Each school year Keith Howe, band director at North Rowan Middle School, spends class time helping to prepare his band students for various honors band auditions, including the All Rowan County Honors Band.
This year, in an effort to increase student interest and improve the preparation process, Howe decided to incorporate iPod technology into his classroom.
He downloaded professional recordings of the audition pieces, and then collaborated with the North Rowan technology facilitator, Kim Harris, to load sound clips of the recordings onto a cart of iPods owned by the school.
The students played along with the audition clips, listening on the iPods. Students were able to hear professionals perform proper musical style, interpretation, tone quality, articulation, and dynamics. Howe was thrilled with the student response to using the iPods in the classroom.
Howe took 36 students to the All Rowan County Honors Band auditions last month. Sixteen of the students were selected for the 2012 Rowan County All County Honors Band and five qualified as first alternates.
Those selected will participate in the All County Band Clinic at Carson High School in February.