The Show Must Go on-Line: Video Conferencing/Lessons for Choir Classes
Help me give my students tools that will allow us to have the best quality digital recordings and video-conferencing by providing a camcorder, large screen monitor, earphones, and storage for virtual lessons.
I am teaching all of my music lessons for my 200 students virtually. My students are from a large urban high school school where there is a great digital divide in access to technology. 25 percent of my students have IEP's and 20 percent of my student are English language learners. More that 60 percent are on free and reduced lunch. I will continue teaching virtually through the summer months as part of our school district summer enrichment classes in June and July possibly into the 2020 -2021 school year. Many of my student do not have high tech technology but most do have phones with cellular. I need to be able to to connect with my classes through video conferencing and also refer them to my teaching videos that I post on my you-tube channel. These two techniques have been the most helpful ways to reach the majority of my students.
Although many of my students are in homes without internet or computers, most of my students are using their phones to connect with my video conferencing classes and viewing the you-tube video lessons that I have posted and I want to enhance the quality of theses presentation formats.
My Project
After 42 years of teaching, my instruction flipped overnight to Virtual Choral Instruction. In order to maintain the high quality instruction that is provided in-person I need to make video lessons, demonstration recordings, and hold live video conferencing in order for my students to continue learning choral music. Because I have a large number of students, I cannot see them all one one screen in Zoom conferencing. Additionally I would like to add break-out groups and a large LED Monitor and good camera will enhance the instruction. I need high quality headphones to that I can hear their individual singing and responses.
Each week my video conferencing sessions include 50- 60 students at a time and a large screen is needed so that I can see and hear each student as well as high quality headphones and camera.
Additionally when I record my lessons I need to post videos that are of the highest quality so that all students can hear and see what I am trying to teach. Singing is an auditory skill and involves listening in order for me to make corrections and students to hear the differences in pitches. By having proper equipment I will be able to help them improve their skills even during these times we are learning from our homes. Additionally performing is a visual skill and many are using videos now to apply for college, scholarships and auditions. I need to be able to demonstrate how to make a visually clear and appealing video
Once we return to the classroom, I plan to continue a mix of virtual and in-person lessons and will still be posting videos of our class sessions and allowing those who are choosing to learn from home due to compromised immune systems, to learn right long with our class.
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