“All children should have the chance to learn an instrument” — Michael Gove
Nobody would disagree with Mr Gove’s aspiration; especially parents and pupils.
The scale of the challenge set by Mr Gove must not be underestimated though, and we have long argued that we need to utilise technology to support our workforce deal with the issues of scale and reach.
Teaching with technology (interactive technologies)
However, those of us involved in teaching with technology must be clear of what we mean by interactive technology. We must also convince traditionalists that technology produces real outcomes, is not a gimmick and is designed to be used in addition to, not instead of, high quality teachers and teaching.
The purpose of using technology in musical instrument tuition in formal education must be about being part of a system that creates more instrumental opportunities than is currently possible.
So let’s start by being clear and demanding of our vision of elearning in instrumental tuition - it must be real learning.
Real eLearning – Good teaching and learning
For elearning to be real learning, it needs to;
•incorporate good teaching and learning,
•use a mix of learning models to support learners of many styles,
•blend activities to enable skills development to support academic development and musical literacy.
Musical instrument tuition needs to be even more demanding of technology for it to be meaningful and it must be genuinely interactive, so that it can provide formative feedback to the learner and, an opportunity for the teacher to provide personalised assessment to support the learner’s progress.
We, of course, believe that Gigajam is unique in its offer and well placed, not only, to meet the current demands, but to evolve its services and meet the continual improvement that we demand from our technology in helping raise standards.
Let’s interogate the basis upon which Gigajam was created.
http://news.gigajam.com/?p=500
Brian Greene
http://schools.gigajam.com
Musical Instrument Tuition through eLearning Harnessing Technology for education and music
Monday 15 November 2010
Monday 8 November 2010
Gigajam launch Arts Award Programme
Gigajam have today launched their Programme of Study for Bronze Arts Award.
Pupils will now be able to receive a Level One qualification for learning to play a musical instrument with Gigajam.
Employers, universities and colleges know that Arts Award is a qualification that shows your level of commitment and progress in the arts, and in developing new skills. Doing a Bronze Award with Gigajam means learning to play an instrument, going to a music event, and finding music heroes or heroines, researching their stories, and discovering how they got to where they are today. Students will also share skills by helping to run a workshop or by giving a demonstration to others. Students build a portfolio of ideas and activities on Gigajam’s Online Music School, http://gigajamvle.com/ .
The Bronze Award will usually take students about 40 hours to complete.
There is a quick video providing an overview of the Arts Award programme of Study here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xk_NC4rbZ0
Brian Greene, MD of Gigajam said, “It is an exciting development for us and our client schools, as their pupils can now receive a nationally recognised qualification for learning to play an instrument with Gigajam. There are plenty of pupils out there studying with Gigajam who can demonstrate their hard work and commitment and I am delighted that they will be able to work with their teachers/advisors to be properly recognised.
I am sure that most parents and pupils would expect that a music curriculum would include the chance to learn a musical instrument and with Gigajam it is possible to bring instrumental tuition into the classroom, as well as for extended school activities. Learning an instrument takes a good deal of time and I would like to see the hard work of the pupils and the determination of the teachers rewarded.
In addition to providing pupils with tangible and transferable skills, receiving accreditation for pupils work in KS3 maybe a very helpful additional tool for music departments to leverage more support from senior leaders. I am sure it will drive innovation within the curriculum and support new ways of engaging and, incentivising pupils.”
There is lots of information on the Arts Award website ( http://artsaward.org.uk/ )
•Getting Started
http://www.artsaward.org.uk/site/?id=1970
•Running Arts Award
http://www.artsaward.org.uk/site/?id=71
For more information on implementing Arts Awards in your school please contact
Brian Greene
brian.greene@gigajam.com
http://schools.gigajam.com/
0800 055 6797
Tuesday 2 November 2010
Henley Review – Exploring and understanding musical instrument tuition through eLearning
In responding to the Henley Review on Music education, we sought to present the case for technology, as part of a solution, for a music education system that delivers excellence, in the practice of opportunity and, in higher levels of attainment.
We, as a private sector contributor to music in the state sector, are encouraged by our partners, which include: Yamaha, Steinberg, ilearn2play and Pure Solo, to state that the opportunities presented by digital learning need to be better understood. We hope that the review will acknowledge that our curriculum for music could do more to deliver the aspiration, that every child should have the chance to learn a musical instrument, if we integrate technology in support of our skilled music workforces.
In the same way that we explored how Gigajam provides some of the solutions to the problems, in music education, identified by Ofsted’s Making More of Music report, we have looked carefully at how Gigajam contributes to harnessing technology in education.
Our mapped table of contributions to technology priority targetss for education can be viewed here:
http://news.gigajam.com/?p=453
For more information on Gigajam and teaching with technology, then please feel free to contact us at:
Brian Greene
brian.greene@gigajam.com
0800 055 6797
http://schools.gigajam.com
We, as a private sector contributor to music in the state sector, are encouraged by our partners, which include: Yamaha, Steinberg, ilearn2play and Pure Solo, to state that the opportunities presented by digital learning need to be better understood. We hope that the review will acknowledge that our curriculum for music could do more to deliver the aspiration, that every child should have the chance to learn a musical instrument, if we integrate technology in support of our skilled music workforces.
In the same way that we explored how Gigajam provides some of the solutions to the problems, in music education, identified by Ofsted’s Making More of Music report, we have looked carefully at how Gigajam contributes to harnessing technology in education.
Our mapped table of contributions to technology priority targetss for education can be viewed here:
http://news.gigajam.com/?p=453
For more information on Gigajam and teaching with technology, then please feel free to contact us at:
Brian Greene
brian.greene@gigajam.com
0800 055 6797
http://schools.gigajam.com
Monday 1 November 2010
Henley Review of Music Education - Explore the role of technology in increasing instrumental skills in the curriculum
At this years British Education Teaching with Technology conference, Ian Wright presented a 30 minute seminar on his use of technology for music. He wanted to help students' engage more fully with the music curriculum, learn a musical instrument and succeed at music.
You can view the video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfe5Bguwwrc
Wwe have transcribed the contents below.
Ian says, "Let's imagine that you are bit nervous and you are; in a big class and you have been to primary school and sung in assemblies and then you come along in year 7 and start at your high school. You have one hour a week and you are expecting, as a music teacher, for your students to take an option of going on to Key Stage 4 in music. So what skill have you given them? What confidence have you given them, to enable them to make that decision and take that choice?
So, I was looking at package that would help the students; follow their progress, help them develop a sense of their independence, in their learning, give them responsibility for their progress, as well as give them the skills they would need to go on to KS4 and succeed.
Most childrens' experiences are limited to, perhaps, not always, but perhaps, a bit of keyboard work, or, a bit of samba drumming. I wanted something more than that though, which would give them skills to step outside of the classroom and keep going.
Students don't use Gigajam all the time, please do not misunderstand me, we do, do; the Samba, we do the singing, the composition, all these other great things. This is one part of the curriculum that we offer within Key Stage 3. But, what's different about this is we are pushing them to develop instrumental skills that they might not otherwise have. Giving them an opportunity to perform with their friends as a band, not just in the classroom, but breaktime, lunch time, after school, in the youth centre and so on."
"I am Ian Wright, Head of Music at Tiverton High School in Devon. Its a high school of 1300 pupils 11-16 and we started using Gigajam around 4-5 years ago. At that time we had very few children learning a musical instrument and I was very aware that there was a large number of children that were not engaging with the curriclum. They weren't really succeeding in music and I wanted to find a way to support every child in the classroom, find a way that we could help these children engage with the curriculum and help these children learn a musical instrument, so we looked to technology and found Gigajam and started to embrace Gigajam.
To know more about how Gigajam integrates with Ian's approach at Tiverton High School, please watch this video of Gigajam in Action
http://schools.gigajam.com/introducinggigajam.aspx
Read Futurelab's case study with Ian Wright - 'Music for all at Tiverton" Merlin John
http://www.futurelab.org.uk/resources/publications_reports_articles/web_articles/Web_Article930
Tiverton students perform a rearranged version of Gigajam's "The First Time", now called Valentine Rock. (This is a Level One piece = Grade 3 - Level One NQF)
http://schools.gigajam.com/CaseStudyTiverton.aspx
For more information contact:
Brian Greene
brian.greene@gigajam.com
http://schools.gigajam.com
Gigajam extended in Buckinghamshire Schools
All Buckinghamshire schools, connected to the Bucks Grid for Learning, can continue to learn: guitar, bass, keyboard and drums with Gigajam online.
The licence to the Bucks Grid for Learning, which started in 2005, has been extended until 30th June 2011 so that students can continue to study in school and at home simply by logging onto www.bucksgfl.org.uk and searching for Gigajam.
Brian Greene MD of Gigajam said, “Bucks have been a terrific partner for us over the last 5 years and we are delighted to continue to provide great quailty digital curriculum and interactive software for all of their students. The Bucks Grid is one of the most effectively deployed VLE’s in the UK and makes access to our content, in and out of school, very simple and safe for the county’s teachers and pupils. We hope that we can upgrade the service to our flagship GigajamVLE in the new year, with the additional student ePortfolio and teacher and parent reporting functionality and will be working with Mike Woods and his team to integrate with the Bucks Learning Gateway.”
Gigajam’s agreement with Bucks includes supprt to schools, so if any Buckinghamshire School needs any further information on how to get the most from Gigajam the please do not hesitate to contact us:
Brian Greene
brian.greene@gigajam.com
0800 055 6797
07976 208859
The licence to the Bucks Grid for Learning, which started in 2005, has been extended until 30th June 2011 so that students can continue to study in school and at home simply by logging onto www.bucksgfl.org.uk and searching for Gigajam.
Brian Greene MD of Gigajam said, “Bucks have been a terrific partner for us over the last 5 years and we are delighted to continue to provide great quailty digital curriculum and interactive software for all of their students. The Bucks Grid is one of the most effectively deployed VLE’s in the UK and makes access to our content, in and out of school, very simple and safe for the county’s teachers and pupils. We hope that we can upgrade the service to our flagship GigajamVLE in the new year, with the additional student ePortfolio and teacher and parent reporting functionality and will be working with Mike Woods and his team to integrate with the Bucks Learning Gateway.”
Gigajam’s agreement with Bucks includes supprt to schools, so if any Buckinghamshire School needs any further information on how to get the most from Gigajam the please do not hesitate to contact us:
Brian Greene
brian.greene@gigajam.com
0800 055 6797
07976 208859
Gigajam upgraded on London Grid for Learning
Gigajam upgraded on London Grid for Learning
Schools connected to the London Grid for Learning can now experience the first level of GigajamVLE on the LGFL platform.
Gigajam have increased the functionality to include the much acclaimed assessment for learning functionality that provides pupils with an ePortfolio for students and automatic marking and online reporting for teachers. Pupils can learn to play guitar, bass, keyboard, drums and follow the new theory lessons.
Teachers and pupils can access the content by logging into the LGFL http://www.lgfl.org.uk/ and visiting the Gigajam content pages at:
http://www.lgfl.info/learningresources/curriculum/music/Gigajam/Pages/Gigajam.aspx
Access to the content is restricted to LGFL users and can be accessed by users using their LGFL shibboleth username and passsword.
For more information and to access Gigajam’s Level 2 and 3 content, then please contact us:
brian.greene@gigajam.com
Tel 0800 055 6797
http://schools.gigajam.com/
Schools connected to the London Grid for Learning can now experience the first level of GigajamVLE on the LGFL platform.
Gigajam have increased the functionality to include the much acclaimed assessment for learning functionality that provides pupils with an ePortfolio for students and automatic marking and online reporting for teachers. Pupils can learn to play guitar, bass, keyboard, drums and follow the new theory lessons.
Teachers and pupils can access the content by logging into the LGFL http://www.lgfl.org.uk/ and visiting the Gigajam content pages at:
http://www.lgfl.info/learningresources/curriculum/music/Gigajam/Pages/Gigajam.aspx
Access to the content is restricted to LGFL users and can be accessed by users using their LGFL shibboleth username and passsword.
For more information and to access Gigajam’s Level 2 and 3 content, then please contact us:
brian.greene@gigajam.com
Tel 0800 055 6797
http://schools.gigajam.com/
Creating More Musicians for Less
Affordable instrumental tuition in the curriculum
If you feel that your students would benefit more from the music curriculum, if they had more instrumental skills, then perhaps this is a good time to consider how using Gigajam could help you to support more students learn to play a musical instrument.
Gigajam’s award winning Essential Skills Courses for guitar, bass, keyboard and drums can now be delivered online to students at school and at home and provides each pupil with an e-Portfolio to store their work and online classroom reporting for teachers.
With funding under the spotlight you may be interested to know that Gigajam is just £1 per pupil per annum and can be purchased for just one key stage, making it affordable for the smallest music department budget.
We also offer discounts for longer licencing, providing security and legacy for your programmes of study.
Example
Secondary School KS3 Licence for 4 form entry 360 pupils
A 2 year licence will save £72 at £648 (£720) and is charged at 90p
If you feel that your students would benefit more from the music curriculum, if they had more instrumental skills, then perhaps this is a good time to consider how using Gigajam could help you to support more students learn to play a musical instrument.
Gigajam’s award winning Essential Skills Courses for guitar, bass, keyboard and drums can now be delivered online to students at school and at home and provides each pupil with an e-Portfolio to store their work and online classroom reporting for teachers.
With funding under the spotlight you may be interested to know that Gigajam is just £1 per pupil per annum and can be purchased for just one key stage, making it affordable for the smallest music department budget.
We also offer discounts for longer licencing, providing security and legacy for your programmes of study.
Example
Secondary School KS3 Licence for 4 form entry 360 pupils
A 2 year licence will save £72 at £648 (£720) and is charged at 90p
per pupil.
A 3 year licence will save £162 at £918 (£1080) and is charged at 85p
per pupil.
A 4 year licence will save £288 at £1152 (£1440) and is carged at 80p
per pupil.
A 5 year licence will save £440 at £1350 (£1880) and is charged at 75p
per pupil.
For our full list of options See our Products & Pricing
Benefits of Gigajam
•individual, small group and whole class instrumental tuition
•personalised and collaborative learning
•independent and skills based learning
•continual, formative and summative assessment
•progressive pathways of study (equivalent to debut-grade 5)
•embeds ICT in music
•affordable, with flexible licencing options
•student individual ePortfolio
•online reporting for teachers
•Arts Award programme of study for Level One Bronze Award – NEW *Contact us for details*
For more information about Gigajam please contact us:
brian.greene@gigajam.com
0800 0556797
07976 208859
Tuesday 21 September 2010
Gigajam and MIA launch subscription-based online schools for music retailers
The UK’s leading e-learning music tuition producer Gigajam and the MIA (Music Industries Association) are offering retailers a new tuition opportunity.
This unique offer provides retailers with a free own-branded online music school. Retail stores’ existing customers, as well as new in-store and online visitors, can subscribe to the online music school for just £3 a month. Gigajam will reward MIA members with 33 percent of the net revenue (20 per cent for non-members). The service is designed to enhance retailers’ web presence and generate revenue, and all at no cost to the retailer.
CEO of the MIA Paul McManus explained: “The Gigajam Partner scheme affords our members the opportunity to offer tuition where perhaps it has not been possible. For stores with an existing in-store tuition programme, it provides online support, as well as expanding the reach of their tuition to customers online.”
Gigajam is well respected within UK education and is Yamaha’s e-learning partner for schools. The organisation currently has over 1,000 schools as clients and provides access to lessons and software in over 100 local authorities. For more information about becoming a Gigajam Partner, together with a simple online application, please visit http://musicschools.gigajam.net/
This unique offer provides retailers with a free own-branded online music school. Retail stores’ existing customers, as well as new in-store and online visitors, can subscribe to the online music school for just £3 a month. Gigajam will reward MIA members with 33 percent of the net revenue (20 per cent for non-members). The service is designed to enhance retailers’ web presence and generate revenue, and all at no cost to the retailer.
CEO of the MIA Paul McManus explained: “The Gigajam Partner scheme affords our members the opportunity to offer tuition where perhaps it has not been possible. For stores with an existing in-store tuition programme, it provides online support, as well as expanding the reach of their tuition to customers online.”
Gigajam is well respected within UK education and is Yamaha’s e-learning partner for schools. The organisation currently has over 1,000 schools as clients and provides access to lessons and software in over 100 local authorities. For more information about becoming a Gigajam Partner, together with a simple online application, please visit http://musicschools.gigajam.net/
Wednesday 8 September 2010
Gigajam Partner Scheme for Music Services and Schools
Gigajam's Music Service and Music Education Providers Partner scheme is now live; specially created to support affordable music tuition and add new revenue streams for public bodies facing funding cuts.
The full offer is here: http://freemusicschool.gigajam.net
Brian
Brian Greene
Managing Director
Gigajam
http://freemusicschool.gigajam.net
The full offer is here: http://freemusicschool.gigajam.net
Brian
Brian Greene
Managing Director
Gigajam
http://freemusicschool.gigajam.net
Wednesday 1 September 2010
Gigajam to present at Kent Music Inset Day
Gigajam Presentation Overview - Kent Music Inset
Brian Greene is the Managing Director of Gigajam and founded Gigajam with the mission to provide greater access to popular music learning through the use of technology.
Prior to Gigajam, Brian was a professional freelance drummer, performing with artists such as; Cliff Richard, George Benson and The Drifters, as well as being a Lecturer and Head of Academic Drum Studies for Thames Valley University. Brian designed part of the course and wrote modules for the degree course in popular music performance.
Brian will be demonstrating Gigajam VLE - Online Music School, where all pupils can learn to play guitar, bass, keyboard and drums, as well as create bands, in school and at home.
The first part of the workshop will cover how the Music School works and how schools and students can access and interact with the lessons, software and resources. Videos of Gigajam in action will be presented to demonstrate the wide and varied use being made in schools across the UK.
The second part will be a hands on demonstration of the latest version of Gigajam, which includes an e-Portfolio that automatically scores and stores students’ performances, as well as produce certificates on the completion of lessons. Teachers are able to view and comment on students’ progress and use the portfolio as central to an assessment for learning engine that provides continual, formative and, summative assessment.
Gigajam is now being used to support Arts Award programmes.
Please feel free to visit http://gigajamvle.com to try for yourself and http://schools.gigajam.com for more information.
Email brian.greene@gigajam.com Tel 0800 055 6797/07976 208859
Brian Greene is the Managing Director of Gigajam and founded Gigajam with the mission to provide greater access to popular music learning through the use of technology.
Prior to Gigajam, Brian was a professional freelance drummer, performing with artists such as; Cliff Richard, George Benson and The Drifters, as well as being a Lecturer and Head of Academic Drum Studies for Thames Valley University. Brian designed part of the course and wrote modules for the degree course in popular music performance.
Brian will be demonstrating Gigajam VLE - Online Music School, where all pupils can learn to play guitar, bass, keyboard and drums, as well as create bands, in school and at home.
The first part of the workshop will cover how the Music School works and how schools and students can access and interact with the lessons, software and resources. Videos of Gigajam in action will be presented to demonstrate the wide and varied use being made in schools across the UK.
The second part will be a hands on demonstration of the latest version of Gigajam, which includes an e-Portfolio that automatically scores and stores students’ performances, as well as produce certificates on the completion of lessons. Teachers are able to view and comment on students’ progress and use the portfolio as central to an assessment for learning engine that provides continual, formative and, summative assessment.
Gigajam is now being used to support Arts Award programmes.
Please feel free to visit http://gigajamvle.com to try for yourself and http://schools.gigajam.com for more information.
Email brian.greene@gigajam.com Tel 0800 055 6797/07976 208859
Gigajam Partner Scheme makes a great start
We launched our Gigajam partner scheme to retail stores in early August and we now have over 30 retail stores with their own online music schools.
We are looking to get to a figure of 100 stores by the end of the year so we have made a terrific start. I am keen that anybody who wants to learn music can go to their local trusted music retailer and either study in house with their local teachers and/or be able to study online in their own time, at their own pace and convenience.
More information on Gigajam's Business to Business Partnership scheme can be found here: http://musicschools.gigajam.net .
We will be targeting Music Services who wish to have an online provision to support the choice of offer for parents and students. There is a dedicated site for education providers at http://freemusicschool.gigajam.net
Brian
Brian Greene
Managing Director
Gigajam
www.gigajam.com
We are looking to get to a figure of 100 stores by the end of the year so we have made a terrific start. I am keen that anybody who wants to learn music can go to their local trusted music retailer and either study in house with their local teachers and/or be able to study online in their own time, at their own pace and convenience.
More information on Gigajam's Business to Business Partnership scheme can be found here: http://musicschools.gigajam.net .
We will be targeting Music Services who wish to have an online provision to support the choice of offer for parents and students. There is a dedicated site for education providers at http://freemusicschool.gigajam.net
Brian
Brian Greene
Managing Director
Gigajam
www.gigajam.com
New Gigajam Stockist - Westmount Music
Paul Coombes is opening his first bricks and mortar music store and Saturday and will be stocking Gigajam CDROMs, Books and of course his own online music school http://westmountmusic.gigajam.net
You can find Westmount Music at
Unit 4 Brucewood Parade
Marlow Bottom
Bucks
SL7 3PE
You can also find them online at http://www.westmount-music.co.uk
All the best wishes to Paul and his team from all at Gigajam.
Brian
Brian Greene
Managing Director
Gigajam
www.gigajam.com
You can find Westmount Music at
Unit 4 Brucewood Parade
Marlow Bottom
Bucks
SL7 3PE
You can also find them online at http://www.westmount-music.co.uk
All the best wishes to Paul and his team from all at Gigajam.
Brian
Brian Greene
Managing Director
Gigajam
www.gigajam.com
Monday 16 August 2010
Private Instrumental Lessons just £3.00 per month!
Parents are finding meeting the costs of music lessons increasingly expensive.
GigajamOnline http://www.gigajamonline.com/ is designed to support teachers with inexpensive resources for their students and also for self study, where a regular face to face is either not convenient, or considered too expensive.
Parents and students can sign up to learn guitar, bass, keyboard, drums AND theory for just £3 per month. The Online Music School subscription provides access to all of Gigajam's award winning lessons, so students can learn a second instrument at no extra cost...in fact, third, or fourth, instrument if they want.
GigajamOnline http://www.gigajamonline.com/ is designed to support teachers with inexpensive resources for their students and also for self study, where a regular face to face is either not convenient, or considered too expensive.
Parents and students can sign up to learn guitar, bass, keyboard, drums AND theory for just £3 per month. The Online Music School subscription provides access to all of Gigajam's award winning lessons, so students can learn a second instrument at no extra cost...in fact, third, or fourth, instrument if they want.
Anyone can try GigajamOnline for FREE with 8 free lessons available - the introductory and first lesson from each course.
The lessons are all online and the playalong practice software can be downloaded freely. Practicing does not require any sepcicial equipment, juts you own instrument.
For students who have MIDI instruments, especially keyboard players and drummers you can record and analyse your performances.
The lessons are all online and the playalong practice software can be downloaded freely. Practicing does not require any sepcicial equipment, juts you own instrument.
For students who have MIDI instruments, especially keyboard players and drummers you can record and analyse your performances.
You do not need to register to try your free lessons, simply visit here: http://www.gigajamonline.com/.
Brian Greene
Managing Director
Gigajam
Friday 13 August 2010
Learning to play a musical instrument
Gigajam's Essential Skills Course for guitar, bass, keyboard and drums remains unique in the market. Our Unique Selling Point has always been that we provide the skills that enable people to be able to play an instrument.
It is interesting that the majority of online music tuition requires you to already be able to play to use their products. They offer much that is interesting and inspirational, and that is important, but rely on you developing the skills yourself, or having the benefit of a music teacher.
The whole reason we developed Gigajam was because developing the skills to be able to play music was not just expensive, it is not always easily accessible and is difficult to achieve on your own.
Gigajam is not just about our materials and our software, it is also about creating a clear, simple and logical path that leads to you achieving your goal.
Gigajam Lessons -You learn skills,
Gigajam Exercises - You practice your skills
Gigajam songs - Apply the skills learned to songs written to develop your skills from the course.
Play songs - You match your skills to playing songs you like
Write your own music - Take your skills and the tools you have developed and compose, perform, record your music.
Here are a couple of short videos that explain part of that process.
1. Playing Gigajam Songs http://schools.gigajam.com/VideoChannel.aspx?id=4
2. Playing Popular Songs* http://schools.gigajam.com/VideoChannel.aspx?id=5
*When we were young by The Killers
Let me know your views on learning an instrument and how you might go about supporting budding musicians.
Brian Greene
Managing Director
Gigajam
www.gigajam.com
Find a Teacher with MIA
You can find a local music teacher and study online with Gigajam through the Music Industries Association website.
The MIA is the UK Trade Association of the musical instrument industry. They represent the full breadth of the sector including manufacturers, distributors, retailers, publishers and educators.
Their mission is "CREATING AND ENCOURAGING MUSIC MAKING"
The MIA Find a Teacher section can be found here:
http://www.mia.org.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=21
Brian Greene
Managing Director
Gigajam
http://www.gigajam.com
Thursday 12 August 2010
Interesting research indicates that gamers who wish to learn to play the guitar could do well by using the new Your Rock Guitar with Gigajam's interactive music lessons: a gaming guitar, real guitar and midi guitar. www.YouRockGuitar.com
http://www.mi-pro.co.uk/news/31355/Research-claims-video-games-responsible-for-guitar-sales-surge
Obviously, Gigajam's unique award winning Analyser software would be a logical progression for gamers wanting to learn for real, and are used to interacting and receiving feedback from a console (PC). www.gigajamonline.com
Brian Greene
Managing Director
www.gigajam.com
Monday 9 August 2010
Learn Online through your local Music Retailer
We are trying to be innovative in making music lessons more affordable and accessible, so you can now be study Online through local music stores. We are collaborating with the Music Industries Association.
Press Release here: http://bit.ly/9VnhvW
Gigajam Partner pages http://musicschools.gigajam.net/
Brian
Brian Greene
http://www.gigajam.com/
Press Release here: http://bit.ly/9VnhvW
Gigajam Partner pages http://musicschools.gigajam.net/
Brian
Brian Greene
http://www.gigajam.com/
Free Music Instruction Videos on YouTube
If you are interested in learning guitar, bass, keyboard or drums, then please feel free to take a look at our lessons on You tube. We have shared the instructional videos from the first lessons of our Essential Skills Courses. These lessons won the BETT award for teaching wth technology so we are confident you will enjoy them.
The videos take you step by step through the process of getting started and you can follow the links to our Online Music School and get the full instructions. These include: narrated text, diagrams, and photographs. You can also download our unique Xtractor music player, which helps you practice the exercises.
The free videos are available at http://www.youtube.com/imsltd
Our full free lessons can be found at http://www.gigajamonline.com/
Brian
Brian Greene
http://www.gigajam.com/
The videos take you step by step through the process of getting started and you can follow the links to our Online Music School and get the full instructions. These include: narrated text, diagrams, and photographs. You can also download our unique Xtractor music player, which helps you practice the exercises.
The free videos are available at http://www.youtube.com/imsltd
Our full free lessons can be found at http://www.gigajamonline.com/
Brian
Brian Greene
http://www.gigajam.com/
ICT in schools
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-10865856
Personally, I am sure that the majority of pupils are more likely to be able to do more with computers than many teachers. This is not meant to mean that I do not value teachers, it is simply that technology is stuff that happened after they were born. Many of our young people do not even see using a PC, mobile phone, MP3 player as technology...it is just stuff, whereas the teaching workforce needs CPD! Our children are digital natives.
I would prefer to see schools using Excel in Maths and Science as just the tool that it is, not learning how to use it in ICT. Art should encompass Photoshop, in a way that Music has used technology since the mid 1980's. It is bizarre to me that people talk about ICT in Music - Musicians just use technology to help them create, record, and produce music using computers.
If lessons just used technology, when appropriate, with the appropriate application, then there would be no need for ICT lessons and no risk for them producing an engagement divide between technology at home and technology at school.
Brian
Brian Greene
http://www.gigajam.com/
Having read the article from the BBC..
I think that it is really important that the distinction is clearly made between ICT lessons as a subject, using ICT to support learning; and computing. The latter definitely needs teaching so we produce meaningful vocational pathways and outcomes for our talented youngsters.
Personally, I am sure that the majority of pupils are more likely to be able to do more with computers than many teachers. This is not meant to mean that I do not value teachers, it is simply that technology is stuff that happened after they were born. Many of our young people do not even see using a PC, mobile phone, MP3 player as technology...it is just stuff, whereas the teaching workforce needs CPD! Our children are digital natives.
I would prefer to see schools using Excel in Maths and Science as just the tool that it is, not learning how to use it in ICT. Art should encompass Photoshop, in a way that Music has used technology since the mid 1980's. It is bizarre to me that people talk about ICT in Music - Musicians just use technology to help them create, record, and produce music using computers.
If lessons just used technology, when appropriate, with the appropriate application, then there would be no need for ICT lessons and no risk for them producing an engagement divide between technology at home and technology at school.
Brian
Brian Greene
http://www.gigajam.com/
Tuesday 13 July 2010
No holes in Blackburn Lancashire
I had a great day in Blackburn on Friday, courtesy of Sean Ashmore, Head of Music at Pleckgate High School.
It may be 3 hours and 20 minutes up the M40/M6, but hugely worthwhile and enjoyable. It is great be a part of what the school is doing.
Sean was also very kind and hosted our clients from Hull, who are rolling Gigajam out across the City. More on that as it develops.
I have written a quick news item on the Gigajam homepage: http://schools.gigajam.com/
Thanks Sean.
Brian
http://schools.gigajam.com/
http://gigajamvle.com/
It may be 3 hours and 20 minutes up the M40/M6, but hugely worthwhile and enjoyable. It is great be a part of what the school is doing.
Sean was also very kind and hosted our clients from Hull, who are rolling Gigajam out across the City. More on that as it develops.
I have written a quick news item on the Gigajam homepage: http://schools.gigajam.com/
Thanks Sean.
Brian
http://schools.gigajam.com/
http://gigajamvle.com/
Thursday 8 July 2010
Making More of Music
I have spent the last 6 years building Gigajam which was created out of a passion for music and learning music - it remains. I didn't realise how hard it was going to be and how many hurdles are built. I have learned that there are many issues surrounding the opportunity to learn a musical instrument. I believe more than ever that there is a pivotal role for technology in increasing the chance for more young people to learn.
Of course, having the opportunity is great, but then, we need to really think about the quality of that opportunity. Is it a one-off taster, does it cater for the individuals needs and desires, is it affordable, accessible, should it be free at the point of access, paid for by parents, where does entitlment sit? etc.
Ofsted have reviewed music in schools and did so at a time when much debate has provided a great deal of focus and resources to support music making. I feel the report shines a light on the elephant in the room - I am not sure though that anybody is really looking - So if you can bear not to cover your eyes, there will never be enough money and teachers to provide instrumental tuition to all for a sustained and impactful period of time.
Ours is not a silver bullett, but in the 21st century you need to add technology to the mix in a meaningful and effective way - that is not just using a whiteboard!! This is our considered response to Ofsted's Making More of Music - http://schools.gigajam.com/makingmore
Of course, having the opportunity is great, but then, we need to really think about the quality of that opportunity. Is it a one-off taster, does it cater for the individuals needs and desires, is it affordable, accessible, should it be free at the point of access, paid for by parents, where does entitlment sit? etc.
Ofsted have reviewed music in schools and did so at a time when much debate has provided a great deal of focus and resources to support music making. I feel the report shines a light on the elephant in the room - I am not sure though that anybody is really looking - So if you can bear not to cover your eyes, there will never be enough money and teachers to provide instrumental tuition to all for a sustained and impactful period of time.
Ours is not a silver bullett, but in the 21st century you need to add technology to the mix in a meaningful and effective way - that is not just using a whiteboard!! This is our considered response to Ofsted's Making More of Music - http://schools.gigajam.com/makingmore
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