I am just starting my third year of teaching, yet I am amazed at how much technology has changed the classroom environment. Those who have been teaching many years might complain about not knowing enough about technology, but I find myself not knowing much about the latest technology! Administrators are advocating more and more technology use in the classroom, and they are giving us the resources to do it.
Last year, my middle school principal had a faculty meeting showing us how to use the program Skype, a video conferencing application. He mentioned how it could be used to have guest speakers about the Civil War, or ask questions to an astronomer, or a million other possibilities. As a music educator, I probably bring in about three to four guests a year to work with my students, more than any other instructor on campus, but this meeting gave me a new idea.
My students had been working on a piece Hymn and Fantasia by Elliot Del Borgo. We planned on taking it to contest, but there were parts of the piece that did not necessarily make sense. After my faculty meeting, I emailed Del Borgo, informing him I had a band that was working on his piece and that they could use some insight from the composer himself. I asked if he would be willing to Skype, and he said "Absolutely, let me know when you would like to do it!" After trading dates back and forth, we finally agreed on a date in March of 2013.
Preparing to Skype
Prior to the actual date, some testing and experimenting was required. I spoke with my building's technology coordinator about doing a test run to make sure this was going to work correctly. There are several components working at the same time that needed to be carefully coordinated.
Computer/Internet Connection
I used my own Macbook (laptop) so I would have more mobility for set-up. A desktop computer can work just fine, but you may be limited on where you can set up your computer. My school just installed wireless Internet this last year, so this was a perfect way to test it. Skype can still work with an Ethernet cable connected to your computer, but it is just one more cable you have to deal with.
Video
Even though my laptop had a built in camera, I wanted to be able to set-up the camera a little higher so the clinician could see the whole group. One of my students brought in a webcam, a Microsoft LifeCam Studio 1080p HD Webcam, which runs $50 on Amazon. It has a USB connection that worked perfectly on my computer. I did not own my own webcam, and this gave my students an opportunity to invest in this experience. We also hooked the computer up to our digital projector so the whole group could see our guest.
Audio
It is hard to record sound using a built-in microphone on a computer, especially if the computer is five years old like mine. Webcams also have built-in microphones, but they are not designed to pick up an entire band. Most directors have access to a decent recording microphone for their ensemble. I have two condenser mics for my band, but was afraid it would make the set-up too complicated. One of my students already had a decent microphone, the Blue Yeti USB microphone, which runs about $100. Since this is the most important component of the set-up, it is important to get a microphone of the highest quality within your means.
A few days before the actual call, we tested the configuration to make sure it worked. Since the building technology coordinator was also one of the math teachers, the math class had an opportunity to listen to watch and listen to the band play through their contest pieces. It is amazing how the atmosphere changes when your students perform in front of their peers. It was a good exercise for contest!
The Skype Session
Mr. Del Borgo and I exchanged Skype user names and coordinated a time, taking into account time zones (he was in Florida). I also requested my students stay through their second hour class to make the most of this opportunity. When 8:00 am rolled around, we called Elliot Del Borgo, and there he was, in the comfort of his own home, and his pajamas, looking down on my band! Admittedly, we could only see his head, so it was more of a "Great and Powerful Oz" experience.
We played through his piece and he had great things to say. My students loved getting to meet the composer of the piece and learned a lot.
Some disadvantages:
- His speakers were not high quality, so he was not able to get an accurate account of tone.
- There were some instances the session would freeze up, but he got the gist of it.
- Nothing beats having the clinician there in person!
- The students had a face to go with the composer!
- Though he may not have heard perfectly, he gave us some standard contest preparation advice.
- Errata: there were at least ten errors in the score/parts that we changed because he had them marked from previous performances.
- Questions: we could ask him his intention of certain parts of the piece and the students received great insight into what was happening in their music.
- He did not charge us for the time, so we just simply sent him a thank you note!
Finally, I would like to say what a blessing it was to get to meet such an influential composer, conductor, musician. Seeing him at MMEA a few years back, I knew how inspiring Elliot Del Borgo was as a musician and person. When I found out in late May of his passing, I didn't know what to think. This man had influenced so many people in his life, and it was an honor that he took a couple hours of his time to sit with these young musicians.