Training the Brain to Become Pitch Perfect

The findings suggest that adults can acquire absolute pitch even without that early exposure to pitches and musical labels.

http://neurosciencenews.com/auditory-memory-absolute-pitch-2077/

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Game-based Learning in Helsinki schools

Contrary to what many might think, using technology and games in learning doesn’t isolate kids; rather it provides a completely different avenue for collaboration.         – teacher Katariina Söderholm

The Sounds of Science

Trevor Cox investigates the science of sound research (1/2). Bad Vibes and Good Vibrations. Why do we find some sounds pleasant while others grate on the ears? 

Your Brain on Improv

Musician and researcher Charles Limb wondered how the brain works during musical improvisation — so he put jazz musicians and rappers in an fMRI to find out. What he and his team found has deep implications for our understanding of creativity of all kinds.

The Meaning of Music

Michael Tilson Thomas is giving a great overview of the meaning of music as an emotional language and channel of expression.

“…you know all that you need to know, you can start anywhere…”

Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale

“… regardless of where I am, anywhere, every audience gets that…”   from “Notes and Neurons”

African Music Tradition, a talk by Alfred Ladzekpo

Alfred Ladzekpo, a master drummer from the Ewe tribe in Ghana and a Prof. of music in Cal Arts (USA), is talking about his music tradition. He is referring to music as a language, learning through listening , social aspects, improvisation and much more… BigEar has much respect.

Game Design: The Key to Education?

“Imagine a learning environment where students engage core principals using gameplay, solve problems through team-based collaboration, and use gaming systems in place of standardized textbooks. Is our education system ready for that? Do we have a choice?”  By Chris Riedel

http://thejournal.com/articles/2013/02/07/game-design-the-key-to-education.aspx

Educational Game Design model

Barbara Chamberlin, with the NMSU Learning Games Lab, shares the Educational Game Design model developed at NMSU.

The educational development studio involves content experts and game developers in their game design process, also employing a rigorous user testing process throughout development.

In this presentation, she explains the pre-development work they do in working from broad educational objectives, forming team, immersing team members in both the content and game design, and guiding questions for refining educational objectives and driving game development.