Going back to last week's internet field trip, I am reminded of something that a colleague and good friend likes to tell me when he thinks that I am overthinking my educational approaches to musical problems.  "Kids are kids, they can do anything. You just have to show them how." It's a simple statement that grounds me several times a day.  I would like to add something to that statement though.  "Talented kids can do anything if you give them the right tools."  This was the message in the video about the John Lennon Bus.  It also what I think of when I see the YouTube videos posted by Jacob Collier.  http://youtu.be/pvKUttYs5ow (This is mind blowing by the way)  As I mentioned in an earlier post, I a couple of students who have collaborated with other teenagers and recorded and produced full albums in a studio of their own creation. I am starting to really believe that it is my duty as a music educator to be in the know about different ways that students can use tech to make music.  Anything less is stifling their potential.

I recently was charged with the task of revamping our orchestra programs webpage.  I found a great program to use that is easy to use for those of us that don't have any experience with HTML. Check it out.  www.weebly.com  

This guy is actually a friend of mine.  We played trumpet together in a Broadway show called Blast! in the early 2000's.  He has gone on to become quite well known and for good reason,  he's kinda BA.  Anyway, here is an article that he posted on http://www.21stcenturybrass.com/multi-tracking/.  This article and video are about using recording tools as a practice aids.  Very cool.  I remember him trying this in his apartment in 2001 with a silent brass mute.  Looks like he figured it out!