Music, Teaching, Learning, and Life

My twitter friend, @Zweibz7 (Andy Zweibel), suggested an idea for a blog post.  I’ve decided to act on his suggestion!

I started using Twitter in November, 2008 after taking a Web 2.0  class at VanderCook.  At the time, I didn’t have much skill, but I had the desire to learn as well as some help from a growing network of friends on the site.  Now that I think about it, Andy was one of the first (if not the first) to help me figure some things out!  Andy is a “go-getter” Music Education major at the University of Miami.  I consider myself fortunate to be able to call him a friend.  Maybe one day I’ll even have a chance to meet him!   I probably still make lots of mistakes in communicating on Twitter, but in spite of that, I’ve found it’s  a great tool in connecting with other musicians and teachers.

One aspect of Twitter is especially helpful to me:  the favorites button.  With the favorites feature, users are able to mark tweets (status updates of 140 characters or less) in order to find them later.  I try to “favorite” tweets sparingly to make the feature more useful for me.  I want to be able to quickly navigate to particular tweets from time to time.

I’ve favorited tweets that I find humorous, thought-provoking, or interesting, as well as tweets that have provided information, links, or directions for later use.  (I’ve just thought of a few tweets that I should have favorited now that I’m writing this post.  One is from Andy!)  The following is a list of some of my favorites by category.

1.  Links, Information, or Directions in Tweets

musicedmagic An Approach to Improvising Over Chord Changes http://ff.im/YT3S 5:37 PM Feb 9th from FriendFeed

shanedhudson Most arts orgs don’t know how web 2.0 works. http://tinyurl.com/avldru 9:17 PM Jan 30th from web

SloaneW RT @perrybelcher: Top 10 Online Tools to Connect With the Obama Administration http://tinyurl.com/98mwdk 11:27 AM Jan 19th from web

TheSCICoach RT @ShaynePacker Welcome new followers. #Happy09 Come check out my website at http://GrandparentsTLC.com 12:23 PM Jan 2nd from web

musicinmotion Can’t get a tune out of your head, but can’t remember the name of it? Hum it on Midomi.com to find the title. 7:56 AM Jan 2nd from twhirl

TeachaKidd @shareski Interesting post. Good points. But, I think you’re wrong. http://bit.ly/iBO 2:04 PM Jan 1st from web in reply to shareski

The link given in the previous tweet by @TeachaKidd also opened my eyes to the power of Web 2.0 to encourage conversations (sometimes in friendly disagreement!).  The blog post by @shareski was powerful in itself, but the comments added even more to the ideas presented.

pisanojm New blog post: Announcing The (Almost) Official List Of The 100 Music Education Blogger Campaign http://tinyurl.com/62dd4p 1:28 AM Dec 16th, 2008 from Twitter Tools

problogger Lots of Buzz today around – How to be Useful on Twitter – http://twurl.nl/00mqjx and Using Twitter the Smart Way – http://twurl.nl/hazq5q 5:43 PM Dec 9th, 2008 from TweetDeck

Zweibz7 @bbrown0826 check out http://tinyurl.com/6gnx64 for info on #hashtags 12:37 PM Dec 7th, 2008 from Toro in reply to BonnieBrown

2.  Inspirational or Thought-Provoking Tweets

Zweibz7 Interesting comment my prof just made… “so many teachers teach to the middle, instead of reaching ou to the whole classroom” about 6 hours ago from TweetDeck

mariancall Maybe we can be better, maybe we can’t. But that tension is why we tell stories & make art. So happy Christmas, everyone. Keep hoping. 2:22 AM Dec 25th, 2008 from Tweetie

TheSCICoach Opportunities multiply as they are seized. — Sun Tzu 5:37 AM Dec 18th, 2008 from Ping.fm

TheSCICoach A real decision is measured by the fact that you’ve taken a new action. If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided. – Tony Robbins 7:43 AM Dec 13th, 2008 from web

MCHammer @AustinRM following more people increases the possibility of discovering some beautiful minds…. a wealth of knowledge in the lives lived 12:00 PM Dec 11th, 2008 from web in reply to AustinRM

bliporto @Zweibz7 Remember Einstein’s definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. 9:21 PM Dec 9th, 2008 from web in reply to Zweibz7

BonnieBrown RT: @WritingSpirit.. TIP #193 And the Truth Will Set Your Writing Free.. http://bit.ly/iHUT 12:29 PM Dec 7th, 2008 from TwitWall

3.  Humorous Tweets

ijohnpederson You did remember to send Obama a card for Presidents Day, right? 7:10 AM Feb 16th from TweetDeck

TeachaKidd Found on tweet of the year site (still not changing my vote though): “Humor” is what strangers find funny. “Comedy” is 12:55 PM Dec 24th, 2008 from web

TeachaKidd …what your friends find funny. “Twitter” is what your family finds, and says, “You okay?” 12:55 PM Dec 24th, 2008 from web

bliporto Migraine + recorders = ☠. I think I’ll write a song featuring the note B for today’s class. I’ll title it “B Quiet” 7:49 AM Dec 11th, 2008 from Twittelator

I hope the tweets I’ve listed will be self-explanatory.  If I’ve been unclear in my reasons for including any of the above, feel free to comment and I’ll respond as soon as I can.  After all, that’s what Web 2.0 is all about!