Music Is Not for Insects

• Class D Amplifiers Are Shrinking and Greening Your Electronics | Listening Post from Wired.com

  Technology has democratized the music industry in many obvious ways — notice how every band, regardless of stature, has a MySpace page? But one of technology’s more subtle effects has been to make our sound systems smaller, lighter and greener.

• Make Your Own Music game - TVOKids.com

  Fun interactive mixer for kids…

• YTMND - Gustav Holst and the Venture Brothers pay homage to MARS, Bringer of WAR!

  Mars: The Bringer of War like you’ve never heard it before….

• A VC: Reblogging Music

  I’ve tried most every web music service there is and right now, almost all of my web-based listening is hapening on the hype machine and tumblr. … are two different takes on the same idea. Build a music service around the music people blog about.

• Articles Of Faith: Embrace boredom and ignite imagination

  EVERY SUMMER, PARENTS hear the lament, “Mom, I’m bored!” In the world of the busy child, the cry “I’m bored” may stir guilt in the parental heart. “Have I failed as a parent?” wonders the fully scheduled, multitasking dad or mom…

• Coordinating fireworks to music | Digital Noise: Music & Tech - CNET News.com

  Watching this year’s Fourth of July fireworks display in Seattle, I wondered how they coordinate the fireworks with the musical soundtrack–

• McInblog: Culturegraph and Steely Dan

  I’m also a fan because they’ve accepted a couple of my submissions (one Sting-related and one Michael McDonald related). The one that wasn’t accepted is probably only funny to die-hard Steely Dan fans…

• More music for the kids | Digital Noise: Music & Tech - CNET News.com

  I’ve had a lot of time this summer to watch how the next generation interacts with music and technology, and it’s making me feel like my parents. Two stories to illustrate my point:

It’s my first weekend home without thought of school on Monday. In spite of my feeling guilty about not posting anything really thoughtful for awhile, I am relaxed and looking forward to some time off from students.

I am also doing something I haven’t done in ages: watching TV on a Saturday morning. I stumbled upon a great show that wasn’t animated or involved inane plot lines over-acted by hyper teenage “kids”.

DEFINITELY NOT CARTOONS-

From the Top at Carnegie Hall is a show on PBS that highlights exceptional young musicians. The performances are jaw dropping, but it’s the format of the show that really has me excited.

In addition to some of the finest performances of classical music you will ever hear, each show is a story about the performers; a hip, cool, thoughtful, insightful and behind the scenes look of each performer. Concert pianist Christopher O’Riley is the perfect host who introduces us to each kid and their unique story in a relaxed and documentary style fashion. It’s refreshingly “un-masterpiece theater” in it’s approach.

THE POWER OF A GOOD STORY-

As each story unfolds, you see the kids practicing, talking about their families, interacting with their friends and before they even perform you realize: “Hey! These kids are normal!”. Normal in the sense that they have similar lives to kids and teenagers anywhere. Most live in modest homes; they listen to all kinds of music; they have homework and worry about their grades; they hang out with their friends and even wear cool clothes and watch TV.

GREAT MUSIC FOR ALL-

Even though the performers have exceptional musical talent, they are not weird, unapproachable, or somehow privileged. The producers and editors of the show have done a magnificent job of debunking the myth that “classical” music is unapproachable or only enjoyed and experienced by adults who can afford tickets to the symphony or opera. As you get to know these kids, the power of story reveals a profound truth: the transcendence of musical performance can be experienced by anyone.

DEFINING AN EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE-

As a music educator, my initial reaction to this show could have been, “There is just no way kids can be this good. I’ll never work with kids at this caliber….woe is me; I hate my job! I could have been somebody other than a teacher of ungrateful losers…self-loathing, etc.” But it was impossible to feel this after I got to know these kids by watching them eat pizza, tell some jokes, and see them interact with parents. It wouldn’t be fair. Their exceptional performance was not born out of some freakish accident or circumstance unrelated to my own experience. I was inspired to do my best and be as passionate about music (or anything) like these kids.

WEB-SITE RESOURCES FOR YOU AND YOUR STUDENTS-

I believe your students will have the same reaction to these performances. You can find all of the TV shows on-line at the From the Top website. There is also a link for podcasts and some great teacher resources.

I am thankful the producers of From the Top at Carnegie Hall decided to include more than just performances by exceptional musicians. That alone would have been enough for you and me, lovers of great music. But I think our students would have been unimpressed or confused about such great performances. It’s the story and relationship developed between the performers and the viewer that creates a rich experience. In this way the exceptional performance is not weird.