From Ned Steinberger:

Thought you might like to check out the posts “NS vs Yamaha” and “NS WAV first impression” on this fiddleforum link:

http://www.fiddleforum.com/fiddleforum/index.php?board=4.0

Great reviews.

Ned

NS Design Wav Violin

The NS Design Wav Violin is a fantastic electric violin and is now available the public. I have been fortunate to have been playing a couple of the prototypes of this instrument for the past year or so and absolutely love it on a variety of levels. First, and foremost is the sound. As with any instrument, the sound is everything and I really love the sound of this electric violin. I have used it on a number of performances and it holds up to the best electric violins that I have ever played. It has a natural sound and will hold up to any style of music that one might be playing. Second, it feels right. Even though it has a super-cool look and the same unique shape as the NS Design CR series, it is comfortable to play in feels like a traditional violin. You would never know that you are playing an electric. The shoulder rest is completely adjustable and you can really customize it to your tastes. Thirdly, it looks fantastic. I have the black and the translucent red and they are simply stunning to look at. Finally, the price is right. This is, in my opinion, dollar for dollar, the best value in electric violins on the market today. It is $599.99 and the price simply can't be beat. I recommend it highly for students that are just getting into electric violins for the first time and for pros that don't want to drop a ton of cash.
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I am proud to represent the brand and know that the folks at NS Design didnhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif't want to release this fine instrument to the public until it was just right. Well, it is and I encourage you to check it out.

Here is a link to the Electric Violin Shop and their info on the Wav Violin.

I will be performing on the NS Deisgn Wav Violin on numerous occasions this winter and spring. I will be soling with the Duke String School Intermediate I Orchestra (the group that my son is in!) on March 7 in Durham, NC and with the Carolina Cool Jazz Orchestra in Spartanburg, SC on March 29. On both occasions, we will be doing my original music and it should be great fun!

Peace.
Scott

100 Music Education Blogs

100 Music Ed Bloggers

This morning, I stumbled upon a great list of Music Education Blogs. It is part of a campaign to connect music educators and was compiled by musictechnology.net. It is great to have a source to read up on the latest developments in our field and a place to get inspiration from other bloggers, teachers and advocates.

THE OFFICIAL LIST OF THE 100 MUSIC EDUCATION BLOGGER CAMPAIGN 2008-2009:

1. http://www.mustech.net
Dr. Joseph M. Pisano- MusTech.net
2. http://digitalmusiceducator.wordpress.com
Owen Bradley -The Digital Music Educator
3. http://etobiasblog.musiced.net
Evan Tobias- Catalysts & Connections
4. http://musiced.about.com/
Espie Estrella -About Music Education
5. http://jamesfrankel.musiced.net/
Dr. James Frankel- Music Technology in Education
6. http://weblog.siba.fi/msalavuo
Dr. Miikka Salavuo- Music Education, Technology & Social Media
7. http://pwhitfield.edublogs.org
Pete Whitfield- e-Learning for Music
8. http://www.musicedmagic.com
Chad Criswell- Music Ed. Magic
9. http://jsavage.org.uk/
Dr. Jonathan Savage- Jonathan Savage
10. http://musictechforme.com/
V. Keith Mason- Music Tech. for Me.
11. http://tjweller.wordpress.com
Travis J. Weller- Composing Like Mad
12. http://mystro2b.edublogs.org/
Ken Pendergrass- Music is Not for Insects
13. http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/
Joel- So You Want to Teach
14. http://stengel99.wordpress.com/
Steve Engel- Music Ed. Lounge
15. http://fsharpbflat.wordpress.com/
Linda Granite- Bb, F#
16. http://doublebassblog.org
Jason Heath- Double Bass Blog
17. http://musicisfree.ning.com/
Robert Brannan- The Music is Free
18. http://dvzmix.wordpress.com/
Deborah Valdivia-Zwolinski- DVZ’s Mix
19. http://choirteachers.blogspot.com/
Kyle Gardner- Choir Teachers
20. http://www.pauldraper.org
Paul Draper- Draper’s Blogspot
21. http://johnwilborn.wordpress.com
John Wilborn- John Wilborn’s Weblog
22. http://iknowithink.blogspot.com
Leo Park- I Know…I Think
23. http://gluedtothestring.blogspot.com
Stan Haskins- Glued to the String
24. http://musicedtech.wordpress.com
Barbara Freedman- Music Ed. Tech.
25. http://tomrudolph.berkleemusicblogs.com
Dr. Tom Rudolph- Make the Most of Notation Software
26. http://teachingthewirechoir.com/
Dale Lewis- Teaching the “Wire Choir”
27. http://docandry.edublogs.org
Dr. Kevin Andry-Dr. Andry’s Band Blog
28. http://sperham.wordpress.com
Steffany Perham- Perham’s Prattlings
29. http://alexruthmann.com
Alex Ruthmann- Alex Ruthmann’s Blog
30. http://www.beatechie.com/
Carol Broos- Be A Techie:)
31. http://musicanthology.org
Geejay Arrioloa and Jeffrey Langlois -Music Anthology
32. http://southiowamusiced.blogspot.com/
Michael Compton -Southern Iowa Music Education Network
33. http://qachsband.edublogs.org/
Eric Wright- QACHS’s Band Blog
34. http://alleyjazz13.wordpress.com/
Alison Hulihan- Marching Music
35. http://rogerwhaley.blogspot.com
Roger Whaley -The BandEd ToolShed
36. http://mgrondin.edublogs.org
Martha Grondin-Artful, Tuneful, Beatful
37. http://percussioneducationonline.com
Kevin Tuck -Percussion Education Online
38. http://www.musicteachersblog.com
Janice Tuck -The Music Teacher’s Blog
39. http://bnceducation.blogspot.com
Steve Raybould, Kriston Feldpausch -Band and Chorus PMS/PJHS
40. http://musicedshare.wordpress.com
Kyle Krstolic -Music Education Share
41. http://musicedforall.blogspot.com
Dan Leeman -Music Education for All
42. http://amymburns.musiced.net
Amy Burns -Elementary Music/Music Technology
43. http://www.music.erinnwrobel.com
Erinn Wrobel - Notes From The Mitten
44. http://dougbutchy.wordpress.com
Doug Butchy - Confessions of a Band Director
45. http://studiobeemusic.com/mutech
Rich Blenkinsopp - Studiobee Music
46. http://musicmiddleschoolandweb20.blogspot.com/
Susan Hurst - Music, Middle School and Web 2.0
47. http://www.kirki.co.uk
Dr. Phil Kirkman -Music Education and Technology Blog
48. http://tufsdblogs.org/winze
Ann Winze- WI Orchestra
49. http://thirddivision.org
David DeVoto - Third Division
50. http://collaborativepiano.blogspot.com
Dr. Chris Foley - The Collaborative Piano Blog
51. http://bandguys.wordpress.com
Matthew Pelandina and Mike Lewis - The BandGuys’ blog
52. http://tanbur.wordpress.com
David French -The Music Education Blogspot
53. http://musicteachers911.blogspot.com
Larry Marra -Music Teachers 911
54. http://www.pianoteacherblog.com
Rebecca Brown -Piano Teacher’s Retreat
55. http://wordtogo.wordpress.com
Steve Mugglin -Creativity and Songwriting in Music Education
56. http://totalmusiceducation.blogspot.com
Greg Albing -Total Music Education
57. http://teachingmusicbs.com
Ben Baker -Teaching Music
58. http://susanadavis.blogspot.com/
Susan Davis -Music Technology Musings
59. http://www.howtopractise.com (yes it’s a “s”, it’s an English spelling)
Mike Saville - How To Practise
60. http://www.free2create.com/blog
Valerie Kampmeier - Free 2 Create
61. http://musicmattersblog.com
Natalie Wickham - Music Matters Blog
62. http://theresawhite.edublogs.org
Theresa White - Education In Music
63. http://africlassical.blogspot.com
William Zick - Africlassical
64. http://discoverlearnplay.blogspot.com
Eugene Cantera - Discover, Learn, Play (MusickED.com’s Blog)
65. http://mstrismusic.com
Ms. Tris - MsTrisMusic.com
66. http://www.learn-theory-music.com/learn-theory-music-blog.html
Julian Partridge - Learn Theory Music Blog
67. http://www.guitarticles.net
Tennyson Williams - Guitar Articles.Net
68. http://creativekidmusic.wordpress.com
Dan Thompson -Creative Kid Music
69. http://educacionmusical.blogspot.com
Oscar - Educacion Musical - Music Education (Our first, in Spanish, ME Blog!)
70. http://rizzrazz.vox.com/
Dr. Eric Rasmussen - Rizz’s Blog
71. http://reband.wordpress.com
Mr. ReBand
72. http://www.techtempo.com
Brenda Muench - Tech. Tempo
73. http://www.thomasjwestmusic.com/blog.htm
Thomas J. West
74. http://musictech4ed.edublogs.org
Andrew Spang -MusicTech4Ed
75. Click this link. (A very log blog URL…)
Jon Ensminger -Pedaplus
76. http://techtoysandtunes.blogspot.com
Richard McCready - Tech Toys and Tunes
77. http://downpressup.wordpress.com
Derek -Downpressup
78. http://listenlearnmusic.com
Rachel Rambach - Listen and Learn
79. http://jazzworks.wordpress.com
Allan Perkins - Jazz Works
80. http://msgallant.edublogs.org
Alexandra Gallant - The Misadventures of a First Year Music Teacher
81. http://www.acousticpath.com/blog
Cameron Grant - Acoustic Path
82. http://musicteachercafe.viviti.com/
Scott Ashby - Music Teacher’s Cafe
83. http://www.frogstoryrecords.com/player_journal.html
Stever Carter - Frog Story Records/Player’s Journal
84. http://thirdstream.musiced.net
Cary Stewart - Third-Stream Music Education
85. http://michiganstatepianopedagogy.blogspot.com
Derek Polischuk - Michigan State Piano Pedagogy
86. http://fromthevoiceof.blogspot.com
Elizabeth McDonald -From the Voice of…
87. http://urbanmusiceducation.org
Sarah Johnston -Urban Music Education
88. http://musiced.jasoncrews.net/
Jason Crews - Music Education Resource Blog
89. http://www.classicalguitarblog.net
Christopher - Classical Guitar Blog
90. http://willie42.globalteacher.org.au/
Andrew- Split Three Ways
91. http://mjsheetmusictips.blogspot.com/
Marilyn Johnson - MJ’s Music Teaching Tips
92. http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/
Brandon Pearce - Music Teacher’s Helper Blog
93. http://jeane-metroyo.blogspot.com
Jeane Goforth - Scrollworks and Metropolitian Youth Orchestras
94. http://www.oparp.blogspot.com
Dr. Robert Phillips - The Opinionated Arpgeggist
95. http://www.wikyblog.com/CynthiaWunsch
Cynthia Wunsch - The Unlikely Entrepreneur (Click the Blog Tab)
96. http://mineoladrama.blogspot.com
Joe Owens - MHS Theater
97. http://andyzweibel.com
Andy Zweibel - Music Musings and Other Randoms…
98. http://musicschoolsbc.blogspot.com/
Stephen Robb - Music Schools BC
99. http://paulbailey.us
Paul Bailey - Paul Bailey’s Blog
100. http://edubuzz.org/blogs/alancoady/
Alan Coady - Alan Coady’s Musical Blog


http://mustech.net/2009/01/01/a-bold-new-year-the-official-list

Peace.
Scott

Technology and Arts Education

I have been thinking a great deal lately about technology and education.
How can an arts/orchestra teacher incorporate technology effectively into my curriculum? Can it be done with assessment? Can it be done with content and delivery? Of course the answer is yes to both of these. How are students today tuned into technology in ways that I can't even imagine as a 40-something guy - and how can I meet their expectations for their education? What can I do with Skype? What can I do with Wikis? What have I not thought of yet?
This is all on my mind right now. I am excited to be diving into several new books that will hopefully clarify some of my ideas. Look for these topics to be addressed in the near future here.

Some of the books include:
Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns by Clayton Christensen, Curtis W. Johnson, and Michael B. Horn
Grown Up Digital: How the Net Generation is Changing Your World, by Don Tapscott
Digital Game-Based Learning, by Marc Prensky
Outliers: The Story of Success, by Malcolm Gladwell
The World Is Flat 3.0: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century, by Thomas L. Friedman
Groundswell, by Charlene Li
Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything by Don Tapscott and Anthony D. Williams

So much to read - so little time!!
There will be much to come on this issue. It is looming large for me.

To my students: Look for digital assessment coming up in January and February. Also, look for web-video content delivery and something called a Google-Blast during class.

Oh yes - this is going to be fun!!

Peace.
Scott

Happy New Year!

Hi all and Happy New year!
I hope you all had a great holiday season.
Today, I thought I would share a new article with you that I wrote for Teen Strings Magazine. It is on Strobe tuners.

Enjoy!
Scott

NCSSM String Orchestra at Orange Grove Baptist

Hi all -
Today, I would like to tell you a bit about a cool performance that the NCSSM Orchestra did on Sunday, December 7 at Orange Grove Baptist Church in Durham. I have to say, it was one of the most appreciative audiences that I have ever performed for! I had a great time and it was a great experience for my whole group.

First, a little background. About 3 weeks ago, I received a phone call from Marlon West, Minister of Music at Orange Grove Missionary Baptist Church. He explained to me that the another orchestra had been planning on accompanying his choir for a December 7 performance, but the conductor had been having some physical problems and the group had to cancel. He wondered if my ensemble could accompany them on the Hallelujah Chorus (Handel), and the Vivaldi Gloria, as well as do a couple of featured pieces on the program.

As I looked at the calendar and contemplaed what this meant in terms of rehearsals and time, I thought that there could be a couple of real benefits to doing this. First, it would provide a concrete goal early in the 2nd trimester. We would learn some new music and perform it in a very short time frame. Second, it would most-likely be the only baroque era music that we would be doing this year. And, I do feel a responsibility to select music from a broad range of eras over the course of a school year. Third, and maybe most importantly, this would provide some great real-world experience for my students. They would have to prepare new literature, put it together with a different conductor and choral ensemble, and perform it in a space that they will have only heard on the day of the performance. There are many unknowns in that equasion and the only way to learn how it goes is to actually do it. As it turned out, there were many other benefits to the performance, and I will get to them later.

So, I said "yes" and we began our preparations right away. As I got to know Marlon via phone calls and e-mails, it became apparent to me right away that he is a man with a gentle spirit and I just loved all of our contact. We dedided that the orchestra would perform the Messiah Overture (a great baroque instrumental work that has a slow introduction and an Allegro Fugue. It isn't long, but it is powerful.) and the "Dargason" movement of the St. Paul Suite by Gustav Holst. (It is an allegro movement that features an English folksong that is eventually superimposed with "Greensleaves." I figured that the "Greensleaves" theme would be "Christmassy enough to make it viable for this performance.)

Marlon brought his choir over to NCSSM last Tuesday night for a brief rehearsal. It went great. I think the Orange Grove kids really enjoyed it and I know that the NCSSM kids did as well.

Which brings us to the performance yesterday. Phillip Riggs and I picked the kids up at NCSSM at 3:00 for a 3:30 reheasal at Orange Grove. we made it over there right on time and got into our places. The sanctuary is a nice size, but still we had to work around their set-up. It was a great experience to see the NCSSM students trying to figure out how to really make this work. He had a brief dress-rehearsal wth the choir and before we knew it, we were finished. We headed to our room for cases and coats and waited for the performance. the folks at the church provided us with bottled water and some finger food while we waited. During that time, I had a really nice conversation with one of my students regarding the way that art and creativity feed ones interest in academics and vice versa. I was mindful of what a great goup of kids I am working with. They hung out in the room, talked quietly, and enjoyed each others' company.

We headed dwonstairs for the performance and got ready to go. There were several introduction and many foks had an opportunity to speak. It was a really cool experience to watch and [participate in the service and to watch my students' reactions to all that was going on.

The orchestra played marvelously. I had asked the students to focus on "depth of sound" as they played the Overture and they certainly did that. I also had the opportunity to intoduce the piece and briefly discussed the concept of anticipation as it reales to the Overture of The Messiah. That seemed to resonate with my musicians and they really made the concept come to life. When I introduced the Dargason movement to the audience, I mentioned that they would be hearing the tune of "Greensleaves." As we performed it, the tune REALLY carried and sang. It was magnificent! I must admit, I don't think that I have ever performed for a more appreciative audience. The ovation seemed to go on forever as we finished. I am so glad that my student experienced it!

Interestingly, through all of the events of the day and the weeks leading up to it, I couldn't help but to think that, yet again, it all comes down to relationships. My new relationship with Marlon West is one that I know will last for many years. The relatioinships between my students were strengthened by the common experience. My relationship with them was strengthened as well. And, I feel like we all started new relationships through music with everyone that was in attendance that evening. How cool!

As we enter the holiday season, I wish for you a renewed appreciation for the relationships in your life. Remember that the folks that you encounter all through your day are important, too. And, I know that I will endeavor to show my appreciation for the folks around me the way that the folks at Orange Grove showed their appreciation for my orchestra. for some reason, this weekend I was reminded: Do unto others....

Peace.
Scott

Putting Your Effects in Order

Hey all -
Check out a recent article that I wrote for Teen Strings magazine.

http://www.teenstrings.com/article/default.aspx?articleid=23372

For those of you that are electric violinists - I hope it is helpful!!

Peace
Scott