Blog (20.10.17): At the same time as completing this project, I have been working on my own composition, following a "baby steps" formula that I developed. I have been immersed in the world of minimalism and Philip Glass (particular his work 'Closing'). I've arranged this work for a classroom including an Orff style arrangement of this work. Through this process I have deconstructed and then re-constructed this work. My own composition is also based on little motif ideas and ostinato patterns. This got me thinking, what if I could deconstruct either my own composition or the Philip Glass piece and have it played on maker movement materials such as Bare Conductive or Makey Makey. To me, this becomes more relevant to how I can extend these tools in the classroom. It also turns out, I'm not alone in this thinking of how composition and technology seem to work well together (Otondo, 2016; Burnard, 2007).
My project then has now gone from recording different sounds, to focusing on music construction and reconstruction, linking that to the idea also of what the Maker Movement is about. My plan is to re-create Philip Glass Closing using Bare Conductive and re-create my own composition using Makey Makey.
Burnard, P. (2007). Creativity and technology: Critical agents of change in the work and
lives of music teachers. In P. Burnard & J. Finney (Eds.) Music Education with Digital Technology. London, UK: Continuum International Publishing Group.
Otondo, F. (2016). Music technology, composition teaching and employability skills.
Journal of Music, Technology & Education, 9(3), 229-240.