GarageBand is the free music program that comes with every Apple computer. It is a powerful music creation and editing tool that so many students already know how to use. This course will give you hands on experience with GarageBand and how to use it to teach music through composition. Techniques on use of the software, lesson plans on composition and theory skills, techniques for weaving in music history and how to integrate music of other cultures will be discussed. You will leave with lesson plans that teach composition and theory skills for beginning students to be successful composers and creators of music.

This course is offered online in ten (10) Units. Participants will log into a secure Learning Management System, MusicEdTech Moodle Classroom, to receive course materials including readings, lesson plans for teaching with GarageBand, assignments for student use, video instruction on how to use the software, video instruction on teaching with GarageBand, pertinent audio, MIDI files and assignments for participants. Assignments simulate student assignments in the lesson plans to demonstrate content and technical proficiency. Participants will share work and comment on other participants work via our online, secure classroom.

Teaching Music with GarageBand includes:

10 session course delivered asynchronously. Learn on your own schedule within the course weeks.
All course materials to complete the course.
Materials to use in your classroom with your students including eight (8) units of Lesson Plans, Student Assignment Sheets, audio, MIDI and videos files.
FREE subscription to macprovideo.com for the duration of the course.

Participants will:

work directly with standards-based curriculum materials, primarily the book Teaching Music Through Composition: A Curriculum Using Technology, with guidance from the instructor, so they understand how the content, pedagogy, technology, assessment, and computer lab management issues interplay in the implementation process.
understand the basic functions of the music software GarageBand through a direct experience with the curricular materials by implementation of the student assignments.
understand music technology terminology and how it is used in the creation of digital music compositions and be able to use the technology to complete a variety of music composition assignments within the curriculum.
present their compositions throughout the course for feed back from the instructor and other participants.
develop a repertoire of language to teach to students to intelligently assess and comment on the aesthetic of music.
discuss common implementation issues such as content issues, pedagogical issues including music lab management, specific music technology issues, and alternative assessment in the music classroom

By the end of this course you will know and be able to teach your students:

how to use GarageBand as a tool to manipulate and save compositions
basic music technology terminology
the basic and advanced equipment available for a computer lab
issues of and solutions for music lab classroom management
the difference and utilization of software instrument and audio tracks
how to distinguish and use MIDI and audio regions
classroom management techniques in evaluating student music
“best practices” in student presentation of music
“best practices” in student evaluation of peer’s music
“best practices” in assessment of student music
the use of basic digital effects and their musical use in GarageBand
how to implement the Rhythm States Method for teaching rhythmic notation
how to manipulate music style, change genres, using digital music technology
composition techniques for creating original melodies
composition techniques for creating melodic variations within compositional structure for aesthetic variety and interest

This course is offered during a specific period of time. Courses are delivered in a Standard and Accelerated format. Each format delivers the same content and materials. The course expectations, regardless of format delivery, are the same.

The Standard Format delivers 10 sessions, one per week. The Course Week is Wednesday through Tuesday. Each Unit is made available to participants on Wednesday morning by 8 AM. Participant’s assignments are due by Sunday (midnight EDT) with responses to classmates assignments due Tuesday (midnight EDT).

The Accelerated Format delivers 10 sessions over a 5-week period. The Course Weeks overlap Saturday through Wednesday and Tuesday through Saturday. One Unit is made available on Saturday morning by 8 AM (EST). Participant’s assignments for this Unit are due by Monday (midnight PST) with responses to classmates assignments due Wednesday (midnight PST). Another Unit is made available Tuesday morning by 8 AM (EST). Participant’s assignments for this Unit are due by Thursday (midnight PST) with responses to classmates assignments due Saturday (midnight PST).

For a calendar view of the Accelerated Format, go to this post

For a preview of the MusicEdTech Classroom, please watch the video below:

To learn more about online courses and to determine if it is right for you, go to this page: Online Course FAQ

This course is also offered for 3 Graduates Credits through Endicott College for an additional $300. For more information on graduate credits for this course, go to this page: Graduate Credit