Michael Najar

Integrating Tech in Ed II
Assignment 3
January 18, 2010

I was not surprised to read the results of the test that we took on multiple
intelligences. As a music teacher I answer strongly on the music questions.
Linguistic 33
Mathematics 29
Visual/Spatial 30
Body/Kinesthetic 36
Naturalistic 21
Music 50
Interpersonal 38
Intrapersonal 35

I would have thought that my Spatial and Visual learning would be higher. I often need
to see the music before I can play it as opposed to a certain type of musician who can
hear music but never bothers to look at composed music and has trouble deciphering
written music. I am generally low on the Naturalistic and that seems to be true. I am
big on moving and have a very difficult time staying in one spot especially when I am
learning something.

Thankfully music technology has addressed many of strengths and weaknesses in

regards to different learning styles and I hope I am using them in class effectively.
Music and music technology are very effective in reaching out to different types of
learners.

Linguistic Learner: At the beginning of the year I have my AP music theory students go
to Groves Music Dictionary Online. http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/ Many of the
terms that we used can be defined there but also have multi-media that are attached to
them. Students can read, hear and see the definition of the musical term.

Logical Learner: There are many ways to learn about key signatures. One of my
favorites is on musictheory.net. It involves using a key signature calculation to add and
subtract sharps and flats to arrive at the right key. While the website itself may not be
for the logical learner they have a chance to see a logical approach to understanding
key signatures in a fast and fun way.

Naturalistic Learner: In Music Appreciation we often explore how primitive instruments

may have been made and how certain approaches to classical music can be influenced
by nature. I have students take their phone recorders, Mp3 recorders or tape players
and have them record different sounds natural or otherwise they hear around their
house.
Intrapersonal Learner: Students are asked to bring in their mp3 players and play their
top ten most played songs. The playlists are often kept by their mp3 players
automatically. Students are then asked to talk about why they choose those songs.

Interpersonal Learner: Students are asked to collaborate on a mash-up. Each student

chooses a song in the same key and the same tempo. They bring in an mp3 of each
song and use the programs Reason and Audacity to cut the song into separate audio
files. Both students then work to find a flow and rhythm to each song. They can add
loops and samples as necessary.
Spatial Learner
Spatial Learner: Using the music notation program Sibelius and a projector, students
can see the music they are writing and instantly hear it be played back to them. Rather
than having to write the chord down on a whiteboard and then playing it on a piano
students become aquatinted with the sounds the instant they are written in the notation
program.

Kinesthetic: Students use a variety of MIDI instruments to record directly into

Garageband, Sibelius or another notation or sequencing program. Students actually
play the instruments and MIDI cables and or microphones with USB connections
transfer the sound into digital files. They can then manipulate the audio file once
recorded.

Musical: My new favorite website is called Sonicfit.com. Sonicfit allows students to

work on their musicianship and notate it and have it graded on the web. Students hear
what is played and must notate the music correctly.