The use of technology in Music Education

In my country, Brazil,  we are facing now a big challenge in Music Education. Since 2008 Music became again part of school curriculum after banished around 40 years ago. What to teach and who is going to teach is still an opened question. Many EAD (something like Distance Education Course) opportunities are being given by universities to supply the demand of new teachers or to help them complete their specialties in the field. In this way the use of technology is essential and a primary force to engage these people in this new path.

On the other hand, what to teach is still being discussed and is a subject that each school can decide for itself. They can decide to teach instruments, to have music lectures, to present shows and concerts, to give lessons of music appreciation or even the exclusive use of technology to develop some music skills or knowledge.

My particular opinion is that we must use technology and traditional methods in equal balance. Following the same ideas discussed by the Edinburg-born cellist Peter Gregson, music and arts in general are activities that demand and develop social contact. As he mentions no computer program is able to tell the pupil how to hold an instrument, how to use the bow in a better and proper form, and I add that no computer program can show how to use your fingers, nails, arms and shoulders in a guitar or even a piano and many other instruments.

On the side of the human contact no device can stimulate encouragement, self-confidence and, above all, understand the human being sitting there with their fears, doubts, inquires, etc. A human teacher is an essential tool in education, in all areas.

In my work as guitar teacher I use technology to prepare my lessons. Much of the material that I need can be researched on the web and printed directly from there. The use of pre-recorded material, playbacks and other software’s make the tasks easier. Even when I study I prepare some things in a software like Encore to play together and have a more sense of technical development or as a preparation when I have to play in ensembles.

In general the use of technology can be well balanced if thought as tool and with an oriented use. Of course that there are special cases when the student has already a previous knowledge, self-confidence and has developed some criteria about his studies when the use of self-directed education can have good results. That’s essentially what we do in these MOOC’s.