While today was intended to be a review of the content and ideas taught throughout the semester, I learnt quite a lot. Even after the quick tutorial demonstrating how to edit multiple angles in any horizontal editing software (James demonstrated with Screenflow), there was more learning to be done.
We reviewed the various technologies, ideas and pedagogies covered throughout the subject, gaining some extra thoughts and tips on the way:
Dorico 2 - interesting to see where they go (change it in a sequencer then matches in notation)
Musescore - has improved a lot
https://ampedstudio.com/ (another DAW)
Equivalent of iBooks Author is Book Creator
Filter bubble
Soundtrap has a synth
James then shared with us some valuable advice about dealing with multiple deadlines, stress and health - summarised in one acronym, GTD. Getting things done. This strategy, making a list, doing things you can complete in 2 mins or less, then setting achievable deadlines for the other tasks, seems like a manageable approach. Despite his laptop not actually being on charge so going flat, he also shared the names of some great apps that have saved him heaps of time:
Wundalist (list making - it makes a really satisfying sound when you complete something so I have already downloaded it, just for that).
Hazel - organised folders
Devonthink - Reading (works out similarities between documents)
Highlight - PDF annotations with cool features
Alfred - shortcuts
Keyboard maestro - create programs for things (eg create plugin to get inversions of chords)
Andrew x.ai - an AI bot that makes appointments for you on your behalf (so crazy).
This semester has been extremely valuable in my development as a musician and as an educator. From barely knowing what MIDI was to now building a MIDI controller, and along the way creating more resources in a variety of formats new formats, making another two wixsites, recording different instruments and mixing them in Logic, using various technologies in a real life classroom - this has to be the biggest semester of learning so far.
A side note: I didn't expect to use twitter as much as I did, but I ended up with a follower from Hollywood, so definitely worth it. Anyway, I am very grateful to both Liz and James, and am excited to keep pursuing these interests!