DAT and more

The past two summers I have worked at a small amusement park/concert venue.  This job has shown me how many teenagers use and abuse DAT.  Through our discussion I have been trying to think of ways of informing my students that DAT can be detrimental to the students physical and mental growth.  I liked the PowerPoint on how to say "no," I can see tactics and role playing like this to be helpful to some students.  These students, however, will be the ones who have no interest in DAT use.  How do you target the person offering?  

The teachers panel was informative.  Listening to the advice of teachers who have gained experience was very helpful.  I especially appreciative of their tips on picking battles, leaving work at school, building relationships, and their personal anecdotes.  

With regards to technology.  The article I reviewed profiled a program in New York State that used technology to teach their High School students composition and video production (including visual arts and music).  As I read the article I was skeptical as to how much the students learned through the process.  One teacher was quoted as saying something to the effect that the composition technology allowed students to create a piece without the rigor of the "real" composition process where you have to sit down and work things out on paper.  

I can see the benefit of composition software removing the grunt work -- it is very tedious-- however when I can sit down at a keyboard and have it play a programed boogie-woogie bass line and then send that to the computer...how much have I learned about that particular style? Somethings in music cannot be learned without actually creating.

Now for the irony of all this, I walked into my elementary classroom the next morning and met my cooperating teacher, his room is equipped with a VH-1 (save the music program grant) keyboard lab.  Much of what he does with the lab is similar to what the article described.  I hope I can eat my words in the near future.