Day 3: Focused, and Multitasking

I am more focused today.  Instead of looking at my suitcase of audiotapes and feeling overwhelmed, I decided to pick out the individual tapes that I know I will want to use and get those converted to .mp3 files.  OK, you may say, "Well, why didn't you think of that in the first place before lugging that suitcase all the way down and up those stairs here at Champlain College?"

In my mind, I think of the ultimate task:  Pull everything together and figure out how to make life easier!  I am a sorter.  And recently I have become a purger of unnecessary stuff.  I remember days of copying tapes-to-tapes and then tapes-to-CD's.  Then that process stopped and now I've just forgotten about the tapes because of the ease of using my iTunes library.  Really what I am taking away from this experience is that I now have an understanding of the process, which I think is the most important thing I have learned.

My only purpose in using these newly created .mp3 files is for classroom use.  I do not intend to remix, resell, etc., and I will be careful about what I say on my blogs so I don't break copyright laws.  Because I am between two schools I am always moving in and out of buildings, and believe me, I have lots of stuff to cart back and forth.  When I do unpack, I need my sound "library" with me wherever I am.

This was not all that was going on today, however...  Multitasking, at a premium.  I used to think this was procrastinating, but not anymore!!  What a great day it has been!  I love doing this Independent Project because I have the flexibility to confer with music colleagues -- and I'm learning a TON...  As I read my proposal for this Independent Project, I stated that I wanted to "digitize my music classroom".  That's more than just converting audiotapes to .mp3 files!  Sue Persson, Connie Wilcox and I have been sharing back and forth via Google Drive the many, many PowerPoint files we have created.  We all discovered just how easy this is.  It almost feels like Christmas!

Then the last session of the day was with Dr. Jim Frankel.  He was so inspiring!  I will never know everything there is to know, but I plan to find out about all that I can.

I walk out of this Institute every day with a big smile on my face.