So What Ideas Do You Have For Summer Professional Development?

http://www.finaletraining.com/PERPICH.pdf

http://www.mbda.org

http://www.ties.k12.mn.us/Professional_development_workshops.html

http://www.smartmusic.com/Educators/Clinics.aspx

So what ideas do you have for summer professional development?

There are several good ideas available in my neighborhood.  And if you don't live in Minnesota, we are not a bad place to visit when it isn't -40 degrees!

There is Finale training with Mavis Kallestad.  If you want to learn Finale or get better at it, Mavis does an excellent workshop.  The Perpich Center is the arts high school in Minnesota and I have always thought they do a nice job of hosting events for teachers too.  If you use SmartMusic, Finale is pretty handy for making your own accompaniments.  Pretty handy, as in the ONLY way to make your own SmartMusic accompaniments.

The Minnesota Band Directors Association is offering a Instrumental Teaching Symposium  in Moorhead. With J.W. Pepper offering a new music reading session in Fargo the same dates, this could be an interesting two for the price of one... August 4th and 5th.

There are a bunch of workshops at TIES.  Check their workshop schedule.  If you want to get introduced to a new computer program, these folks are great.  Lots of one day intro sessions on a number of different softwares.  I am thinking about some advanced Interactive White Board training.

The SmartMusic workshop in Rochester looks good too.  June 17th is coming up fast though.  Similar workshops are available through out the country.  Check the SmartMusic web site if you need something closer.  Although, if you need some medical work done, Mayo is not a bad place to go... maybe you could work that out. !-)

What is happening in your neighborhood?

TIES and Garageband

I finally took some time and sat down today with the current version of GarageBand.  I got to do this at the TIES training center. 

I have used GarageBand in the past, but mostly for journalistic kinds of recordings of live concerts.

Now I am looking for ideas on how to use it with students and it seems like it will be a good fit.

I met a young lady today who works at an after school drop in program.  She said that her kids there couldn't stay away from Garageband.  Knowing how kids can be after school, I know it will be good during school.

I think the first thing I want to do is fire-up the Wiimote and do a little show and tell with the Magic Garageband.  You can audition instruments and try different combinations right away.  That can be a great orchestration conversation starter.

It was good to have some time to look at this software.  I got the time by using putting in for a class at our school's training provider, TIES.  If you are in the Minnesota area, there is a chance that there is a class offering at TIES you may be interested in. They also do a big conference in December that is worth a look as well.

I know a "sit and git" session may not be the best way to learn technology.  But how else are you going to get started?  At TIES, you do get to try the ideas on a computer as you learn the software. You also come away with at least the basic idea and some resources to go further.  Throw in some nice company with some fellow teachers and you are bound to find a good idea or two.