ERIC Number: EJ754960
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007-Feb
Pages: 4
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1069-7446
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Audacity in Vocal Improvisation: Motivating Elementary School Students through Technology
Sichivitsa, Veronica
Teaching Music, v14 n4 p48 Feb 2007
Every day, music teachers face the challenge of motivating less-confident student singers in general music classes. Teaching vocal improvisation can be a difficult task, because students are often self-conscious about their voices and too intimidated to sing in front of their peers. Technology can be an excellent motivational tool in the classroom because of the additional options for teaching activities it can give the teacher and students. In this article, the author relates how she managed to incorporate technology into classroom teaching in a meaningful way. Here, she discusses the free Audacity software program that enables students to experiment with their voices, make mistakes, and try again without being judged by other students or the teacher. In this minilesson, students listen to a prerecorded accompaniment with the teacher's vocal calls and record their improvisational responses.
Descriptors: Educational Technology, Elementary School Students, Creative Activities, Music Teachers, Music Education, Self Esteem, Singing, Technology Integration, Student Motivation, Computer Software, Teaching Methods, Computer Uses in Education
MENC: The National Association for Music Education. P.O. Box 1584, Birmingham, AL 35201. Tel: 800-336-3768; Web site: http://www.menc.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A

Direct link
