Help support Mr. Grzanic's Classroom

Although a significant portion of class time in school is often direct instruction from a teacher, some of the most engaging and endearing learning occurs when the students are analyzing and evaluating their own work. In most classrooms, students have past physical evidence of their work, written or created, that they are able to share, organize, and reflect on. In a performance-based music classroom such as band, our physical medium is sound. Our evidence is simultaneously created and destroyed, so without the ability to record or replay these sounds, the opportunities for evaluating and assessing performances can only occur while the students are also actively concentrating on performing. In essence, my band students are not able to achieve the same cognitive growth that they experience in their math or language arts classes if they do not have the necessary tools for self-reflection and higher-level analysis. I would use the Zoom Q8 recorder to record our culminating concert performances along with occasional classroom run-throughs of our prepared songs so the students could then evaluate and learn from those experiences. I would also use the recorder to help each student in making a performance-portfolio of recorded individual playing demonstrations throughout each school year and over the course of their time in middle school band. Although this project is officially intended for my 140+ band students, the recorder would actually be available for use by the entire music department and could also be available for use at school assemblies or other school events that need archiving.

About my class

Although a significant portion of class time in school is often direct instruction from a teacher, some of the most engaging and endearing learning occurs when the students are analyzing and evaluating their own work. In most classrooms, students have past physical evidence of their work, written or created, that they are able to share, organize, and reflect on. In a performance-based music classroom such as band, our physical medium is sound. Our evidence is simultaneously created and destroyed, so without the ability to record or replay these sounds, the opportunities for evaluating and assessing performances can only occur while the students are also actively concentrating on performing. In essence, my band students are not able to achieve the same cognitive growth that they experience in their math or language arts classes if they do not have the necessary tools for self-reflection and higher-level analysis. I would use the Zoom Q8 recorder to record our culminating concert performances along with occasional classroom run-throughs of our prepared songs so the students could then evaluate and learn from those experiences. I would also use the recorder to help each student in making a performance-portfolio of recorded individual playing demonstrations throughout each school year and over the course of their time in middle school band. Although this project is officially intended for my 140+ band students, the recorder would actually be available for use by the entire music department and could also be available for use at school assemblies or other school events that need archiving.

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Mr. Grzanic's Classroom Edit display name

Support his classroom with a gift that fosters learning.

Support Mr. Grzanic's classroom with a gift that fosters learning.

About my class

About my class

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season! Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Mr. Grzanic's Classroom Edit display name

Support his classroom with a gift that fosters learning.

Support Mr. Grzanic's classroom with a gift that fosters learning.

About my class

About my class

Share this classroom

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.