Tom Noren

Integrating 21st century Technology and Music Creation

Classical guitarist, music educator and Musical Wires founder, Tom Noren has been inspiring students and audiences for over 25 years.  As a dynamic educator, he engages and empowers students by harnessing their creativity and fostering their expression through innovative technologies. These hands-on experiences incorporate the following technology tools; GarageBand for music and sound effect creation, MaKey MaKey invention kit to generate sound through conductive materials (such as play dough, foil and graphite) and GoPro action camera to capture the fun and learning.

Through 21st century skill building strategies, students work collaboratively in small groups, creating and manipulating musical sounds by way of circuits to trigger unique compositions. The creative process enhances students’ understanding of literary, scientific, historical and STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Art Math) concepts.

Workshops are not limited to those listed below

3^RD – 8^TH Grade – ELA and Music Compose a theme for characters in a book. The musical elements of the composition (pitch, beat, orchestration) would support the personal traits and actions of the chosen characters. Create a circuit with MaKey MaKey and learn about conductivity in the process.

5^TH-8^TH Grade – Science and Music   Compose music for celestial bodies in our solar system. The music would reflect the physical characteristics of a planet/moon/sun. Create a circuit with MaKey MaKey and learn about conductivity in the process.                                              

3^RD – 8^TH Grade – Social Studies and ELA: Compose music for historical events. Create a circuit with MaKey MaKey and learn about conductivity in the process.

Examples:

Conquistadores, Roaring Twenties, Civil War, Second World War, Lewis and Clark Expedition

4^TH – 8^TH Grade- Science and Music

• “Newton’s Law of Motion” –Create music/sound effects to reinforce understanding of a historical fiction account of how Newton observed everyday occurrences and how he distilled them to his laws of motion.
• Create music/sound effects to reinforce understanding of a historical fiction account of Edison inventing the light bulb or Alexander Graham Bell inventing the phone

Find examples of Tom Noren’s iPad Radio Program lesson here

Check out this residency!  Tom Noren taught 5th graders at James Island Elementary School about Westward expansion in the U.S by creating a movie with a green screen and music.