• All workshops are ‘hands-on
• Participants should bring their own laptops
• Suitable for Mac and PC users
• Sessions will use a range software applications including Audacity, Acid, GarageBand, Sibelius and free internet resources.
• Software applications will be available to download/install prior to the workshop once your registration has been received.
COST (per workshop)
$130.00 (members)
$190.00 (non-members)
TIME
9.30am - 3.30pm
VENUE
Statewide Resources Centre
150 Palmerston Street, Carlton
Melway reference — Map 2B:H6
Booking essential
Lunch is provided
SCHEDULE OF WORKSHOPS
Term three
Thursday 28 July Teaching composition Mac
Friday 5 August Teaching composition PC
Thursday 25 August Amazing audacity
Term four
Thursday 13 October Interactive whiteboards
Thursday 10 November Sibelius Advanced
Friday 25 November Sibelius Scanning and MIDI files
FULL DETAILS OFWORKSHOPS
Amazing Audacity: Recording, Editing, Sound Stories and Backing Tracks
Friday 29 April
Thursday 25 August
Audacity is free audio editing program for PC and Mac and an indispensible tool for music teachers. This all-day workshop will look at some of the great ways that Audacity can be utilised in the music classroom and instrumental teaching studio:
- Learn how to edit songs from your iTunes library - change tempo and pitch, remove vocals, create fade-ins/outs, alter the song form
- Edit audio files to create short musical examples and embed them in your Powerpoint or Keynote presentation
- We’ll cover the basics of recording student performances and discuss the equipment options to build a simple recording kit
- Record your own fantastic sound stories: make your voice sound like a chipmunk, Darth Vader, a ghost, a robot, or sound like you’re in a concert hall and learn create sound effects from scratch
Sibelius Basics: Scores and Worksheets
Friday 4 March
Learn how to get started with Sibelius the right way. Set up a new score, discover the most effective ways to enter notes (with and without a MIDI keyboard) and learn quick copy and paste methods. We’ll also cover lyrics and guitar chord symbols, repeat signs, dynamics, articulation, copying and pasting methods, basic layout tips and methods for sharing your scores with non-Sibelius users such as students and other teachers. The latter part of the day will focus on creating worksheets from scratch and using Sibelius’s inbuilt Worksheet Creator.
You should attend this session if:
- You are a new Sibelius user or you have a small amount of Sibelius experience
- You only use the mouse for note entry
- You feel you may have a few “holes” in your Sibelius knowledge
- If you’re not sure whether this session is right for you, please email katie@midnightmusic.com.au
Things you MUST bring:
- Your laptop with any version of Sibelius (or you can download the demo version here: http://www.sibelius.com/cgi-bin/download/get.pl?com=sh&prod=sibdemo
- A Full-size computer keyboard (with numerical keypad) that plugs into your laptop’s USB port. Borrow one from your school for the day or purchase one for around $20 from places like Dick Smith, Harvey Norman or Officeworks
- A mouse
Please note that MIDI keyboards will be available to use on the day
Web 2.0 Tools for Music Teachers: Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts and social media
Friday 11 March
You may have heard about blogs, podcasts, Wikis, and social media but what are they really, and how can they benefit the music classroom? During this workshop we’ll unlock the mysteries of these powerful tools (plus a few extra ones) and discuss the ways they can specifically apply to the general music classroom, as well as the school music ensemble and instrumental programs. No prior knowledge is assumed. The day will be divided into 3 sessions:
- Session 1: Blogs in the music classroom – learn how to set up a class blog and individual student blogs for free; discover the ways that blogging can enhance current student assignments such as listening exercises and composition diaries; see examples of real-life student and teacher blogs
- Session 2: All about Wikis & Podcasts – discover how to create effective and collaborative online class research projects with Wikis; learn how to make and share your own podcasts
- Session 3: How social media tools such as Twitter and Facebook can help your music program – discover great ways to showcase student work, maintain contact with parents and friends of the school, seek support, make meaningful connections with international students/teachers, and access free professional development and advice that’s on tap 24/7.
Interactive whiteboards in the music classroom
Friday 18 March
Thursday 13 October
Interactive whiteboards (IWBs) have become a permanent fixture in many music classrooms, and can be a great tool for making music literacy and performance fun and engaging. They are part-regular whiteboard, part-projector screen and part-multimedia tool all rolled into one.
This session will explore ways in which you can enhance your delivery of music content to students by integrating audio, notation, video and animation. Learn how to adapt and rethink your current activities without having to re-write your curriculum. Discover why it’s not about finding a one-size-fits-all software program and why IWBs are not just for showing Youtube videos.
During the session we’ll talk about effective (and fun!) ways to use your IWB for:
- Teaching music literacy skills
- Delivery of aural training exercises
- Creating a bank of learning resources that can be used many times across multiple classes
- Recording student performances
- Enhancing listening classes
- Creating soundscapes, arrangements or compositions
- Effective class ensemble performances
We will also look at a range of software solutions (many of them free) which work well on IWBs as well as regular data projectors. Lastly, we’ll explore freely-available interactive websites and ready-made music lesson plans for your IWB software, Powerpoint or Keynote.
This session is suitable for primary and secondary teachers and beginners and technophobes are welcome.
Sibelius Advanced: Formatting, Drum Notation, Playback Tricks and More
Monday 2 May
Thursday 10 November
Take your Sibelius skills to the next level with this workshop for advanced users. Discover the best ways to layout and format your score whilst harnessing Sibelius’s powerful inbuilt formatting features. Learn about house styles, how to create your own manuscript templates and tips for working with instrumental parts. We’ll tackle drum notation from scratch, playback tricks, setting up your own shortcuts, filtering, and time-saving plugins. Participants are also encouraged to bring along a score they are working on.
You should attend this workshop if:
- You are comfortable using Sibelius
- You know a minimum of 2 note-entry methods
- You’d like to know how to do things more quickly and effectively
- If you are a new or inexperienced Sibelius user, please attend the Sibelius Basics workshop
- If you’re not sure whether this session is right for you, please email katie@midnightmusic.com.au
Things you MUST bring:
- Your laptop with any version of Sibelius (or you can download the demo version here: http://www.sibelius.com/cgi-bin/download/get.pl?com=sh&prod=sibdemo
- A Full-size computer keyboard (with numerical keypad) that plugs into your laptop’s USB port. Borrow one from your school for the day or purchase one for around $20 from places like Dick Smith, Harvey Norman or Officeworks
- A mouse
- Optional extra #1: a portable MIDI keyboard
- Optional extra #2: a score that you are working on
Please note that MIDI keyboards will be available to use on the day
Getting Started with Film Scoring on your Mac
Thursday 12 May
Delve into the exciting world of film scoring using GarageBand, and explore composing, arranging, recording and editing music, whilst synching sound to visuals. The session will start by investigating the film scoring process by examining the roles of the music team: composer, editor, orchestrator and copyist. Using short films, we’ll create our own movie soundtracks by adding sound effects, creating mood music and character themes. We’ll also learn about hit points/time markers, cues and cue sheets, time code, scrubbing and synching and discuss a step-by-step approach to teaching film composition with your students. Attendees will leave with a set of resources including lesson plan ideas.
This is a hands-on “bring your own laptop” session using GarageBand. Participants without laptops are also welcome to attend. Suitable for Mac users only (PC users can attend the PC Film Scoring Workshop); no experience necessary.
Sibelius Scanning and MIDI files
Friday 27 May
Friday 25 November
Do you have a shelf full of scores that you’d like to arrange for your students to play? With Photoscore Lite (which comes free with Sibelius), you can scan scores directly into Sibelius where you can rearrange them. For instance, take a Bach chorale and rearrange it for brass ensemble, or transform a viola part into a 3rd violin part. Or perhaps you have a MIDI file of a favourite song you’ve downloaded that you would like to use as a basis for band arrangement? Sibelius allows you to open MIDI files directly and will interpret each instrumental part as a separate stave. Scanning music or opening MIDI files are great ways to get notes into Sibelius quickly – once you know a few tricks. This hands-on workshop will cover tips for importing the song, cleaning up the notation, changing instrumentation and transposing parts to create quick arrangements in Sibelius.
Although this session is designed for both new and experienced users, a basic knowledge of Sibelius will help you get the most out of the day.
Things you MUST bring:
- Your laptop with any version of Sibelius (or you can download the demo version here: http://www.sibelius.com/cgi-bin/download/get.pl?com=sh&prod=sibdemo
- A Full-size computer keyboard (with numerical keypad) that plugs into your laptop’s USB port. Borrow one from your school for the day or purchase one for around $20 from places like Dick Smith, Harvey Norman or Officeworks
- A mouse
Please note that MIDI keyboards will be available to use on the day
Getting started with Film scoring on your PC
Thursday 9 June
Delve into the exciting world of film scoring using Acid Xpress and explore composing, arranging, recording and editing music, whilst synching sound to visuals. The session will start by investigating the film scoring process by examining the roles of the music team: composer, editor, orchestrator and copyist. Using short films, we’ll create our own movie soundtracks by adding sound effects, creating mood music and character themes. We’ll also learn about hit points/time markers, cues and cue sheets, time code, scrubbing and synching and discuss a step-by-step approach to teaching film composition with your students. Attendees will leave with a set of resources including lesson plan ideas.
This is a hands-on “bring your own laptop” session using Acid Xpress (free download ahead of session). Participants without laptops are also welcome to attend. Suitable for PC users only (Mac users can attend the Mac Film Scoring Workshop); no experience necessary.
Teaching Composition with Technology (Mac)
Thursday 28 July
Technology can offer an alternative, engaging approach to teaching composition when used alongside tried and tested conventional composing methods (ie. employing the use of a pencil and paper!).
This session will begin by looking at arranging techniques and compare multiple versions of a single song. Using a looping program like GarageBand (Mac) or Acid (PC), we’ll rearrange our own song while focussing on tangible musical aspects like structure, texture, timbre, harmony and form which incorporate key arranging and listening skills.
We’ll move on to the creation of original material – in bite-sized pieces at first – by creating loops from scratch which can be added back into your loop library and shared with students. We’ll also discuss ways you can adapt repertoire you are currently using in class, and examine the art of remixing (a cooler term for “arranging”), by looking at the audio-visual creations of artists like DJ Kutiman and Pogo.
We’ll look at effective ways to use introduce notation programs like Sibelius or MuseScore to composition students and discover how audio recordings of student compositions can provide aural and visual feedback. Lastly, we’ll discuss methods for using technology to track student progress by using an online blog for reflection or for providing feedback from teacher or peers.
No previous knowledge of software is required for this session and beginners and technophobes are welcome! Suitable for middle-school and secondary teachers.
Teaching Composition with Technology (PC)
Friday 5 August
Technology can offer an alternative, engaging approach to teaching composition when used alongside tried and tested conventional composing methods (ie. employing the use of a pencil and paper!).
This session will begin by looking at arranging techniques and compare multiple versions of a single song. Using a looping program like GarageBand (Mac) or Acid (PC), we’ll rearrange our own song while focussing on tangible musical aspects like structure, texture, timbre, harmony and form which incorporate key arranging and listening skills.
We’ll move on to the creation of original material – in bite-sized pieces at first – by creating loops from scratch which can be added back into your loop library and shared with students. We’ll also discuss ways you can adapt repertoire you are currently using in class, and examine the art of remixing (a cooler term for “arranging”), by looking at the audio-visual creations of artists like DJ Kutiman and Pogo.
We’ll look at effective ways to use introduce notation programs like Sibelius or MuseScore to composition students and discover how audio recordings of student compositions can provide aural and visual feedback. Lastly, we’ll discuss methods for using technology to track student progress by using an online blog for reflection or for providing feedback from teacher or peers.
No previous knowledge of software is required for this session and beginners and technophobes are welcome! Suitable for middle-school and secondary teachers. |
