New Technology

[patricia-jaeger]

Clarinetist Bill Kalinkos (BM ’03) performs during an Internet2 master class with Andrew Mariner, listening from more than 1000 miles away.

I stumbled on this picture on my Eastman School of Music alumni site. Some of have heard of Skype, based in Luxembourg, but

[carl-swanson]

Patricia- Interesting idea. My first reaction to this is that it would necessarily limit the amount of information you, the teacher, could get if you used this for a masterclass or lesson. After all, you have one camera from one perspective showing the student and that image is being turned from 3 to 2 dimensions. So if you were trying to teach a student via this technology, you’d be very limited in what you were seeing and could even misinterpret the visual information you were receiving. In addition, the sound coming through couldn’t possibly be as accurate as listening live right next to the student. So how could you judge the student’s tone production, volume, etc. This happens with recordings all the time. All singers are heard at the same volume on recordings. But in live performance, some of them are almost inaudible and others blast out the back wall of the hall. I think the same problem would occur here too. This kind of technology should only be used for teaching when there simply is no other option, and its limitations should be understood by both the teacher and student.

[patricia-jaeger]

I agree completely, Carl. When finances or great distances limit an otherwise student passionate about harp from direct contact, this technology would be better than nothing. In the Australian outback, for example, there might be lurking a potential virtuoso player! We just cannot foretell who will develop, using this visual aid. To uncover those bright lights, who some day might astound us with their brilliance, not only in music, but perhaps in medicine, the great expense could be lessened somewhat by this new technology, later by scholarships when appropriate progress was made, to study with a live teacher. Let’s wait and see.

[Elizabeth Volpé Bligh]

You would be amazed at what can be accomplished if the technology is good enough! I have given a couple of master classes using Telestudios at UBC. There were several life-sized screens, so I could see the students as though they were behind a large window, and there was no delay in the sound. The sound quality was very good as well. You could position the cameras any way you liked. I was able to work on fingerings, interpretations, unevenness, phrasing, harmonics, etc., all the things you would do in a normal situation. I realize that it gets a little more difficult with only one screen and cheaper equipment, but this technology can be useful if a student lives in a place where there are no teachers, or if they just need a fresh pair of ears and eyes once in a while.

[susan-zevenbergen]

I currently have four students I teach via Skype.

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