More Online Tools for Studio Management

This past school year, I experimented with Google Docs for my music studio documents. I started by using forms to create sign-up sheets to studio events. Building a form is extremely easy.

In fact, Google Docs has done such a great job, that I created my 2013/14 registration package online. The registration process is done mostly online (I still am collecting post-dated tuition cheques). The registration letter has embedded links to the Studio Timetable, Tuition Schedule, Studio Calendar an Registration Form.

Processing student registrations used to eat up a lot of my time. Now, I just have to monitor the entries and remind families to submit their fees and completed form by the registration deadline.

The forms are sent as private links to my studio families. Only I have access to the data, which I can import into Open Office Calculator if I so desire.

Data collection has never been so easy!

Here's a great demo by Dottotech on the features of Google Docs:

Geeking Out with My Unlocked Smartphone

On more than one occasion, a TELUS Mobility representative has called me with one of those "Touchy Feely Customer Service" calls.  They were trying to get me to upgrade my trusty LG Keybo II to a smartphone. My answer was always the same, "You don't have the phone I want." Predictably, they ask, "What kind of phone do you want?" To which, I'd reply: "A waterproof Japanese phone."

In the fall of 2012, I finally bought one:

What's so cool about getting a keitai, you ask? Allow me to compare my Docomo Fujitsu with the two top smartphones from the same season:

Apple iPhone 5 SIM: Nano-SIM Dimensions:123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6 mm Weight:112 g Screen:640 x 1136 pixels, 4.0 inches (~326 ppi pixel density) SD Card slot: No Memory: 16/32/64 GB storage, 1 GB RAM Camera: 8 MP/1080p@30fps;1.2 MP/720p@30fps CPU: Dual-core 1.2 GHz

Samsung Galaxy S3 SIM: Micro-SIM Dimensions: 136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 mm Weight: 133 g Screen: 720 x 1280 pixels, 4.8 inches (~306 ppi pixel density) SD Card slot: microSD, up to 64 GB Memory: 16/32/64 GB storage, 1 GB RAM Camera: 8 MP/1080p@30fps; 1.9 MP/720p@30fps CPU: Quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A9

Docomo Fujitsu F-05D LTE SIM: Micro-SIM Dimensions: 129 × 64 × 8.7 mm Weight: 124g Screen: 4.3 Inch HD touchscreen ( 720 x 1280 pixels) SD Card slot: microSD, up to 32 GB Memory: 8GB ROM / 1GB RAM Camera: 13.1 MP/1080p@30fps; 1.3 MP CPU: 1200 MHz, 1.2 GHz Dual-Core OMAP4430 processor FM Transmitter

It measures up fairly well. However, the Fujitsu F-05D dances circles around the other two phones in terms of camera capability. Plus, the gradient magenta red is very slick. And did I mention that it is dust-proof and water-proof?

In this video, I follow the directions from the user manual to properly wash my phone:

You also get a butler. Machi-chara changes costumes for special holidays. He waves a phone when you miss a call. Here, he's crying because no one has e-mailed or called me for a while.

My Japanese smartphone came unlocked, so whenever I travel outside of Canada, I can purchase a pre-paid SIM card for the country I am visiting. That way, I can eliminate roaming charges.

If you are thinking of buying an unlocked smartphone from abroad, do your research first. Not only do you have to research the phones but you must also research the company. Howard Forums is an excellent place to do both.

You also need to make sure that your unlocked smartphone will work on your country's mobile network. I went to GSM Arena for that information.

I wound up purchasing my keitai from Kyoto Exports, AKA Kyoex. I was impressed with how quickly questions were answered on Howard Forums, e-mail and Kyoex's FB page.

My phone arrived within three weeks and Kazuto Tominaga-san walked me through the additional steps to set up the APN settings properly. It worked beautifully until the spring.

My guess is that it was a combination of the following:

1. I got too "app happy" and overloaded it.

2. The result is that the phone overheated and got stuck in a restart loop.

3. When we tried to upgrade the phone to ICS it restarted smack dab in the middle of the upgrade, which corrupted the OS.

4. The constant restarting killed the battery.

I sent the phone back to Japan and went out to buy a cheap back-up phone.

Kyoex and Docomo solved the problem quickly. Not only did they fix the problem, but they sent me back an additional battery cover and screen protectors - free of charge.

When we discovered that the battery had died, Kazuto-san asked me to send the defective battery back. He exchanged it for a new battery - also free of charge. When I ordered a second pocket charger and phone case, he threw in a couple more screen protectors.

If you wind up deciding upon a Japanese keitai, I highly recommend Kyoex. Prompt service, often going above and beyond what we normally receive in North America, plus quality products make for a winning combination.

Building Community in a Virtual Environment

When I participated in Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir last year, one of the fringe benefits was that I became part of this bustling and caring online community. You can read more about my VC3 experience here. It's an amazing group. Everyone is eager to cheer you on - whether it you are preparing for a performance or job interview, surgery or pregnancy. My fellow VCers are usually the first to "Like" a Facebook status by another VCer.

Things get pretty exciting leading up to a Virtual Choir submission deadline. As Eric Whitacre has said on more than one occasion, singers are procrastinators. That final week leading up to the submission deadline was just nuts.

Last year, we crashed the server when the last minute submissions skyrocketed. Not only that, helpful singers wound up in "Facebook Jail" for posting too much in the VC groups on Facebook.

This year, a forum was added to Eric's website, which eased the strain on the Facebook group. As the deadline approached the Ohana Thread was created in the EW forums. Many of those who landed in FB Jail last year were official moderators this year, volunteering their time to help a complete stranger with their submission.

On the eve of the VC4 deadline, June 9th, a few of us got a message from one of our VC friends: "If you can help out, log into the Forums. The mods have gone to bed and there are a lot of people who need help." Although it made for a long night, going into the wee hours of the morning of D-Day, it was great troubleshooting in a Google Hangout with VC friends from British Columbia, New Orleans, California and London, UK.

As Virtual Choir members counted down to the June 10 VC4 submission deadline, several wound up either trolling the Facebook groups (the website kept going up and down), joining a global Google Hangout, or both. Right up to the last second, members were helping others with their submissions, giving moral support and virtual high-fives.

I passed the deadline in one of the global hangouts while trying to help someone with her submission (she managed to get one video submitted). Shortly after the deadline passed, our group decided to celebrate by singing VC4 - "Fly". With singers from Singapore, USA, Canada, Puerto Rico and Austria, the time lag made singing in sync difficult. However, the opportunity to sing together, in real-time, was a truly magical, communal experience.

Rhona-Mae Arca Named Tech Teacher of the Year

It's official, I've been named Tech Teacher of the Year by Roland Canada, Conservatory Canada and Music for Young Children. Click here for the official press release.

Applicants had to submit a three-minute clip describing how digital technology is used in their music studio, as well as how digital technology impacts their students as well as themselves. Here is my submission:

This announcement comes on the heels of my latest music and technology project. Last week, my students and I prepared, recorded and submitted videos for Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir 4.0 - Bliss. A record number of over 8,200 videos from nearly 6,000 singers and 100 countries were submitted. Some of my students and I even helped out on  tech support during the final days prior to the submission deadline.

Thank you so much to the sponsors: Roland Canada, Conservatory Canada and Music for Young Children for this opportunity. Hats off to my fellow teachers who also made a submission as they are also leaders in working technology into music education.

See you all in Halifax!

Singing with My Students in Virtual Choir 4.0

When composer/conductor Eric Whitacre launched Virtual Choir 4.0 a few weeks ago, I'm sure I wasn't the only music teacher in the world to say, "Oh no! This couldn't have come at a worse time!" Music festivals, recitals, exams, putting together the registration package for next year, etc. etc. - there is a LOT on our plates right now (our counterparts in the school system would undoubtedly agree). In fact, I was rather grumpy about not having time to practice Bliss. Thankfully, Team Eric have prepared a lot of support materials. I have been listening to the practice tracks on a regular basis - it keeps me calm while I deal with the icky administrative tasks of running your own business. I am quite relieved that the Bliss is easier than Water Night (although, I do love Water Night to bits).

When six of my piano students stepped forward to say, "I'd like to sing in Virtual Choir" this year, the opportunist within me got excited. For my students, this is a great learning opportunity: in terms of music technology, ear training, expression, speed learning, etc. etc. For me, their lessons ARE my practice time.

As soon as they said "yes", I sent their families the Underage Consent Form (if applicable) and encouraged them to join the Virtual Choir Community. Together, with their parents, they could read up on how to practice, download the practice tracks and ask questions. One of my students has been spending quite a bit of time on the forums so I've been directing my other students to ask HIM questions.

Last week, I coached my students on the trouble spots. It really helps that they are singing parts that are in my vocal range. This week, we're working on pitch, breathing and pronunciation. After working through it at a lesson today, I feel hopeful that I can record at least one track ahead of my students.

This Friday, we are going to have a studio Virtual Choir rehearsal. Staggered breathing will make much more sense to them when we work as a group. As well, they will have an opportunity to watch the conductor videos together and ask questions.

I can also share with them this little demo that fellow Virtual Choir members put together by randomly selecting 44 members of VC4 who have already submitted their videos:

Afterwards, they will take turns recording in my special Virtual Choir recording booth:

Since our time-frame is extremely short (we must submit our tracks before June 10), we have to go with the best of three takes, a far cry from my Virtual Choir recording experience last year. Everyone is bringing non-dairy food to share as we'll be cutting into dinnertime. Their parents get to hang out with us if they'd like (or just curl up on my waiting room couch with a book).

Perhaps in July, when Virtual Choir 4.0 is unveiled at the Coronation Festival’s Gala performances for Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth, we can have a VC4 party.