Simpedia

Mark Merritt and Elaine Ferguson

1) A computer

• It can operate like the hub or head office for your business.
• Can be used to create word documents, marketing materials, concert programs, certificates etc.
• Access music students are interested in via youtube or to order music they want to play
• Access to email
• Can be used to digitize, and organize various areas of your business.
• Spreadsheets can be used to track student weekly lessons as well as any other important information ie fees collected, absences, or any other important information.
• Spreadsheets can also be used to keep track of when to order materials, stats, as well as income and expenses.
• Used to access internet based calendars.
• Can input repeating appointments
• Quickly and easily make changes to appointments ie to the time, date or length of a class
• can give access to others
• can access it through your phone, ipad or another computer as long as you have an internet connection.

2) Smart Phones

• Some are very simple and easy to you.
• Can provide you the freedom to work from anywhere
• Access to email, calendar, contacts, internet, new and existing clients, pictures, videos, and music all on the go
• Some have a built in camera and video camera
• Allow you to take advantage of those little moments ie in a grocery line up, before/after kids activities, while you are waiting for an appointment etc.

3) Dropbox

• It is a service that lets you bring your photos, documents, video anywhere.
• The website is secure
• works with Windows, Mac, Linux, iPad, iPhone, Android and BlackBerry.
• Allows you access your files from your phone, ipad, or another computer.
• Invite your students to a folder to share photos or videos
• Simple sharing. Shared folders allow people to work together on the same projects and documents. Changes can be seen instantly, eliminating the need to email back and forth.

4) Mp3 player/ ipods

• Allow you to take your music every where you go
• Get familiar with the music your students are listening to while you are cooking, gardening, exercising etc.
• Allows you to buy and download music right away

5) Portable speakers

• Allows you to play music that is on your iphone/ipod/ mp3 player without a headset or earpiece
• Students can experience accompanying their favourite song/band
• Add a bit of fun/challenge to the lessons
• Music can be played and accompanied while advertising at a show/fair/mall etc. Catchy tunes that relate to current events are good ones to play

6) Ipad

• Digital copies of your sheet music
  • Take your music everywhere you go
  • It’s neat, tidy, organized and fun
• Portable and light weight
• Transpose songs in an instant
• Add notes
• Create playlists
• Eliminates the need to flip through pages
• digitize your inquire sheets and create email list while advertising at a show or mall
• it looks professional
• eliminates the need to transfer information.
• An ipad can also be used for note taking/recording at a meeting or workshop
• provides you access to email, calendars, the internet, dropbox, music, picture, and videos on the go
• can be set up so that everything works together. For example if you up date your calendar on your phone, the ipad and computer would be updated as well

7) Microphones/ Recording Gear

• Students can hear how they sound playing, or playing along to their favorite song
• can highlight areas that either need work or have been worked out
• There are great microphones available that plug right into your computer, so everything is right there and ready to send along with the students after class
• Student can make their own music CD
  • Recordings can be passed on to family and friends
• Audio files from concerts are great to pass on
  • Can be used for advertising ie on a web page, facebook, e-mail etc

8) Sound System

• surround sound gives the listener a much more realistic experience and helps create the atmosphere
• when developing an ear for music the quality of the listening environment can play a roll in how one experiences that music a higher quality sound can be more inspiring

9) Cameras/ Video Cameras

• document your events or fun moments
• share what you and your students have done
  • social media
  • email
  • it’s free advertising
  • gives others a better idea of what we do
• students can feel proud of their accomplishments

10) Online lessons

Thanks, indeed, to all the participants. I’m following up on a few points that were left hanging at the end of the conference call.

Amber B. commented: “I have a release for all pictures and videos” — this was in response to discussion about whether one would need to get releases from students/parents for their presence in photographs and/or videorecordings a teacher might take.

Sandy L. asked: “Would there be concerns about someone taping your online lesson on their end–would you need to have them promise not to do something like this?”

• Good question. Also, a student could have a Flip recorder in their pocket and record a lesson in person if they wanted to, so the question isn’t unique to online lessons. My inclination is to trust that students will heed the SM confidentiality agreement they signed and any pertinent laws. I know that in some locations it’s legal to record a phone conversation without telling the other person your’e doing so. I have no idea if this applies to video, whether video conferences or recording live in a room.
• The releases Amber and others discussed are, I believe, to cover how we’d use the photos/videos — I don’t believe that they are required for the simple act of recording itself. Hopefully the confidentiality agreement alone would disallow students from recording. Maybe I’m wrong? If students are willing to do things contrary to contracts they’ve signed and laws to which they’re subject, well, there’s no way for us to know and not much we’d be able to do.