Wed. 10/5 - Some Amazing Projects Are Taking Shape

The symphonic band and wind ensemble both worked on their Google 20% projects today; these students are coming up with some amazing projects. One trio of students wrote lyrics to a song, put chords and a drum pattern to them, and performed it for me. I was REALLY IMPRESSED! This would be a song I could hear on the radio or on youtube in the very near future!

Students were learning new instruments (the ukelele is a popular choice), making new instruments, arranging music for pep band, writing reviews of songs, playing in a rock/funk group, teaching other students how to play various instruments, composing, etc. It is great to see the satisfaction on the faces of the students tackling this project with such enthusiasm. Although there were only a very few students that were not using their time wisely, overall today was a smashing success.

The biggest challenge is finding places for students to go. After all our practice rooms, hallways, and dressing rooms were filled, students just went to a corner or spot in the band room. If you can get passed the fact that it's not perfectly quiet in the room (with all sorts of music happening), it actually worked very well.

I am encouraging students to post these projects on their blogs so that others can check on their progress; video/audio links, pictures, etc.

 Looking at our stats on our blogs, we have view coming as far away as Russia! One of my students was so excited that someone from Germany was checking out their blog.

I am posting pictures that I took today of various students and their projects.

1st Day of Google Project

Well, the LOHS band is off and running on the Google 20% project! There are great ideas that are coming from the band students and I'm am excited to see where this will lead to. My biggest concern is that everyone takes advantage of this opportunity to do something exciting, challenging, and fulfilling with their time. A few things for the students to know:

• The Title of your blog should be what your project is. Anyone should look at the title of your blog and know what you're doing! You can change your title by going to the design tab and changing your title.
• If there is a group of students doing one project, everyone must contribute to the blog.
• There could be many people looking at your blog. Make sure you don't write anything inappropriate.
• Use pictures! 
• Attach audio recordings/samplings on what you're doing.
• Be creative with your projects as well as your blogs.
• Have fun and enjoy the experience of a self-directed project.

1st Google Day Tomorrow

In class tomorrow we will have our first Google 20% day. Students will tell me what their projects are, begin work on their projects, and start working on their blogs. I'm very excited about what paths they will choose to further their music education!

Introducing The Project To My Classes

Today was the first day of classes at LOHS. Students got the chance to visit with friends and to meet the new students that moved into L.O. I also got the opportunity  to introduce the Google 20% project to my students. I used Google docs to present the material as well as linking up a video by G. Bundy that showed the background that he has with Google. Students now are thinking up ideas on what their projects will look like. Our next Google day is Monday September 19th where their declare what their projects are. This is going to be an awesome project!

Welcome To The LOHS Band Blog

G. Douglas Bundy is an amazing technology teacher in the Beaverton School District (and past band director at Aloha High School). Last year he was selected as one of the few teachers in the world to go to a Google workshop in Australia to help him realize the power of technology and how it can change education for the better.  One concept Google uses with their employees is the 20% concept. Briefly stated, 80% of their time they are to be working on Google projects. 20% of their time they can devote to any project they want. Google found this to be very successful both in employee satisfaction, but also their workers have come up with projects that have made a difference in peoples lives!

When Doug told me about this, it really got me thinking. If this could work for Google, could it work in public education? If I gave my students time in class where they could work on any project they wanted, how would they respond? I spoke with my band about this concept last spring and the vibe was very encouraging. Already they began to think about what they would like to do. Write a french horn quintet, learn a new instrument, compose and perform music in the style of Thrash Metal; all of these ideas were being thrown around. I could see the excitement in their faces and I began to formulate how this was going to work.

Some teachers I talked to regarding this project were very skeptical. Change is hard and trying something  COMPLETELY new can be foreboding. But I have faith in my students that the charge given to them will be taken seriously. My students are extremely creative and I look forward to seeing what they come up with!

In January Mr. Bundy, myself, and Dr. Robert Ponto (from the University of Oregon) will be presenting this concept at the Oregon Music Educators State conference where I will present some of my students' projects. This will be a great way not only to share the creativity of my students, but to possibly change how some music teachers teach music!

One thing I know will be required will be for students to keep their own blog on their process and progress of their project. More on this and everything else about the Google project will come in future blogs.

With guidance from Doug Bundy, the enthusiasm from my students, and my commitment to better their music education, I look forward to raising the bar for my students and myself on what we can achieve in band.