When we talk about the students in our classroom, our "digital natives", and how they need to be learning to meet the skills of the 21st century, we often forget that tools that are commonplace for our students (such as the Ipod Touch) are often not part of this equation for changing the way we teach, and our students learn.

Students can use tools such as an Ipod touch to compose, communicate and "rock out" in your music class. What you need to make it work:

- up to 5 Ipod Touch (approx $200 each with 8MB memory)
- Belkin RockStar Headphone Splitter for IPod and MP3 Players ($14.95)
- up to 5 MP3 3.5 mm cables
- stereo system where a 3.5 mm cable can be connected
- a variety of free (or purchased) Ipod Touch Instrument Apps

How do you make this work:

1. Download ITunes
2. To set up an alternative Ipod library for loading Apps that are specifically for your students, choose option 3 from http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1495
3. Select the Apps that you want added to your classroom set, and synch all your Ipods

Students can use these tools to perform up to 5 parts as a time, or can select to use select instruments to be added into their compositions.

I will continue to add to this blog as I pilot using these tools for adult learning composition over the next month!

Below is a picture of an OISE/UT Doncrest Option student who used a piano App for a composition students were making inspired by a picture book.
 


 A few examples that would work:
- DigiLite (drum sounds that can be recorded for background beat)
- Drum Kit Lite (complete drum kit....hard to play more that one sound at a time)
- IJam guitar (you can play I-IV-V chords, Dom7th and minor chords also in a variety of keys, strumming!)
- Jingle Bells! (shake or tap your Santa Inspired App!)
- Mobilesynth (cool sounds)
- Shaker (choose from a variety of auxiliary percussion instruments that you play by tapping the screen)
- WashtubBass (very cool...you strum the string, and adjust the angle of the Ipod to change the pitch)
- Wivi Band Free trumpet (keyboard within an octave to play on)

These are just a few examples of many free examples that you could download.