These were words of advice instilled in me while studying music. Surprisingly though, I never really knew what this meant until well into graduate school. I had already experienced many teachers who alluded to this idea, but they never took the time to explain, and often times their advice was contradictory. "If you want to be good, you need to put in at least 5 hours of practice a day. But don't over do it. Take breaks!" they would say. This conflicting advice left me feeling as if I were grasping at straws. Does ear training count towards the time? Wait...what if I have chamber music that day? Does that count? Finally, after realizing I didn't know the answers, I decided that the easy answer was this: when in doubt, do more.
Wrong!
Just how does one practice smarter? As teachers, it is our obligation to teach our students how to practice and study. This requires not only passing along the knowledge or skill we are attempting to teach, but it also requires that we provide them with the proper tools and techniques that encourage and support independent learning. Technology, coordinated with other effective teaching methods, can be one of these tools. It can compliment other methods while also raising their effectiveness.
If our memories are short, we may believe that the technological "should we or shouldn't we" conundrum is a recent question. Yet, if we look back far enough, it is actually a question that has been with us for a long time. And, thankfully, many times we did choose to integrate the latest technology with astounding results. This integration of technology was employed with intent and purpose. It was not entertainment or a substitute for great teaching.
Integrating technology into the classroom, or education for that matter, is not about technology taking precedence. It is about linking technology with all the other tools and methods at our disposal. Integrating, at its fundamental core, concerns unification. It is based upon need, what has come before, and takes all details into consideration. Integrating technology into the classroom provides the opportunity to link lessons and subjects like never before. In fact, it can allow us to travel the world. Through technology we hear the sounds, see the vibrant colors, speaking with its citizens, all from the seat of our chair.
When I was a child, pre-internet, hearing these sounds would have required travel, either down to my local record store (which probably wouldn't have had what I was looking for) or traveling half-way around the world. So, most of us relied upon our fossilized textbooks, out of date and horribly expensive (thus the reason for it being out of date). Fortunately, we now have the opportunity to learn and teach with technology. Through tools like Kahn Academy and Story Corps, what was once a one dimensional subject takes on a three dimensional life with versatility and practicality.
So, how does one use technology to promote independent learning and not simply entertain? According to Caitlin R. Tucker, we should think big but start small. Use of technology should be purposeful and woven into the tapestry of educational tools. There is still a time and place for lecture, reading aloud, and written tests. However, we now have the opportunity to compliment these tools with technology.
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Now, let's fast forward ten years. These days my music practice consists of solo practice, ear training with my Ear for Life app, a lesson on skype, and recording myself with my iphone. And this is just for today. Tomorrow can be a different combination. Interestingly, I no longer need those five hours. I practice intelligently and with purpose. I no longer play through things without a plan. I isolate problems and brainstorm solutions. Best of all, I have a full toolbox of methods at my disposal.
