“Garage Band” is the ultimate fusion of music with technology.  Students can experience a more “in-depth” study into music and its fundamentals, along with the physics of sound and the basic workings of a modern recording studio.  I am focusing my attention on the highly efficient and effective use of “Garage Band” to teach and enhance improvisation skills at the beginning and intermediate levels.  Exploring different methods of notation and using “keyboard maps” that help allow students to “decode” and perform songs in music class.  Finally, to arrange a wide variety of music that can be performed with an i-Pad Ensemble or a Keyboard Ensemble, and I eventually hope to combine i-pads and keyboards into “multi-level” performing ensembles where students could seamlessly progress from the very beginning level on the i-pad, through to more proficient levels on the piano.

Sincerely,

Richard Moon

Music Teacher

Goodwin Elementary School

1. Charleston, SC

The “Find This Icon” Game:

            Remembering what various “icons” mean and where they are located in “Garage Band” can be very challenging for young children.  Playing a game using “flash cards” of these pictographs with alternate, or “nicknames” that describe what the icon looks like is almost essential in order to easily communicate their functions and locations with young musicians.  Using these “flash cards” in a competitive “Where’s Waldo” like game in “Garage Band” can be a fun way to introduce children to the app. without overwhelming them.  Following are a series of icon “flash card” I like to use.