Music Education in the Digital Era

 

Ms. Ho Chiu Lam

 

In the digital era, we use technology to improve our lives. For example, convenient mobile payment allows people not bringing cash to go shopping. In areas important to society, such as the education field, educators often incorporate technology into their lessons for better learning outcomes. In music education, technology has helped to improve students’ musicality, as well as enhancing teachers’ ways of teaching. As a former music student and a current music teacher, I will share my experience and personal view on the use of technology in music education from both perspectives.

 

When I was studying at high school, I tried using different kinds of technological devices in my music classes. I found some were quite useful, for example, the music notation software I still use to do my compositions- Sibelius. This software makes the presentation of my scores neater and easier to read compared with those hand-written. Before I learnt to use Sibelius, my compositions were written on paper in pencil. After my music teacher taught me how to use this music notation software, I can simply press the notes on the MIDI keyboard to insert notes into my digital composition, instead of drawing the notes one by one. Furthermore, the technology gives me courage to make changes to my composition because of the “undo” and “redo” buttons. I can also save a few different versions of a composition. As the instrument I usually play is piano, sometimes I am not able to recognise the pitch ranges of other instruments. If you notate a pitch that an instrument is unable to play, the software will show these notes in red to remind you. To me, the biggest advantage of using Sibelius is that I can listen to the harmonisation straight from the software while composing orchestral pieces.

 

At University, I was recommended a software called Auralia. Auralia is a comprehensive ear training software. At first, I did not have much motivation to do the training exercises. However, after my accuracy in answering questions increased, I was pleased to notice the improvement in my aural skills. I think that this software is good for self-directed learning because students can progress at their own pace.

 

As a music teacher, I think that musical technologies help me design enjoyable activities for students. As some children only know how to play simple songs on the keyboard, I use virtual instrument apps on an iPad to let them experience jamming with different instruments, which can be done by simply pressing the keyboard. In the past, teachers could only let students play small percussion instruments which made learners quickly feel bored, apart from the fact that this way of teaching could not be applied to young children.

 

Another technology I have used in teaching is the automatic piano playing system called Pianoforce. Sometimes when a student plays a melody on the piano, the teacher may need to play the accompaniment with both hands, which is difficult to the teacher because they cannot take care of the student and at the same time play the accompaniment. With Pianoforce, auto-accompaniment becomes possible as the keys on the piano can move automatically.

 

Although musical technologies help a lot in music education, I believe that it is important for teachers to explain to students that technologies cannot replace musical instruments as  technologies do not possess the same level of music artistry as that expressed by playing musical instruments. Therefore, there should be a balance between using technologies and musical instruments in music education.