The Arts and Innovation

This new study out of Michigan State University shows that people who participated in arts activities as a child are more likely to generate patents and launch businesses as adults.  Another interesting fact highlighted in the article shows that if people started studying the arts as a young child and continued into adulthood, they were more likely to become some kind of inventor.  This related list gives examples of famous people who were once in marching band.  Perhaps the aforementioned research explains the key to their success!

The Value of the Arts

This TED talk by Ken Robinson, entitled "How to Escape Education's Death Valley," speaks to the importance of the arts in education.  Sir Ken argues that creativity is essential because it gives value to students who are not passionate about "core" subject areas.  He states that "many highly talented, brilliant, creative people think they're not because the thing they were at at school wasn't valued, or was actually stigmatized."  As music educators, it is therefore our responsibility to encourage our students to make the arts a lifelong activity so that people are not "educated out of their creativity."  This is a must watch video!

Go Cards!

In light of the World Series starting tonight, I thought that this video of the "Orchestra World Series" would be appropriate.  In this clip the brass sections of the Boston Symphony and the St. Louis Symphony show their support for their home teams.  While both groups sound awesome, I have to admit that I am definitely partial to my hometown Orchestra, the SLSO. 

Hope you enjoy! GO CARDS!!!

SmartMusic Updates

This article outlines the most current updates to SmartMusic according to MakeMusic, the company that created the program.  Some of the most exciting new changes include the ability for teachers to view assessment grades quickly and finale-created transposition, as well as many others.  As a teacher just starting to use SmartMusic, I am excited to see that MakeMusic is constantly trying to better its technology.

http://www.smartmusic.com/blog/smartmusic-committed-to-daily-growth/

Halloween Fun With Finale

This article from the Finale blog provides teachers with a link to a fun Halloween activity.  Mark Adler has input a Halloween song into Finale and created the shape of a pumpkin with the staff.  While this would be very easy to use in a general music classroom, it would also be great for band students.  The song is in the key of G minor, a key that the Essential Elements 2000 band book covers in Book 2.  I plan to use this with my seventh graders!

http://www.finalemusic.com/blog/halloween-fun-with-finale/