View from The Bridges -Class Performance Project- #2

Back again.. to get a better picture of who was doing what there is a dedicated list which we
followed except when that person did his or her "segment" - it is as follows :

Andy/Jane - audio
JoEllen - video mixer/audio
Sunmin - camera
Laura - camera
Julie - computer
Scott - computer/ video mixer/ director
Jane - overall stage manager/MC/ video

*The order of segments were those done by the following


Scott's: Blocking The Block
Laura: View from Under the Bridge
Jane: What's Up With Talking?
JoEllen: Ethersketch
Sunmin: Bridge of the Moments
Julie: Dreaming of Going to Korea
Andrew: Andy will be putting together 5 30-60 second transitions that will separate each piece.

Although we had a false start, our first segment by Scott went off pretty well. His collaborator - a guitarist,was on another floor-and was ready to start again. We had, it seemed, taken off without Andy's tabla playing which I really thought added so much-- I was responsible for the on-stage patter, and a Master of Ceremonies ' "act" -

Laura's piece worked well.. she had a dancer at another local location- waiting to dance via skype
and they did well... they danced simultaneously

Jane: I had the most complicated film and skit - I think it went OK- although it needed precise timing to really make it effective.. my long distance collaborators were able to get through
Mariangeles read the excerpt from Luciano Berio's Sinfonia -( very highbrow) and she would lapse into Spanish-
Then my segment went on - me trying to write a song but not wanting to get hung up in words..
Then Ernesto came on board - he had found a way to load in his pictures into the Skype program
as a slide show.

In between the segments came Andy's Tabla

Next was Joellen's Ethernet painting that used the Coccinella server - that has a chat room where you set up a "white board" and various people in different locations can create drawings simultaneously. I did my best with that...

Sumin - used Julie to sing an original piece and she composed something for the piano as well

Julie had a skype collaborator, Myung, from Korea - playing the theme from The Titanic on
a whistle type instrument

It ended nicely - it went over time however and through the whole presentation, we had a n audience person, Synthia - projected on the ceiling through a computer/projector combination.

It was a great experience to work that hard to create something that short!- with collaborators from nearby localities to Buenos Aires and Korea - but we did it and it had a lot of substance...
One has to know the entire production -) - it was experimental - it would have been really awesome if we had had the time to make it "really seamless" -

Our class performance for the final project "View from the Bridges" -was scheduled for Dec 15th at 7PM. As I was driving downtown, with my on stage script, additional papers for the skit and the DVD made from the .mov file, my mind was going through the last details I would need to accomplish for my segment as well as envisioning the set up schematic drawing sent out by Scott. The class needed to arrive between 4-and 430
for our set up and possible trouble shooting

We had decided to scale down some of the equipment after a meeting held two weeks previous to the 15th. Here is the list of the equipment that would need to be in place, based on the needs of each performer.


3 projectors
3 computers
2 cameras
1 video mixer
2 switches
2 VDAs
2 canopus'
3 computer connections
4 composite cables*
10 s-video cables*
Power strips as needed
Extension cords (power) as needed
Converter connectors as needed
1 audio mixer
2 microphones
Audio cables as needed
AND a DVD player

All the class members worked together to bring the equipment into the studio from different locations: Tom Beyer's office, 7th floor and the Monitor Station on the 8th floor. There was trouble getting the ether connection for Dr. Gilbert's Lap Top- (which was dedicated to the "skype" collaborators ) it's connectivity remained unsolvable until Tom Beyer came to check it out- and it appeared that there was something wrong with the school's Ethernet connection- so we moved to wireless for the "skype Computer" -- Meanwhile,I brought in cables, and Projectors, Vda's and switches...made contact via skype with my own laptop to check on my collaborators, Mariangeles Rajoy, and Ernesto Lacalle in Buenos Aires ( they were two hours ahead and waiting patiently for us to contact with them)

We accomplished our set up in approx 1 1/2 hour - and at that point - we had to re-test the Ethernet connection and as mentioned earlier, we switched to wireless. -The DVD player was brought in by Tom Beyer at approx 615 PM..we connected that,
and by 630 were pretty much up and running.

Besides helping with the overal set up, I had to experiment some with Coccinella - which has an interactive paint program with a white wall room -where many collaborators can draw/paint using the tools on the left - Jo Ellen had envisioned this as her segment- and I was to be part of this effort.

To Be Continued: stay tuned

Simplify and Know What You Need

More on the process of developing our production:

We all had to rethink our set up and that process was very positive.
Tuesday, the class was given a deadline - the setup with cameras, projector, audio and computers had to be set and functioning by 8PM - we were not able to make the deadline, hence, the rethinking that went on until 10:30--

The outcome: Simplify and really know what you need for what action TB made three columns on the board and each class member made their choices of "where" they wanted their movie, their Skype, their "live" shots to be projected to..and from that simple thought process, we could then see better, what pieces were needed to accomplish this.

We got a lot closer to realizing the setup and the performance as a whole. We also have a tentative order for each class members' piece.
Here is a list of what we will need "for sure"- as simple organization will save time in the end.

Inventory- Views from the Bridges

7^Th Floor TB’s Office

3 Projectors w/cables

2 switches (Radio Shack)

1 (or possibly 2) VDA ‘s

2-3 DVI Mac Adaptors

1 Tom’s Bag of Tricks

2 Canopus

---------------------------

2 Mac laptop COMPUTERS

--------------------

8^Th Floor Monitor

Mackie Audio Mixer Onyx 1640

2 Sony Video Cameras

2 tripods

2 Microphones

4 XLR Cables

2 Mic Stands

2 mic clips

Ederol Video Mixer

Assorted S-Video, B&C,

RCA connecting cables

Tape

Artists tape

Gathering the Puzzle Pieces

More about the process of gathering ideas, materials, technical knowledge and collaboration; I have completed my photography jaunts...taking the Canon SX120
with me on several dedicated "shoots" looking for the perfect "talk" for my short
"mini film and stills" - Then, uploading from the Canon into the Mac Book was much simpler than I anticipated..as I went along, I learned more about I Photo and how to
store previous pics as well as the newer ones within dedicated folders.

From time immemorial,man has also been fascinated with animals "talking" - therefore, I had to grab a little of Mr. Fox being shown on a wide screen television in the Best Buy Store - (I was on a TV talk show excursion -so you will hear the sound of Best Buy)- With all of this done, I set about opening I Movie - and importing all the files I decided upon. I spent several days exploring different transitions and video effects and as this was progressing, I realized that it wasn't enough - and that certain "live" segments would need to be intertwined as action against the background of images and sound track.

I am now working on a script- for myself, the solo performer, and my two collaborators from out of the country who are long time friends and artists of the spoken word, and architecture. They are from Buenos Aires Argentina, and now, we have decided to collaborate using Skype.

My next hurtle, then, is to "time" my little spoken parts and at what point, they will come in to speak theirs... and also how to end it. This is a very complex process indeed-as this must be accurate cues for the class members at the tech table .

Economic Strings of Talk -A Gaggle of New Companies

As I went searching for a few vocabulary "help"words, I found more acronyms in one paragraph,than ants on an ant hill - how interesting it is to see the new companies which deal with imposing standards on "talk".


Jingle is an extension to the Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP). It implements peer-to-peer (P2P) session control (signaling) for multimedia interactions such as in Voice over Internet Protocol or videoconferencing communications. It was designed by Google and the XMPP Standards Foundation. The multimedia streams are delivered using the Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP). If needed, NAT traversal is assisted using Interactive Connectivity Establishment (ICE).

Blue Streak II - The Anatomy of Talk

OK... so it's create time--
Each of the class members are now envisioning their own Mini "Across The Ether"
A Multimedia Five to Six Minute Moment to be placed within the larger piece called Views from the Bridges.

I have always been very aware of the sound or timbre of peoples voices...hence, talk and it's function in life. Since our theme is "the bridge as a connector", then "talk " itself has a life of it's own within the Big Picture and certainly fits right in...it functions as a bridge between people... although it can be combustible, inefficient, over used...and folks aren't always on the same "page", it still is a treasure trove of connectivity. Talk also has many technical companions; the cell phone being one - not to mention the Pod cast and streaming talk shows. Other new formats such as Twitter, I Chat, and Face Book are here to stay, and it's where your finger tips do the talking.

Here are the steps I need to make to produce my segment:
1) I am inspired to take a song I wrote and produced called "Blue Streak" - which is a pop type song about "talking" - In this track are Ham Radio recorded segments - and they were mixed in with the instrumental tracks. as well as lyrics
that pertain to the subject matter-)

2) Load it into Logic ( and for this I went to work with another musician- we
took sections of the original track and created loops -and made an Mp3file
3) I loaded the Mp3 of Blue Streak II into Garage Band , where I did further editing, then into I Movie. With this , my project had begun.

4) Choosing a new Camera - It's time to have a tool which I can easily carry -and spontaneously capture videos - purchased a Cannon 10Pix SureShot for this and other
upcoming things - took the camera out for a few excursions- attempted to capture random people talking - but it was rather difficult !!

5) I then set up a few appointments with some fellow grad students, friends etc.to
film them on their call, having a conversation- I gave them a lot of freedom --

5) Collecting photos and videos to import into I Movie using the Cannon - almost finished with this process./

6) Deciding on Live Script and contacting possible overseas collaborators -
Several People come to mind and I have contacted then via email. I would like them to contribute using the "art form of talk" - A funny phone conversation, read poem... speak of something in a different language, etc.

7) Now ,I need to decide what format of web-based application for instant messaging and voice over internet protocol (VOIP) I will need to accomplish this...and that will depend on the persons involved and their physical location.

Class Project- View from the Bridges

Across the Ether and the work we, the class, did to help make it fly left me with an interesting impression: Once I had some working technical knowledge of "camera one", my body changed into a camera man's/woman's body ! -At one point I was crawling underneath seats pulling on cable and for a moment, I fit right in ! No one is just one thing -

One cannot grasp immediately the depth of information needed for all the mechanical and technical details one has to have to set up a project such as Across the Ether...it kept unfolding layer upon layer - yet, we worked together and shared information to make each of our jobs comprehensible.

Now, we are embarking on our own production and are confronted with using/choosing technical knowledge that will be needed for View from The Bridges (the title we decided upon). A Bridge is symbolic of bringing together two lands....

A thread is forming ; a creative idea for my contribution : My recording of an original song..entitled Blue Streak is about "talk" and the proliferation of it as society gobbles up wireless communication - and even now it's dated yet it's my creation and can be the sound track for mini movies of the many ways "talk" has a life of it's own.

* Today I planned to film some of the 59th Street Bridge,however, the weather and wind were slightly daunting - oh well.....

Relentless Preparation Pays Off - Sunday

From my Notes ;

I'm sitting in the theater- it's early on Sunday morning - I'm here close to 9am - sipping a coffee
and pondering the vast amount of personal energy, knowledge and collaborative "thinking" that a production tech person needs for all of this-- One has to be able to work as a piece of a big machine...in charge of an unformed puzzle.

TB has asked the early people to turn on the projectors and camera's and see if they are working...The personal laptops are unpacked and set up on the tech table-and the Mac Pro's are disconnected and repackaged.

Someone in our team (class) has made sure we have the daily schedule - for NYU and another table that shows Across the Ether as a complete production, -an 8 column table which features six characteristics; - the names of the pieces, it's description, ensemble size, the personel - if there is visualization that goes along with it - and the time it will happen - this is a good thing. We also have a Stage Production List which is a "who does what" guide of the class members.

Aside from the production itself,and it being one of the first of it's kind, the major lesson of this experience is to fully see how important the preparation process is in matters of this kind. Unfor-see-able issues ...like the one which occurred in Across the Ether was that the new Mac Pros were incompatible with the video data...this threw us off schedule. Audio connections with the other schools was an issue - we were able to see them but not hear them.

Theater Techniques:
We had to mark the stage with special colored tape -all the instrument positions especially the 9 ft. grand had to be placed in two different locations -one must how a 9 ft grand is going to be placed when there are dancers and a percussion ensemble performing.

By 2PM The performers began drifting in - and the theater changed into "rehearsal mode" -with dancers warming up.The NYU Percussion Ensemble took stage to have a run through -

I put on my head sets and snap the controls onto my belt -and as i look through the LCD monitor, I am certainly part of this digital multimedia world -- Camera one is responsible
for recording the entire piece from the back of the house- center stage-while cameras two and three are stage left and stage right.

The Tech Table - Label Label Label

Several classes ago, Tom Beyer brought to class three boxes and asked if I would take an inventory of what was in those boxes, and from that, I should know what would be needed for set up that night: I then really and truly learned what a switch was and what a VDA ( or video distribution amp) is, also DVA's come in different flavors ... one has to look at the back to tell what sort of inputs they have.. These small pieces are part of the Tech Table set up - Everything
must be labeled - the cables which are used to connect VDA's to Switches , switches to computers -all the pieces have to be identified- artist tape was used.

VDA’S (Video Distributor Amps) - TOTAL - 9

4 TecNec brand - w/4 svideo

2 3X1 Brand? S. video

2 w/audio 2 separate imputs /TecNec

1 (configurable) -

a) 1x 3

b) 1x2 , or 1x6

_______________________________________________________________________

SWITCHES (Analogue- Passive ) TOTAL- 6

2 grey (MEM) brand svid + RCA

3 Sony brand S.Vid + RCA

1 Radio Shack RCA only

_______________________________________________________________________

MINI MONITORS TOTAL - 5

2 Marshals brand

3 Sony brand

3 AC Monitor to Camera Power chords

COMPUTER VIDEO SWITCHES - 2

1) CVG- 4x1 switcher –

2) “ “ “

Getting Ready- the Real Setup

With coffee in hand the Collaboration Class Members meet early on Saturday, Oct 31 at the Frederick Loewe Theater. We are doing our rehearsal "setup"for "Across the Ether" (Across the Ether is a four-way production across the continental U.S).- Tom Beyer and Dr. Gilbert are chatting quietly - and I feel ready to run some cable!! (By the way, The theater has an 9ft Steinway grand on the stage - and it's a good sized "house", which can hold 500 people approximately... much , MUCH bigger than the class room on the 7th floor.

From my notes:
The first thing I learned was that the schematic - the sketch of the suggested setup, was being changed....and time and scheduling is of the utmost importance, as we had to make our first test of the internet connections by 12:30/right after lunch- so, as not to waste any time, the class members who were there, assisted Tom Beyer(TB) with equipment needed at the stage.
From the 7th and 8th floors, we moved two projectors, the large mixer, 3 cameras with tripods, the boxes containing DVA's, switches, tech table lights, the video mixer ( mixer 2)- one huge cable chest(which was exclusively video cables ) and another huge case we brought - all audio cables and extra power strips. Three new Mac Pro computers in their boxes came too. Hand carts were on the scene-- (I love hand carts)- I called the big one a "Dolly"- and Tom quickly corrected me- "no, it's a hand truck"- I have used these to move music equipment and large
pieces of furniture -and always thought the two names were interchangeable-yet an hour later,
I realized that a dolly is something different-yes, so much of a profession and being professional is knowing the vocabulary...And certainly, in the AV world -there is a huge and important one.

TB called out several tasks to be completed- tripods set up and cameras set up were among those- I did the tripods, and, since I was operating camera 1, I made it my job to "meet camera one" - to get it onto the tripod, get it power, get familiar with the zoom capabilities -and most importantly, what type of cable was it going to require - I had never used this video camera in class. I saw that I had a choice between a composite cable connection to B&C and the S.Video type. Camera one also was further from the tech table - another factor to consider. From our classes with TB, I knew that B&C cable transferred "info" over longer distances with more clarity /quality than S.video and certainly composite cable. TB spent a few moments with me
to go over the procedure; Composite into B&C - composite cable (short), an adapter -to B&C -and B&C would take the signal to the tech table....we learn by doing

Meanwhile:

Video Cables had to be tested and placed in piles according to type: B&C, Composite, S.Video - video cables are stiffer than audio- and to handle them correctly is an art in itself. While several class members completed that task, I assisted at the tech table ; the dark cloth had to be secured with artists tape - ( and every simple sounding task like the latter, can be hugely important) - TB (Tom Beyer) explains; in a dark theater, the cloth has to be up -so that we can have easy access if searching for a cable connection underneath..Outlets tested: TB gave me the task of testing all outlets in the house- and all power strips -
another task that must be completed before laying the cable...

Mackie Mixer Moves

As a vocalist and keyboard player, I own a Mackie mixer. It's fairly new but has only 6 channels and is not the multilayer-ed "beast" that Tom Beyer brought into the class for us to work with.
Mackie makes these large analogue mixers with functionality in mind- as part of a PA sound reinforcement system, as well as a live audio and video recording machine - where there will be monitor and main speaker mixes, head phone mixes and video. One aspect of this Mackie that I am not so sure of is Bus Channels so, I went searching:
Bus: compute data channel: a channel or path for transferring computer data, especially between the central processing unit and a peripheral device. Therefore, having these BUS channels means that any tech setup where data will be controlled via computer, will need an analogue mixer with BUS Channels - boy, I hope that's correct thinking!

The class has used this Mackie three times for different setups and there is something so beautifully powerful - and yet so simple about setting up for Audio --it is the most straight forward; Three mics, three XLR cables , female to male etc. three boom stands and
three input channels at the back of the mixer. The straight line approach, although not necessarily the one that will work in every day life, is the one that works in audio. From A to A to A to A etc.... keep things uniform. Number 1 mic into #1 Cable into #1 Input at the back of the mixer, and then controlled by the #1 Chanel.

Connectivity - More About Cables

Perhaps I am more interested in CABLES and CONNECTORS then I ought to be; however, as
our Collaboration Class progresses through more complex setups I respect man's development of this type of technical "workhorse" --the BNC and RCA connectors and their uses are described here: It is an alternative to the RCA connector when used for composite video on commercial video devices, although many consumer electronics devices with RCA jacks can be used with BNC-only commercial video equipment via a simple adapter. BNC connectors were commonly used on 10base2 thin Ethernet networks...

The next and more complicated set up Tom Beyer took us through was a more realistic video setup that would most likely be used at NYU for our part of the artistic collaboration project coming in November. Cameras' 1,2, &3 into audio distribution box of their own and then into video mixer 1, then into video mix 2 into vhs- and in this class, everyone gets the concept of "keep the numbers lined up" -in other words, if you have numbered the csmeras, then you number the inputs, and outputs to be consistent with the camera number

Lights, Cameras, Action

Professor Tom Beyer, Dr.John Gilbert and the Collaborative Class are involved again with setup. The above photo is the small but mighty BNC connector cable (male version) Incidentally, the electronic and cable world is heterosexually oriented...that is, male to female, and female to male...(more said about this soon)

Class Room Collaboration is assigning three people who may have three different strengths and weaknesses to one camera station; that is, the one person, male or female may be more informed about tripods and one other person more informed about cables. The third may have Tech Intuition(there may or may not be such a thing) that also can be used for trouble shooting a problem.

The Diagram or pathway for this first setup is Camera 1, Camera 2, and Camera 3 are being set up with correct cables which then feed into a small video mixer, and then into a VHS and then to a projector

Class members begin to match their camera outputs and mixer imputs, since that is the
first pathway. Cables to choose from: S. Video Cables,BNC,RCA. Then, Tom has several kinds of adapters - all separated by type in the neatest drawstring bag. Pretty Cool.

Up in Tok Alaska + our class doings here at NYU

Oct 6
Our class teamed up with Professor Tom Beyer this last Tuesday evening for a trip through hands on video setup. I learned many things. In the past, I roomed with several music tech people who went out on the road - touring with productions yet, after these several classes, I never realized how much goes into working as a tech..( I was just happy to have the apartment to myself-), however...Lighting tech, video tech, sound tech...it's all very specific stuff- time to get ones brain organized...

We were to be there early - this class was the first of three, where each would take his or her turn dealing with the proper cables, inputs, adapters, cameras,tripods,and a small mixer as well as trouble shooting when/if certain connections did not go well. It is this I think: we, the class members could take time,but in real life, a professional, has a set up schedule until show time...and then his/her set up must be perfect.

Video editing and video conferencing are phrases I have known and that have passed through my own lips, yet, the hands on "doing" is quite another thing. So,I went searching though the web to find "just a practical scenario " for justification of all of the new technology and how middle aged people who are not in a progressive eastern university setting up for an artistic collaboration project...how and what they are doing with video, now that it has become a regular household item.

And this story popped up- "Co working in Rural Places" A woman in Tok, Alaska writes of her new thoughts using Skype and using video conferencing :

My understanding of co working is to create a space — rent, build, borrow, co-op — where people who work remotely and solo can work in close proximity with others, usually people in similar industries, but not always. The purposes for doing this vary, but it helps diminish the isolation, provides networking opportunities, allows cross-pollination of services, and generally builds community where there otherwise was not one because of the inherent separation of working remotely.

SHE SAID: When your options — or even suitable coworkers — are so limited, video conferencing seems a viable option for creating a pseudo co working “space.” Just the other day, my Denver-based business partner and I wound down our video chat but didn’t hang up. We both just started doing our work while still connected on Skype.

When I realized, I laughed and pointed out to her what we were doing. But do you know what? Before I had paused to mention the fact that we had both started working while our video chat windows were still open, I actually had felt for those few minutes that we were working in the same room. We were independent, yet together. That feeling is what co working offers, so why not do it via video when you can’t actually be there?

What a medium-- and as people spread out over the globe, it means great things from
different corners of the globe at the same time..being an audio visual geek ain't so bad!

Traveling and Documenting

Some thoughts
It took a while, but as I adjusted to NYU and the Masters in Music Education Program, and talking with musicians as well as navigating the web - (and that I had been doing for some time ..since the mid 90's.) -I realized something very simple- that the World Wide Web and the related technology that has sprung out of it has made it necessary to document what we do..if it's going to have any life span to it. Technology now makes it possible to capture every "move we make" - either we'll be watching us(I) or someone else will be sharing the same thing-- so what's up with this? Do we all have to have great hair cuts..clothes that are up to date and tailored,
complexions that sparkle--(just in case we are captured on a pic or a vid that will end upon You Tube ?.....(and , that's now a global thing.)

Parallel in time to the advancement and accessibility of video and other "capturing devises" is the development and accessibility of EDITING devises-simple deletes or more complicated but doable ...No longer is it just the honor of the Movie Director who yells "CUT.cut,cut " ..but it could be me or the guy in the Fair Way - Editing-- taking away what is not necessary, embarrassing, bad audio noises - and anything that is not going to fit the philosophy/intent/artistic direction of the overall video/ pic. I have often used a funny expression in conversation - "Ok roll back the tape,I take that back" ..yes,a form of editing! In this fast moving present, that responsibility is in the hands of all of us with our digital cameras and recording devises that are able to do more every time you blink an eye- and that in itself could change the consciousness of mankind...editing.Just a bloggy kind of a thought!

Pe

Details DO Matter ...Creating the Movie

This is my second movie/video creation - Details are ever so important...but most of us are aware of this- however, I'll retrace my steps -starting with the music:

Since the very first scraps of "Let's Do Something Strange" came into being, they were always accompanied by images..and I thought,"Hmmmm" the song is finished now,all I need to do is edit it down and fade at the guitar solo. However, I began to experiment with sounds in Garage Band..and added Crickets, Birds,and Evening Jungle- they blended with the track in certain spots..wonderful. The next detail was to see where the Google Images would take me-) and learn the I Movie software simultaneously. That took almost an entire day- but I'm getting speedier )

I edited "Something Strange" and added the "nature " sounds and faded it in Garage Band - about 2min 44 seconds(approx) - imported it into I Movie. I had to learn how to get around the commands like; where were the transitions hiding? Would the video effects work with still shots.. experimenting seemed unavoidable. Searching for suitable images gave a bit of inspiration to the project. Enter search topics for "beautiful nature" ,moon,evening sky with birds, sunsets, mystical forests, holding hands,lovers under moonlight, Space age, exotic places for living,etc. I stopped to realize that all the things I was searching for had a deep root in me -they had all been positive imaginings..or real somewhere in my life. Hours of collecting and selecting - then placing them on the time line...It took half a day to figure out
how to play what I had "so far" without highlighting a section,and highlighting would cause the movie time line to stop...after any section which was highlighted..
details -details....

Adding the video effects and transitions(once I located them) was certainly the most fun of all -several mistakes in timing -and they had to be fixed...gently sliding the sound track to once again fit the action...several miss steps turned out to be "Keepers" -OH I love when that happens.

Post on You Tube was my "tour de force" I DID IT! - then,onwards to the Blog Spot Blog page..there,I faltered ...I have two Videos embedded!!-(to be continued )

Let's O Something Strange ( A Self Portrait for a Short Segment of Time)

Tools to Start the New Construction

Greetings.. tales of my tech trip into i Movie
I have several days to work on the movie assignment -and since I've already created a movie project using Microsoft Movie Maker, it would stretch my abilities by looking into i Movie
on the Mac Book.

In class, we were reminded that it was more efficient to start the sound track first, and
In case there are any un-savvy tech folks out there, the best program for me was to use Garage Band for the main track and extra sounds, and then export that over to i Movie - I used sounds of wildlife and explored a few other man made ones... and they all were sounds that were favorites of mine, that attracted my ears, heart and mind from early age...in other words,
everything had a root in me.

These programs, are really just tools. It's a whole new system of "building". It just occurred to me this morning as my insecurity with this process is something that I must control ..yet I ask questions and keep moving. Again, they are the NEW tools in a new Tool Box, and just as most anyone would know what a set of pliers will do, we now have to know (there's no choice any more)-) what garage band will do for us-what i photo will do as a tool, and so on. We are the
new "constructionists".

Now I Get IT!! -)

In my lifetime-or should I say- now in my life time, I am witnessing the revolutionary effect of computers on music learning. With the aid of a computer, musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) protocol, and MIDI instruments, and home recording software, we can now offer an educational environment in which people of all ages can compose music with little difficulty. ( well, you've got to read the manual and have time to experiment)

The next revolution in educational technology (and one which is developing rapidly in the math and science education arenas), is the linking of students electronically in "virtual learning communities." These communities allow students to communicate, either synchronously or asynchronously, with other students, other teachers and other experts who are located in different places. In music education, music composition is suited best for this type of electronic collaboration.

I am about to embark --literally, jump on a ship with Capt.John Gilbert, a professor at NYU Steinhardt -as we explore the world of technical collaboration with other music education grad students... more soon...