Although many volumes exist on emergent music technology practices, few handbooks on music and technology consider educational milieu. The editors of Music, Technology, and Education: Critical Perspectives assist with filling this gap in literature. A quick glance at the subtitle of the book, Critical Perspectives, might lead to multiple interpretations of the word ‘critical’. Readers might take ‘critical’ to indicate a critique of music, technology and education. Another interpretation includes important perspectives on music, technology and education. The editors of this volume appropriately use both of these interpretations of the subtitle. Several chapters provide apposite critique of technology in music education practices, while other chapters provide valuable perspectives relevant to music, technology and education. I imagine readers interested in popular music education will consider many of the chapters in this book fit either interpretation of the word ‘critical.’
Read MoreAffinity spaces are the physical, virtual, or combination of locations where people come together around a shared affinity (interest) (Duncan & Hayes, 2012). Online affinity spaces can act as a participatory hub for music making and learning through social networking and sharing. Although music affinity spaces exist in myriad informal spaces, little scholarship explores potential applications of affinity space characteristics within formalized learning spaces. This chapter introduces characteristics of an affinity space and questions the role of the framework in relation to another framework commonly used in online music learning communities: communities of practice. This chapter concludes with a discussion on practical and theoretical applications of affinity space characteristics within formalized educational contexts.
Read MoreThis short chapter provides an example of how to code a hip version of Hot Cross Buns using Sonic Pi.
Read MoreSince the introduction of music education within public schools, curricular offerings have not developed in parallel with the myriad of practices popular musicians engage with outside school contexts. In other academic disciplines such as computer science, curricula and practices are iterative in nature and are responsive to the ever-changing practices that people engage with outside educational contexts. Although popular musicians are using computer science practices for music-related purposes, such practices are seldom discussed within music education scholarship. This article begins with an exploration of such intersections by describing hardware practices popular musicians use to modify, design or build electronic devices for music-related purposes. The following section introduces coding practices that people use to create and modify music software, as well as to make music with code. The article concludes by unpacking potential implications and considerations for educators interested in the intersections of popular musicianship and computer science practices.
Read MoreThis short chapter provides an example of how to explore circuit-bending in a middle school general music context by experimenting with the electrical circuitry of children’s toys.
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