Seating Charts using Word & Excel

Whenever I need a quick means in which to create a seating chart, I use either Microsoft Excel or Word.  Excel is efficient in that it takes less time to put an initial chart together, but it's more of a pain to move instruments around after it's completed.  Here is an example of a setup for my 7th grade using Excel:

(click on image to enlarge)

It takes longer to put together, but I've found Word better suited for a chart when I need to change it, and add or subtract instruments as the year goes on due to adds and drops, or just because I want to experiment with different setups.  I like Word better in this case because I can move around these objects to where I want them to go.  This is not as easy to do with Excel.  Here is an example of an end result in Word:

(click on image to enlarge)

You may have noticed that I don't use the charts to show music stand placement.  This is because I simply place the stands one next to the other a few inches apart, and it works out well.  I never bother with numbers, I just line them up next to each other.

What do you use for seating charts?  Is there a better program out there?  I'd love to hear your feedback....

Video Game Tournament to Motivate MS Fundraising Sales

Using this easy strategy, my brother and I both got the most participation in a middle school fundraiser - without any prize incentives!! Middle schoolers usually sell the most, so this is geared toward this age group.  In fact, I got the most participation of any SCHOOL, according to the fundraising company.

The goal:  Get as many kids involved in your fundraiser to get maximum amount of profit to benefit your program.

Forget prizes.  Fundraiser prizes usually stink, to be blunt.  They are mass-produced cheaply made, and the novelty usually wears off 5 minutes after they receive them.

Target what kids want - something they themselves could not do or get using their own means.

My time is valuable - This takes minimal preparation and time commitment to you in relation to the amount of monetary gain.  The kids do most of the work for you in terms of preparation and equipment!

Here's how to pull it off:
1. Host a V.I.P. type party for those who sell X number of the product being sold. Our magic number was 5.  Sell 5, and get entrance to the party.  5 more gets you and a friend.  5 more, another friend, etc....  We allowed for non-band members if they sold enough to bring friends.  The bottom line was to get them to sell.

2. Party location was at the band room, outside, gym, and cafeteria - use resources at your disposal.  Find a day where you can use these rooms at the same time.  Open gym requires some supervision, use booster members, HS students, parents.  Band room was the video game tournament room.  Students brought in their own console game systems with Rock Band, Dance Dance revolution, Mario Kart, etc...  It is more appealing when they bring in all the cool controllers too, such as the guitar controllers for Rock Band, the dance pads for Dance Revolution, the steering wheels for Mario Kart, etc....

3.  Each video game console station is a tournament run by HS student to keep track of winner bracket.  Winner of each game gets pic taken to be hung around band room.  Each bracket and game station has only one game.  So one station is for Dance Dance, one for Rock Band, etc.

4.  Once everyone arrives, have them all register for the video games they want to compete with by putting their name on competition bracket. Process of elimination, once they loose, they goto a different game.  I usually had one station with a game like Rock Band on easy that was NOT for competition, just for fun, usually set on easy level.

High School Student Responsibilities:
- Each video game station should have at least 1 high school student there to keep track of the tournament.  Students sign up for whichever game(s) they want to compete in on a bracket.
- Optional: Have a big high school football player/band member be the bouncer who checks people off the list (kids thought this was funny/cool), find a velvet rope to put outside entrance to band room if you have a direct entrance
- Lead games in gym - Extreme kick ball, extreme duck duck goose, simple games of basket ball, 3 pin, dodgeball, etc...  Come up with new games, what games do they like to play the most in gym?

What you need to think about in advance:
- Print out blank brackets (similar to the sweet 16 type brackets so students can fill in their names)
- Assign parents and HS students responsibilities
- Assign students to bring in foods (students with last name A-F bring drinks, G-L bring cups or food, etc...)
- Assign which Middle School kids will bring which games/consoles/controllers.  I did this last few minutes of class a few days in a row.
- Facility request forms? Reserve rooms you want to use for party - Gym, Cafeteria for food, band room, etc...
- Extra TV's on carts from media center.  I put these all in the band room.

That's about it.  The students supply everything!  The only thing I had to do was coordinate the event, and be present to enjoy the few hours of a fun party.  You may even go so far as to submit the pics of the game tournament winners to the school paper for added bragging rights.

What has generated the most participation and sales in your fundraisers?  I'd love to hear your questions, input, ideas, suggestions in comments below.

Playing Tests Options: Voicemail, Recording Device, Smart Music?

I'm constantly trying to find the easiest, most efficient, most accurate solution to assessing students on an individual basis.  Since we do not have Smart Music available yet at our school, I want to get some of your input on the best solution to hearing hundreds of students take playing tests.

I've used both voicemail and Google Voice in the past as a means to hear tests.  I love the voice to text email/texting option that google voice uses, but it's not really necessary when hearing a trumpet blat out an etude and a scale.  (But it is rather humorous to watch google try to translate a playing test into words!)

My most recent effort to hear tests included using the Zoom H4 recording device.  However, this took about 3 - 5 different class periods to get through each individual student, and then (literally) about 2 MONTHS to grade them all.  So that ended that fiasco.  There just has to be a better way w/out smart music as an option.

So I'm curious to see which methods you all use for evaluating and collecting playing tests!  Please share comments and ideas!

Talk with up to 5 people on Skype!

from a skype post about conference calling - We should try this some time...!


How do I make a conference call?


It is now possible for up to 5 people to conference call with Skype! Starting a conference call is simple and there are several ways to do it. If you want to dial several people all at once and start a conference call with them, you first need to select participants from your Contact List by holding "ctrl" and clicking them. Once they have been selected, click the conference toolbar button. This will show you the conference tab and you will see the names of the participants you have called. If and when these participants answer your call, they will be added to the conference.

Or, if you are already in an active call and would like to add an additional participant to a conference, you can select the person you want to add to the conference from your contact list and click the conferencing toolbar button OR you can simply right-click a new contact from your Contact List and choose "Invite to conference".

Keep in mind that the host of the conference (the person who started the conference) is the only person that can add new participants. In addition, because Skype conferences are done Peer-to-Peer, it's important that the conference host (the person who starts the conference) has a good Internet connection and computer. If you are planning to conference with many participants you should choose the person with the best internet connection to be the initiator (host) of the conference. Please read also our user guides.

Don't Type! Skype!

Looking for Twitter-ers!

This is going to be a re-occurring, constantly updating post where we can add new people to follow on twitter that use technology in music ed:

Recommended Educators (music & non-music) to Follow:

• @teaching_music
• @reading_music
• @band_techie
• @kfreesen
• @pisanojm
• @DoremiGirl
• @musicednews
• @ericwhitacre
• @Wrightstuffmusic
• @inspired_clsrm
• @MusicMarth
• @web20classroom
• @MusicEdTech
• @jimfrankel
• @techmusiced
• @mrsbrownmusic
• @bmuench
• @Zweibz7
• @Dougbutchy
• @thomasjwest
• @NicholasCowall
• @TravisJWeller

To Hear Or Not To Hear, It's Your Decision. Part 1

It's been about a year since I had one of the worst ear infections I have ever had. I'm not the type of guy who hits the doctor on a whim. In fact it takes quite a bit for me to decide to pay a visit and last year was one of those times. The infection was painful, I went on antibiotics and waited. Almost a week went by and it got worse and worse. What's up antibiotics? I went back and was in so much pain I could barely function. It turns out the infection was immune to the antibioticsI took so the Dr. prescribed some "serious" antibiotics. As he looked in my ear he said, "woah, that may rupture" referring to my eardrum. At that time I would have begged for any type of pressure release (even that). To make a long story short, the second round of antibiotics did work and my eardrum did not rupture. I returned to work and for several weeks had very little hearing in my left ear. I was scared. I wondered if this was permanent. As the hearing slowly came back I found that elevated noises were quite bothersome to me. This lasted for a couple of months and finally I was left with the strange sensation of listening to myself breathing and talk. The closest description I can give is when you talk underwater, your voice is amplified in a strange way. Fortunately my hearing was restored but I find that by the end of the day my left ear is quite fatigued, especially on days when I have talked more than normal. I constantly feel the urge to "pop" my left ear to equalize the pressure. I have been back to the doctor and have been told that there is little that can be done. The eustachian tube in my left ear is for a lack of better words a bit lazy and doesn't function properly all the time. Recently I had another small ear infection but now, being hypersensitive to this went to the doctor immediately. This one cleared up without a hitch but what I did find out is that my left eardrum has some noticeable scarring.

The second factor in this post is that my colleague (he has been teaching concert/marching band for the last 30 years) has invested in professional ear plugs in the past couple of months. The reason for this is that he has recently started to experience ringing in his ears and slight hearing loss. Also, my father played drums all his life (and is still in a band) and was diagnosedwith Tinnitus (http://www.medicinenet.com/tinnitus/article.htm) three years ago. He actually had a pretty strong bout of depression due to it because it is "maddeningly loud" at times.

Here I am, not only constantly exposed almost daily to noise levels well above the recommended amount for prolonged exposure (as many directors are) but also a drumset player that has played/rehearsed unprotected my entire life. A few years back I started playing in a band that was extremely amplified and sometimes in very small areas (I have since stopped playing in that band) and at that time my father was going through hell with his ears to put it lightly, and these two elements brought me to my first pair of professional ear plugs.

So there you go... to make a long story long, these are the events that have brought me to this post.

What is the difference between ear plugs and "professional" ear plugs?
The most common ear plugs that people purchase are made from wax,

latex, or the most common these days is memory foam. You squeeze it and place in the ear and they expand in your canal and they do a great job at elminating sound (all sound). When I first started using these I found it very difficult to hear lyrics and all sound was very muffled. They did the trick but made it a bit frustrating to perform. I found myself watching the guitar players hands to see rhythm because everything was a rumble. It should be noted that wax ear plugs work about the same. They cost anywhere from .25 cents to a couple of bucks.

The next type of earplug is what are commonly called "Musician Plugs". They have a small hole through the plug and the tip of the plug sticks out the ear a touch. With they type of plug there is a bit more definition in sound while wearing the plugs but it picks up certain frequencies easier than others and because of that, it doesn't give a truely accurate sound to the person wearing the plugs. The price on these can range from $5.00 to $50.00.

The final type that I finally purchased for myself are custom in-ear plugs with a special filter attached. Here is some of the info from a site that specializes in this type of earplug.

Westone Model 49 custom-fit musician ear plugs have been the first choice of performing musicians around the world for decades. The Etymotic Research acoustic filters installed in your Westone Model 49 musician ear plugs let you protect your hearing, but without distortion, so you can still enjoy the music and clearly understand the words you hear.

Over the years Westone Model 49 musician ear plugs have grown in popularity with concert attendees, music teachers, DJs, flight attendants, bartenders, waitresses, dentists, dental workers, and many others who need to be able to clearly hear but still must have noise protection. Westone Model 49 musician ear plugs are canal-only ear plugs that are virtually unnoticeable in your ears. The acoustic filters are user-changeable and one set of filters is included with your purchase of the Westone Model 49 musician ear plugs. The filters come in three attenuation levels: 9, 15, or 25 dB filters. For most performing musicians and most general noise users, we recommend the 15 dB filters. For vocalists, we recommend the 9 dB filters. Drummers and heavy industry workers will especially benefit from the 25 dB filters.

The filters are easily changed, and we sell the filters separately should you need the flexibility provided by different attenuation levels. We also include a solid set of filters which give you over 30 dB of attenuation. Though the solid filters are not distortion free, they give you the option of converting your Model 49 ear plugs into solid custom fit ear plugs which have many uses.

Now, this type of plug is quite expensive ($179 online) but I have really enjoyed my plugs since their purchase. I actually went to a hearing specialist (they are in the yellow pages) and had them do my custom molds. According to this website you can order the plugs yourself and do your own mold (not sure how it will turn out... I liked having a pro do it. Plus you get your ears tested as well). I picked up the 15db plugs but have considered trying a set of 9's. So here is the web site for one version of the custom plugs. http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/westone-style-49.html I have found that these plugs work really well. They need to be seated just right in your ear or they will not work properly but once they are in correct, they work great. It really is a reduction of sound allowing all frequencies in. It's like I turned the volume from 11 to 5.

As musicians, we must protect our ears... without them.... we won't have a job. Don't think it won't happen to you. My colleague felt that way and now he hears ringing all the time. Don't try to be a superman/woman. Once it's damaged, it can't be fixed.

The Jazz 100 and post-1980 addendum

NPR made a list of The Quintessential Jazz Songs.

In the chatter about The Jazz 100, the best comment I've read is from Peter Hum, who proposes we start thinking of a post-1980 addendum to the consensus.


Here's the Jazz 100 with MP3's, in case you haven't heard them yet.  

Youtube in Education - Without the Ads!!

Here is a great tutorial which shows any teacher how to remove unwanted text, commentary or inappropriate ads from youtube videos - making them safe for student population.

3 Cool Websites

1.  Rubistar - A rubric generator site.

2.  Gyazo - Forget using "print screen" on windows anymore!  This simple, small app lets you take a pic of a specific part of your screen.

3.  Noteflight - This web-based notation site would be great for a composition class - no expensive software licenses to purchase!  Did I mention it's free?  This site has been around for a while now - one of my students used it to compose a piece for Solo and Ensemble this fall.  Haven't messed with it much, but it's on my to-do list.  Get a VERY helpful list of shortcuts HERE

Finale Tips & Tricks

Some really helpful tips and tricks for Finale music notation software.  These are the handouts from the Michigan Music Conference Finale seminars:

Click here to got the page to download the "Finale Tips Tricks.pdf"

Just For Fun: Piano Improv Political Speeches

Saved the best for last.......

Drill Book iPhone App

The future is now.  Forget losing your coordinate sheets.  Now iPhone has an app for learning marching drill:

http://www.appstorehq.com/drillbook-iphone-58478/app

I'll say this - Students are 100 times less likely to lose their cell phones than their drill sheets.

RSS Feeds - What is that?

Here is a really nice video I found that explains what an RSS Feeder is. I have been using one for about 2 months and it has helped me cut way down on internet time searching for blogs and news. Take a peek.



Any ideas or tips you have found about RSS feeds? How about cool Smartphone RSS Feeders. Let us know!

Conducting in little or no light? No problem.

Check it out here.  Great for pit conducting.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/18179461/needlelite-lighted-conductor-baton

Got a Non-Music Sub? Try some of these ideas....

Fear and panic are usually my first response when I cannot get a music sub.  We've all had this issue at some point.  The dilemma of a non-music sub is complicated by the fact that bands can be HUGE in comparison to other classes, and trying to keep them engaged in the assignment can be a difficult task to say the least.  This really applies to a sub who may not know each student's name, and often does not have the background of earned respect that comes with building teacher/student relationships over time.

Here are some sites and ideas that may be helpful to you when you still want to use curriculum-friendly learning experiences:

1.  Jeopardy Labs
This site is great for when you need to make a quick game of jeopardy.  The best part about it is that it is all free!  Check out some of the examples I have used for subs in the past:

Band

http://jeopardylabs.com/play/band-jeopardy10

Musical Terms

http://jeopardylabs.com/play/musical-terms

More Musical Terms

jeopardylabs.com/play/more-musical-terms

2.  Music Basketball Game (done right in the band room!)

Include a pre-written list of questions and answers for the sub, as well as instructions on how to play.  click here for the instructions!

3. Music DVD's (with question sheets)

Make an accompanying questions sheet to keep students on task throughout the viewing.  These work very well when you will be gone for 2 days, so the students can watch the whole thing.  This means you need to watch the movie yourself and make questions.  Here is a list of some of my favorite DVD's that still apply to the curriculum:

"Amadeus" (PG version, not director's cut!)

"Blast!"
"Calle 54"
"Chops" questions available here

"From the 50 Yard Line"
"Keeping Score: MTT on Music" questions here

"Marsalis on Music" (any/all of them)
"Mr. Holland's Opus"
"School of Rock"

"Stomp"

Understanding Coordinate Sheets

Here is a marching band video I made to be shown at band camp before passing out coordinate sheets.

An Xtranormal way to present a topic

If you are not familiar with Xtranormal, it is a web site that makes a movie out of whatever you type.  "If you can type, you can make a movie".  There are many options, such as dialogue between 2 people (or things) with many locations to choose from.  The basic service is free, but if you want some of the really cool stuff, you need to pay to play.

Each option will let you know what is free and what isn't by displaying a $ sign by the characters or voices that require payment... so avoid them if you want the free service.

This is an example of one I made to help with understanding accidentals:

Just for Fun: Valve trombone lamp

This probably doesn't fall under the music tech category, but I just wanted to share for entertainment purposes.  I made my first lamp out of a valve trombone.

Let's share some information!

Check out the Music Educators Professional Learning Network web page.  It's got lots-o-goodies, and check out a list of music ed sites to follow on twitter!

Here is another great twitter link to follow for music ed: @techmusiced

This prezi was from the @theresawhite clinic "Twitter in the Classroom" at the Michigan Music Conference. Follow her on Twitter and ask her any twitter-related band questions!