LESSONS F ROM T H E PA ST:
Learning From Historical Instances of Distance Music Learning by David Ramos
The rapidly evolving nature of technology demands a constant awareness and revision of current practice to realize technology’s potential as a learning and teaching resource. Instructional technology should be thoughtfully conceived, creatively employed, and carefully adapted to the particular styles of both teacher and learner. (Moore, 1989, p. 116)
T
These words were first printed in Eunice
across the state are slowly returning to face-
published in 1989 by the Music Educators
distance learning practices for the health and
Boardman’s book Dimensions of Musical Thinking, National
Conference,
now
the
to-face instruction, many are still utilizing safety of students, faculty, and staff.
National
Although the phenomenon of distance music
Association for Music Education (NAfME). In the year 2021, they could not be more relevant.
learning through technology shocked many
Teaching Music During COVID-19
for quite some time. From the advent of the
In today’s reality of education, the use of tech-
educators in 2020, the practice has been around radio to the introduction of the Internet, tech-
nology in the music classroom has become inevitable. The
nology has rapidly evolved in American society, and with
ed the need for online platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft
potential to broaden the music classroom. This article
continuing crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic has cementTeams, and Google Classrooms for large ensemble and private instruction. Stands and sheet music have been
substituted by laptops and USB microphones, and inperson dialogue between teachers and students has been replaced by online chat rooms and surveys. As schools
18 F l o r i d a
Music Director
each new advancement, educators have latched on to their
outlines historical instances of distance music learning
through technologies such as the radio and television, provides the reader with lessons learned from those pursuits, and draws comparisons to today’s distance learning practices.
