OrchestraTeacher.net Blog

Great classical music for cheap

What a great deal on classical music today from Amazon.com! Under $4.00 for 50 selections!  That’s only 8 cents a track – an excellent value. 50 Greatest Pieces of Classical Music performed by the London Philharmonic The tracks do not contain complete symphonies, but rather, the most popular movements from famous...

OSU 2011 Technology Session Information

Thanks for attending my sessions!  It was a lot of fun and I hope you took away some things that you can use.  Just remember that you probably won’t do everything I demonstrated right away.  It takes time and planning, but will be worth it in the end. Please let...

2011 OSU Midwest String Teacher Workshop Technology Sessions

Presented by Charles Laux Monday 4:30 – 5:15 PM Automate and motivate 21st century string players with technology This session will demonstrate ways that you will be able to get off of the podium and into your orchestra to really see what’s really going on. At the same time you...

ASTA 2011 – Hop off the podium!

This year’s ASTA conference was fantastic!  There were so many great sessions and it was a pleasure to get to meet some new people.  It was interesting to find out where you are all from and what you do. I had an incredible time presenting my session entitled, “Hop Off...

No YouTube access at school? No problem!

Many schools have filters that block access to YouTube and other nifty video sharing sites.  My school district falls into this category.  There are so many wonderful educational videos on YouTube and it is a shame that the site is blocked in my district, however it is somewhate understandable. Even though...

Slow scales build multiple skills

For many years I have been using one octave whole note scales with a tonic drone to help focus and shape intonation, bow control, tone production and scale memorization.  I have found that this method of playing and learning scales has been an incredible teaching strategy, especially with middle school...

Videoconferencing with Composers

Recently my students had the opportunity to video conference with two major composers in the world of string education, Michael Hopkins and Bob Phillips. The composers were professional contacts who I had met previously through various professional development opportunities, including ASTA conferences. Because my students were performing pieces by composers whom I knew personally, I...

Cheap Mics for SmartMusic

I recently purchased a set of five REALLY cheap clip on microhones from eBay (they came directly from China) and tested them with SmartMusic.  They work extremely well (with a violin at least).  They cost under $1.50 each with shipping.  The clip is a little more flimsy, but anyone can...

iRig for iPhone

I recently acquired an iRig, a small cable adapter that allows you to plug an electric instrument, such as a guitar or violin, into an iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad. The cable works with any recording app, but is meant to be used with Amplitube, a free app by IK...

YouTube Uploads with iPhone 4

I recently ran a sectional at Darby High School where I am the assistant director. Students were preparing playing test excerpts from their music. At the end of class with only two minutes left, I asked the students if they would like to have a recording of the excerpts to...