Gena Greher and Jesse Heines present Performamatics research at the ATMI 2009 Conference

Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Connecting Computer Science and Music Students to the Benefit of Both


Gena Greher--University of Massachusetts, Lowell
Jesse Heines--University of Massachusetts, Lowell

We present a hands-on, interdisciplinary project designed to help music education students think about how novices learn new symbol systems. The students design a musical instrument from a typical household object and create a musical composition for it. They then devise a notation system that others can understand well enough to perform their composition with little to no verbal or written direction. Given this notation system, computer science students create programs that implement it. The two groups of students interact during the "hand off" and when music students "try out" the programs developed by the computer science students. Both groups of students benefit from learning to communicate with others whose backgrounds differ significantly from their own and from understanding what it really takes to create a notation system and a computer program that can be used by people who don't share their perspective.

Gena Greher and Alex Ruthmann present at the 2008 ATMI Pre-Conference on Social Computing in Music Education

Social Networking as Professional Development
Gena Greher (University of Massachusetts-Lowell)

Conversations with recent graduates from our program revealed that while they don’t regret their career choice, they often feel isolated from their music education peers and overwhelmed by all of the administrative issues they need to deal with in addition to their teaching duties. Several alumni who are approaching the three year mark are starting to question what the future holds for them and are relieved to learn that there is research confirming that what they are feeling is actually normal. After last year’s pre-conference session, I created Ning networks for some of my partnership projects and found Ning’s many features useful. Setting up a discussion forum for these new teachers would help them to stay in touch, meet colleagues from other years, share ideas, discuss concerns, and vent frustrations. It is hoped that the participants will find the peer support that is often missing for music teachers who are often the sole music practitioners in their buildings.


Using Ning.com to Support and Extend Music Learning
Alex Ruthmann (University of Massachusetts-Lowell)

This hands-on session will focus on using NING to support college music courses. Beginning with an overview of NING sites I have co-developed with my students over the past year, participants will experience what it is like to interact with each other in a NING-moderated course. Specifically, strategies designed to foster communities of practice within music technology, music education, and professional development settings will be shared.

Attendees will have the opportunity to:

Create their own NING site for a course, ensemble, outreach or applied studio setting
Learn how to make their NING site public or private
Learn how to integrate video, audio, blogs and discussion fora
Bring in RSS/Twitter feeds & content to enhance their course
Ask lots of questions!