Leading Hands Through Technology

Learn to Play Music Faster with Modern Educational Technology

Studies have consistently shown that technology helps improve learning. From mobile apps and online courses to software and even games, modern teaching and learning tools are clearly a great way to enhance the overall learning experience. They’re not only fun and convenient, but they also allow students to learn at their own pace.

Get the physical tools ready

When it comes to learning how to play a musical instrument, however, you can’t rely solely on your apps and other e-learning tools. You’ll also need the physical gear before you can get started. This includes the instrument you want to play and all the other related accessories required to make it work.

Let’s say you want to learn how to play the electric guitar. Aside from getting the instrument itself, you’ll also need things like strings, instrument cables, picks and a good guitar chair to sit on. If you pick the drums, on the other hand, then you’ll need a kit, several pairs of drumsticks and good soundproofing materials. Keep in mind that the best way to learn is to integrate theory and practice, and these physical tools will allow you to do just that.

Find a medium that works for you

According to Andrea Leyden of GoConqr, learning through apps is the future of education—which is probably true considering the rate at which educational apps are improving. However, the choice of what you should use to learn your chosen instrument should still ultimately depend on the type of learner you are and what medium you’re most comfortable with. If you need formal instruction, for example, then a structured online course would be your best bet. If you prefer a more fun set-up, on the other hand, then more game-type tools would suit you better.

Of course, having a clear goal in mind should also help you make this decision much more easily. For example, if you want to learn chords first, then you should get a tool that helps you do that. Want to learn songs more easily? Then get an app or software that allows you to make music play slower or faster.

Consistency is key

At the end of the day, however, whatever modern learning tools you choose to use, if they help keep you motivated to continue playing, then you’ve made the right decision. After all, skills like playing music rely heavily on consistent practice. Long story short, the more you play, the faster you get better at doing so.

Are you continually looking to stream music for free or cheap? You may have know that Grooveshark closed down in 2015 and Limewire in 2010, but alternatives are available to stream music for free or on the cheap today?

List of Streaming Music Services

https://www.comparitech.com/blog/vpn-privacy/grooveshark-limewire-alternatives/

Do dream of top 10 lists? Why not make your vote count? At Ranker.com vote on lists of people, film, TV, music, sports, videos, and comics to name a few. List it. Rank it. Love it.

http://www.ranker.com/

Are you looking to transfer your music from your iPod to your iPhone? Todd Bertsch the other day proposed the question and my immediate thought was to just sync-up each device to iTunes. However after trying it myself, I soon realized that 3rd party software was needed to remedy the situation. Pod to PC was just that tool.

The free version of Pod to PC will transfer 10 songs at a time. However if you have a ton of songs, we recommend that for $20 you purchase the software for seamless usage. I didn’t try transferring videos, but Todd said the videos didn’t transfer with the free version.

http://www.mypodapps.com

How far can social networking go, how about into your wallet? Blippy makes credit card transactions social. I was reading a recent article about Blippy and I was floored by this next level of social networking.

The website asks, “What are your friends buying?” Register for an account, enter your credit card info (which is not kept on record) and share with the world what you are buying. Your Blippy account is updated with what you just bought. Other Blippy users can comment on your purchase. You can tell Blippy what types of transactions you don’t want to go public. It also has a connection with Facebook and Twitter.

As a by-stander, I think this website is cool. Now I can see what other people are buying and if I see something nice, I might buy the same thing. All I can say is that a recent poll stated 70% of lawyers are using social networking in case proceedings. Use this service at your own risk.

Do you think Blippy is too much information?
http://www.blippy.com

The net is still in diapers. Every time a big event happens, the Internet seems to experience lag and major websites just simply shut down. When Michael Jackson’s funeral was held during a weekday in the middle of the afternoon, the world watched the event mostly at work online. This event alone seemed to cause everything online to hick-up.

Think about these facts:

• Amazon just turned 15
• Twitter is a new communication form started in 2006
• iTunes launched in 2001 and now represents half of music industry sales

Can we just admit to ourselves that the Internet is just still just learning to walk? Web 3.0 is approaching, but the fact is it is never too late to get on the web bandwagon and embrace the technology.

At the conference today, we reviewed e-commerce systems and it got me thinking about websites that compare products. In the past, Leading Hands has reviewed many comparison sites and today I finally heard about Price Grabber.

If you are not familiar with Price Grabber your missing out on a comprehensive comparative rater. Search thousands of products, review user ratings and see products side-by-side. Ultimately, the site aids you to make a clear shopping decision.

http://pricegrabber.com

What sites do you use to make comparative shopping?

Geocities was closed today by Yahoo. I used Geocities to create my first webpage to get my first Internet job back in 1996. Yes, the page was rudimentary and featured a flaming guitar, but it was a building block for later success. I actually think my website address had so many tildes “~” that it was impossible to remember.

Geocities was a true pioneer that now has been surpassed with more powerful user-centric based website creation tools. Rest in peace Geocities.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2009/10/geocities-closing.html

Twit Poll is a quick way to conduct polls via you’re Twitter Account. I saw this tool used successfully by a colleague for research, however there a couple quirks with the system. The way its setup it leads you to believe that your poll was Tweeted to your account, however it was not. There is also no way to delete a poll after you’ve created one, what if you make a mistake? All in all the free tool that generates quick results, Twit Poll gets the job done.

Use TwitPoll
http://twtpoll.com

The other day I heard a few talk show hosts insinuating that Facebook has “Jumped The Shark“. I then saw on Doug Craver’s TechBytes and on a few Twitter feeds the website My Parents Joined Facebook referenced. The website insinuates that youth can no longer post everything happening in their lives on Facebook because now their parents will find out about it.

For example, a college student kept asking her father for money to pay for rising book fees. However after dad joined Facebook, became friends with their kid and started reading about her excessive partying, the money was cut off. Then the student “Unfriended” their dad so he couldn’t read her updates any longer. The reality is this trend is rising everyday and this new website, My Parents Joined Facebook says, “this is your chance to get back at them for taking away your public privacy.” The idea is to share the embarrassing messages parents are writing on your Facebook wall in order to fight back.

The reality is everyone should realize that whatever you write as your status, on your wall, or any picture you upload is permanent record online. Even if you delete your account or remove the information later, a search engine, the site hosting the material or another user will be retaining your information. Be careful out there in Internet land!

http://myparentsjoinedfacebook.com/