How Technology is Changing Piano Lessons

As long as I can remember, my mom has been teaching piano in her home. Sidenote: If you live in Utah Valley, definitely check her studio out. It's called Allegro Studio. She mostly teaches at the grand piano, but the kids can't wait until they get to play on the digital Casio keyboard. It makes crazy sounds you wouldn't expect to be "musical" like a dog's bark or a thunder storm's crash, and it has games. Kids are all about games these days, so it's good my mom also has a laptop they can play on and apps to suggest at home!

Integration of technology and multimedia in music lessons has proved, in my opinion, to be one of the most exciting moves made by mankind in the last century. No doubt, science, multimedia and technology are developing at a rapid rate, but what is the use of such development or advancement if it cannot be put to practical daily use? In the case of music lessons, people have benefitted a lot from the incorporation of digital media into this kind of art or education-related process.

Learning how to play the piano today is an altogether different experience in comparison to taking piano lessons in the past. Today, art, education and technology or digital media go hand in hand. Like I mentioned in my mom's studio, we can even play online computer games that are designed to help students learn how to play the piano. Such games are not only informative and educative but also very entertaining.

In addition to this, we have the option of receiving education on the art of playing the piano online. This is an option that is used when the piano teacher is in another location. Thus, one can take music lessons with the help of webcams. Multimedia music lessons are very popular, perhaps because they make music lessons much easier, more interesting and fun. Thanks to multimedia lessons, one can also have text/email reminders about the lesson sent in from time to time.

So things are changing, but one thing hasn't changed for my entire childhood and that's hearing, "That's an F sharp!" (or the like) from the front room at my parents' house. 

Senioritis

In the 4th grade, we had a big bulletin board on the wall of my computer class that said "Ask Me About ASCII". Our homework involved memorizing the definition of geeky words like giga, mega and CPU. I was nine years old and I was on top of the world. That kind of stuff came naturally for me. Our school had this new phenomenon on the computers called "The Internet" and we got to make our own websites. I filled mine with Bart Simpson quotes and images of Star Wars characters.

I dabbled in web design over the next few years. It was during a high school multimedia class that I first started making career goals. I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up: someone who gets paid to play with Photoshop. We created Flash animations in that class and edited the morning announcements which were filmed during first period, among other fun digital media projects. One day, representatives from (then) UVSC came to recruit bright minds for their Multimedia Communications Technology department. I went on a tour soon after and felt like I was home as I met other geeks who actually had a sense of humor enough confidence to look me in the eye.

It's been a fun journey, being one of the few girls in the male-dominant field of Internet Technology (aka Web Design). I had my share of awkward dinners and dates where I was ten years younger than my escort. I like UVU. The digital media department has been involved in lots of awards and conferences and stuff. I'm proud to be a part of it.

I graduate in the Spring. And while I'll be so glad I don't have to attend any more 8AM classes to learn Javascript or PHP, I think I might just miss it.

Blogular

For those of you who will read this, our updates are and will be found at (with no spaces) we wight family blogspot. Thanks for reading. Roo

Ch 13 Back to School

I'm getting settled in, adjusting to being a wife. I switched my major again- back to UVSC. But the kids are calling it UVU these days :)

For my web design class, we read this interesting article called The Expert Mind. It llustrates how the grand masters of chess do what they do. It then relates how these same skills are similarly found in the experts of other fields like music, sports and health care. I'll be honest, it brought back a terrible memory of a date I went on back when I was 17 or 18. This kid decided a fun first date would be to crack out the Star Wars chess set. That was the day I decided I hated chess. Games involving strategy, trickery, thinking ahead, math, or basically skills I would call "left-brained", are not fun for me. I got so frustrated on that date with all the rules and game pieces that I was literally brought to tears.

Thoughts like, 'This is way above my level' and ' Why in the world am I reading this for a web class?' casually skipped across my mind a time our two while studying the article. And some of those icky, awkward first date feelings bubbled up as I read about how a total genius remembers where game pieces are and how to make the perfect next move. If you have never heard of Blindfold Chess, it's super fascinating! I got off on a tangent, researching it on some other sites.

The article suggests that during these intense tournaments where one or both players is not allowed to see the game board, instead of memorizing the exact placement of each pawn and knight, they know "chunks" of information and how it relates to other "chunks". In my psychology class, I learned that this idea of  chunking is how we memorize an entire 10-digit phone number. This normally would be super difficult, but when you split it into area code and 3 digits, then 4 digits, 8015552424 becomes an easier to tackle 801-555-2424.

In the same way, a chess master, musician, etc. will come to know/memorize regular patterns in their field of expertise. This allows them to relate instead of merely store tons of information in long-term memory.

So with all my recent life changes, I feel it's good timing to be learning these ideas on how to become an expert, as being the perfect wife is my new goal.

I also think skills such as these will help set me apart as a great web designer, instead of being the next Joe Shmo on the block. Anyone can throw together a lousy website. But according to the article (and in my experience), becoming an expert is possible with dedication, diligence and a good attitude.

Tune in next time for a less homeworky blog post on my new adventures with Todd!

A Few of My Favorite Things

Kaylee showed me a website where you can buy glasses for $8.00. I was reluctant at first, but loved my first pair so much, I bought a second pair. They make me feel stylish and artsy.

Skirt from Burlington Coat Factory. Shoes from Sister Missionary Mall (I'm so unoriginal, I know). Both stores gave me hope that I don't have to be too frumpy in order to follow the clothing guidelines.

Coolest invention since sticky notes- Pen Again. A frequent journal writer, I have found a new love. This pen takes away any pain, weakness or numbness. It's strange to get used to, but worth it! You can get them at Staples or Wal-Mart for a couple bucks.

Jacket from D.I. (I sure love thrift stores).
Pearls from my Grandma Adamson.


The Templo. Last Saturday, I went to the Timpanogos Temple to receive my endowment. It was everything I have been told. It was beautiful and wonderful and just...perfect. I loved it!

It's been fun, but expensive getting ready for a mission. I have just over two months until the MTC. There's so much to do by then! My tooth with the hole (remember?) decided to split open again today while I was taking my daily multi-vitamin. I figure there is nothing the dentist can do, so I will just be sure to stay away from nuts. More rinsing with salt water- yeehaw. You have no idea how much I miss almonds and pistacchios! Watch out, they may give you Salmonella. On that note, thanks for reading! ♥

A Letter From the Prophet

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

7:45AM- I call the Orem Post Office and say I am expecting an important package. "May I come get it in person?" A grumpy voice named Richard gets my name, number and address and spits, "If it's here, we will call you." I hang up and stare at the phone for a whole minute. What if he's looking for a box? Is he gonna call? He's not gonna call. The phone rings and my stomach about jumps out my throat. "Sheresa?...Is it a package or an envelope? A mission call, huh? Yes, it's here and we're going to burn it." I lose all sense of reality and stop breathing. "I'm just giving you a hard time. Go ahead and come on down!"

8:07AM- I STILL cannot find my wallet. I know, since it's a federal office, they will ask for ID. Finally, I find it in my scripture case. Trying my best to keep the speed limit and not get lost, I pull up to the post office. A cute white-haired man gets my name and address. When he comes back out, he's got a huge grin on his face. "Jerry [the postman for my neighborhood] says you're excited about the one on the top!" He winks, "I hope it's the Bahamas!"

8:31AM- What beter way to start my day then with a Champ from Ernies? But seriously.

9:42AM- The hike up Battle Creek begins...

This day could not be complete without my
Chacos, of course, despite the snow.

This is me right after I opened it. I'm still a little teary.

I read it backwards (thanks for the idea, Kraig) and
the first thing I said was, "It's signed by the prophet!"
Look how cute his old man handwriting is.

"You are assigned to labor in the Missouri, Independence Mission." Independence. It's perfect. Does every missionary feel this lucky? "In addition to your calling to share the gospel with nonmembers, you will be assigned to serve in the Independence Visitor's Center."

Yep, I'm pretty daRn excited!

12:12:PM- We set up the webcams and stuff and I read my call to my family (again, backwards).

I could not be happier! This blows everywhere else I thought I wanted to go out of the water. I am so excited! I report to the Missionary Training Center June 10, 2009 (three days before my birthday-ha!).

NO REGRETS!

Possible Mission Call Eve

... is much worse than Christmas Eve when I was five years old, by the way. A few days ago, my usual text message sound went off (currently "Hey Jude"). My dear, sweet mother, who is up to date on the latest and greatest (I made sure she had Gmail and she chose to join Facebook), says, "Oh! It's Roo's mission call! They come in a text nowadays." That's why we keep her around.

The bishop checked online, where he learned the letter was sent on March 6th. It could come anytime, but tomorrow is the best bet. I called the post office to see my options for getting my call earlier than if I just wait for the mailman. Capt. Ornery Pants said to call back tomorrow at 8AM.

Listen to what I was taught by Elder Neal A. Maxwell today about worrying--

"Overanxiety...is like pulling up the daisies to see how the roots are doing, checking up on the sentries so incessantly that they become trigger-happy, and wringing one's hands instead of folding them in prayer." (Wherefore, Ye Must Press Forward, p. 63).

My lonely mailbox (notice there are no daisies).