Ever Evolving Music Education, Information and Communication Technologies Engaging Music Educators

Abstract
The technology is ubiquitous throughout the world, serves as a fundamental engine now driving the worldwide music industry and is readily assimilated by young learners wherever it is available. The purpose of this panel is to discuss the increasing role that technology has to play in world music education.  It is gradually revolutionizing how we conduct our business. This session is intended to bring practitioners and presenters together, with the purpose of proposing ways that will engage music educators with the readily available versions of resources demonstrated in this session.

From an educational point-of-view, students with access to contemporary technology gravitate toward it intuitively. Lecturer Otto Romanowski from Sibelius Academy, Finland, will open the broad array of music making and learning applications for mobile devices:  examples to these devices as an instrument, controller and as a tool for educational material.

The greatest potential in the use of music technology is that it allows for sharing information and expertise worldwide.  A music educator in London need no longer be teaching in isolation or without desired resources and expertise when a percussion teacher could involve videoconferencing from New York, Paris or even another part of town. Associate Dean and Director Christinne Orto will discuss how Manhattan School of Music uses and develops cutting-edge, synchronous e-learning technologies to import or export educational resources; expand student learning & curriculum; spread the reach of the arts globally; and advance key institutional initiatives such as recruitment, remote auditioning, new revenue streams and reimagining the music profession in the 21st century.

Furthermore, professor Fred Rees from Indiana University will describe live interactive video music instruction with multiple sites. He will provide an overall evaluation of this style of distance education for music students. There are also unexpected outcomes (e.g., the cohort effect among online students, a second dialogue between students during a live online class in the chatroom while the instructor is lecturing or students are presenting). Finally he will discuss his department's Telematics Collective, which is a live interactive musical performance.