2 Create
  61. http://musicmattersblog.com Natalie Wickham - Music Matters Blog
  62. http://theresawhite.edublogs.org Theresa White - Education In Music
  63. http://africlassical.blogspot.com William Zick - Africlassical
  64. http://discoverlearnplay.blogspot.com Eugene Cantera - Discover, Learn, Play (MusickED.com’s Blog)
  65. http://mstrismusic.com Ms. Tris - MsTrisMusic.com
  66. http://www.learn-theory-music.com/learn-theory-music-blog.html Julian Partridge - Learn Theory Music Blog
  67. http://www.guitarticles.net Tennyson Williams - Guitar Articles.Net
  68. http://creativekidmusic.wordpress.com Dan Thompson -Creative Kid Music
  69. http://educacionmusical.blogspot.com Oscar - Educacion Musical - Music Education (Our first, in Spanish, ME Blog!)
  70. http://rizzrazz.vox.com/ Dr. Eric Rasmussen  - Rizz’s Blog
  71. http://reband.wordpress.com Mr. ReBand
  72. http://www.techtempo.com Brenda Muench - Tech. Tempo
  73. http://www.thomasjwestmusic.com/blog.htm Thomas J. West
  74. http://musictech4ed.edublogs.org Andrew Spang  -MusicTech4Ed
  75. Click this link.   (A very log blog URL…) Jon Ensminger -Pedaplus
  76. http://techtoysandtunes.blogspot.com Richard McCready - Tech Toys and Tunes
  77. http://downpressup.wordpress.com Derek  -Downpressup
  78. http://listenlearnmusic.com Rachel Rambach - Listen and Learn
  79. http://jazzworks.wordpress.com Allan Perkins - Jazz Works
  80. http://msgallant.edublogs.org Alexandra Gallant - The Misadventures of a First Year Music Teacher
  81. http://www.acousticpath.com/blog Cameron Grant - Acoustic Path
  82. http://musicteachercafe.viviti.com/ Scott Ashby - Music Teacher’s Cafe
  83. http://www.frogstoryrecords.com/player_journal.html Stever Carter - Frog Story Records/Player’s Journal
  84. http://thirdstream.musiced.net Cary Stewart - Third-Stream Music Education
  85. http://michiganstatepianopedagogy.blogspot.com Derek Polischuk - Michigan State Piano Pedagogy
  86. http://fromthevoiceof.blogspot.com Elizabeth McDonald -From the Voice of…
  87. http://urbanmusiceducation.org Sarah Johnston -Urban Music Education
  88. http://musiced.jasoncrews.net/ Jason Crews - Music Education Resource Blog
  89. http://www.classicalguitarblog.net Christopher - Classical Guitar Blog
  90. http://willie42.globalteacher.org.au/ Andrew- Split Three Ways
  91. http://mjsheetmusictips.blogspot.com/ Marilyn Johnson - MJ’s Music Teaching Tips
  92. http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/ Brandon Pearce - Music Teacher’s Helper Blog
  93. http://jeane-metroyo.blogspot.com Jeane Goforth - Scrollworks and Metropolitian Youth Orchestras
  94. http://www.oparp.blogspot.com Dr. Robert Phillips - The Opinionated Arpgeggist
  95. http://www.wikyblog.com/CynthiaWunsch Cynthia Wunsch  - The Unlikely Entrepreneur (Click the Blog Tab)
  96. http://mineoladrama.blogspot.com Joe Owens - MHS Theater
  97. http://andyzweibel.com Andy Zweibel - Music Musings and Other Randoms…
  98. http://musicschoolsbc.blogspot.com/ Stephen Robb - Music Schools BC
  99. http://paulbailey.us Paul Bailey - Paul Bailey’s Blog
  100. http://edubuzz.org/blogs/alancoady/ Alan Coady - Alan Coady’s Musical Blog
Please visit them today, congratulate them, and learn from what they have to offer as they do from each other and others like them. Best Wishes for a Happy and Peaceful New Year,                            

29 Dec 2008

FJH Publishers, Naxos Music Library, And BandFind

Just a quick update about three items I was pretty excited about while attending the Midwest Band clinic this year.   First, my good friend and fellow ME Blogger Travis J. Weller (The “Big Dog”), was in attendance greeting folks at his first year as a composer with FJH Music at the FJH booth in Chicago.   I have to tell you it was pretty cool to see him “working” the crowds.   This year FJH had a banner year for sales and I told him that the “chances were that it may or may not” be directly attributable to his amazing compositions now offered by them…  which is 100% true however you look at it… really!

In all seriousness though, Brian Balmages who is an outstanding composer has done a great job as the chief editor for FJH (and very savvy with regard to technology) and the works that he, Travis, Tim Loest and others at FJH are putting out are of the highest quality.  They should be on every-one’s list to peruse and perform.   Travis’ composition American Visions, is a must have for any library and I encourage you to see for yourselves.

My good friend Randall Foster, was in attendance with all the folks from the Naxos Music Library.  We had a number of discussions about some great and cool upcoming items/changes to expect from them in the new year.  Naxos is switching to a flash player for all their streaming and this will provide a much higher rate of stability and quality for all of their music streams (which are already good).  In addition, they are constantly adding to their already fantastic list of Wind and Concert Literature. 

The importance of our “kids” learning what about what real excellence is in music and band literature can not be understated.  I wrote a great article about this very topic here entitled, Citius, Altius, Fortius -Faster Higher, Stonger and would encourage all of you to read it.  Like me, Randall is a real SOB (Son of a Band Director -The famous Robert E. Foster, Composer and Conductor) as well as a fine musician and educator.  His intimate knowledge in the areas of concert bands and wind literature is one of the many reasons he is so good at what he does with Naxos.

Finally, a quick note about a great find at the last minute -bandfind.  This very well may be the answer to the “perfect” social network/utility for band directors.  This product touts complete event management, student management, communications abilities, storing and sharing of media, and database management (in a future update).   Better yet, if you sign up for it now (and tell them that mustech.net sent you ;) ) you’ll receive a lifetime of yearly renewals free.   This only applies to the first 700 organisations that sign up for it.  I plan to review this project and talk about it a couple of upcoming posts as well as interview their CEO and President Chris Purifoy in an upcoming podcast.  Take the full tour of Bandfind here.

That’s all for now, I’m getting ready to go home (There’s 8 inches of snow in Chicago!).  It’ll be a slow drive!