The Book is a Go! (Music Appreciation)

I just wanted to let my happy blog visitors to know that the book is a go! Between comments I received via email, blog comments, Facebook, Twitter, publisher inquiries, and just the constant traffic that my blog receives for music appreciation material, I know this is the right thing to do.

I’m moving along very briskly (I’ve got a lot of material to draw from) and I’m looking to have the book out in both print and Kindle formats before December 2012 - just in time for those second semester Music Appreciation classes!

To make sure that you get updated on when the book comes out, signup for the email list. I promise I won’t sell your information or even harass you about anything else. I’ll just make you aware when the book is available.

Click here to signup for the email list!

Also, I’ve started to offer my services as a consultant to teachers and schools who are looking to design progressive music curricula for their school. I’ll write more about it as it takes more shape, but if you’re looking for some assistance, contact me here. 

If you like some of my ideas and want to help support me as I continue to write, think, and refine, then… you should consider getting the book when it comes out! 

>

New Article in General Music Today

Before I forget, my article titled, “Soundwalks, Community, and the Secondary General Classroom,” is now available in the October 2012 issue of General Music Today*. You can access it through your NAfME membership or, if you’re at a college, you can probably get it through your library. Enjoy!

(*Yes, I’m aware it is not October yet.)

Here’s the abstract:

This column presents an outline for the secondary general classroom. The project, called a “soundwalk,” requires students to use music, sounds, and technology to create immersive, cinematic audio tours of their school and community. The author argues that the soundwalk is a perfect opportunity for students within secondary general music courses to be creative in new ways and to share their work with peers, parents, and other community members. The process for creating a soundwalk is outlined and a resources section includes links to examples and further reading.

Come see me LIVE! (It’s just like a blog, but with higher resolution video and sound.)

I know, it’s hard to believe. But, it’s true. You can see me LIVE AND IN PERSON… talking about nerdy music education things. There might be some additions to this list, but I’ll update when I hear about those. If you have an idea for a place I should speak, then let me know!

PechaKucha Night - July 22 - 8:20 PM - Krannert Center, Urbana-Champaign, IL

If you look at the picture above, you’ll see a sketch of me in the bottom right corner. I was very excited to be asked to participate… I think the whole event is going to be great.

What is PechaKucha? 
Well, it goes like this:

Presenters are selected because they are passionate about an idea - it could be anything! Each presenter (there are 10) creates 20 slides. Those slides are then assembled to advance every 20 seconds. This means that every presentation is 6:40 long! This brevity (along with the beer) allows for a fun evening of ideas and passion. 

I will be talking about the changing nature of music and the unchanging nature of music education. It should be fun!

There were 400 people at the last PechaKucha night in Champaign. Don’t YOU want to see what all of the hubbub is about? Click here to see the Facebook page for it. 

Illinois Music Education Conference - January 27, 2012 - Peoria, IL

I will be giving two presentations on the Friday of the next Illinois Music Education Conference (formerly the All-State Convention). I think I might be participating in a panel discussion, too. I’m just happy they invited me back after my session last year. 

(Read below the break to see what I’m talking about!)

Read More