Week 1: Social Media and Technology
23.2.24
In our first week Technology in Music Education (TME), we talked about some effects of social media, and briefly touched on web-based DAW solutions such as Soundtrap.
About Social Media
I want to start off by talking a little bit about Social media and its negative effects. I have personally developed a very unhealthy habit of always wanting to check messages, scroll through short-form video content (e.g. Instagram Reels, Youtube Shorts, Tiktok). These contents, I find from my personal experience, barely provide any long-term benefits, if at all. Yet the short term satisfaction it provides leads to an unhealthy dropamine addiction. Research have shown that the addiction to social media shows a similar biological and psychological symptom of alcohol, cigarette, and drug addicts. For others and myself, social media seems to destroy attention spans. I have a terrible screen time of 7+ hours each day from I don't even know what; I spend 1-2 hours a day on YouTube, and potentially more than 3 hours a day on Instagram. However, looking back on the days where those screen time numbers appear, I'm not even sure what I achieved on these apps. It feels like an addiction that I have to actively fight. Especially relevant to education is the new 'iPad generation' of kids. They are exposed to unlimited online content, and is developing an early addiction to the internet, resulting in them detached from reality.
Social Media in Technology
There's no benefit of 'social media' in education in my opinion, but YouTube can be an exception since it's got some good and informative creators. Some of my favourites include Nahre Sol, Adam Neely for music-related content, and MKBHD for tech content. Their videos provide incredible educational value and are far more fun than flipping through textbooks or doing worksheets in class, with little compromise. On another note, using technology to create music, like what Soundtrap offers, is an incredibly good resource, much better than just writing down chords on paper.
Many people who aren't tech-savvy often find computer software unappealing or uninteresting. I'll be honest: this sentiment is even reflected in technology-based music education classes. In my opinion, there seems to be a sharp divide: those who are interested in tech and can figure things out on their own, and those who are disinterested and either don't want to learn or struggle to grasp the basics—what is a track? What's an equalizer? It's rare to find individuals who actively seek to learn about technology in a completely new way and manage to absorb the information effectively. This has been my observation over the years, both in high school and university. People either "get it" or they don’t. This disengagement is, of course, a major downside when using technology beyond the simplicity of, say, Google Docs.
However, I do believe teachers can make tech learning more appealing. One method I've found most effective is a successful demonstration of the technology in use. Whether it’s DJing on a deck in front of the class or creating a remix of a song on Soundtrap, it provides students a glimpse of what they might achieve and the satisfaction that comes with it, which can inspire them to learn more. That’s how I learned about technology—by following tutorials on YouTube. Even if it's just copying step-by-step, the end product still provides much-needed satisfaction. So, yes, technology can be intimidating for many, but showing them some tangible achievements might inspire them to engage more deeply.
Using Soundtrap
Now, talking about Soundtrap specifically, my initial exposure to the website was back in Year 8 when we were tasked with making a 'remix' of a song. I'm going to attach a recording of my old project here. If I recall correctly, the software wasn’t as cluttered back then, and I think I had a pretty fun time making music on Soundtrap. However, having used it again in this class, one thing that immediately stood out to me is how cluttered the samples are. Maybe it's because the sound library has expanded significantly, which is honestly a good thing. But the way Soundtrap organises and displays these sounds is just not the best.
Despite these drawbacks, generally, I think Soundtrap is very approachable and requires minimal technical knowledge—the least you can have and still be able to operate such programs. This makes it quite suitable for schools, especially when used alongside notation websites like Noteflight, MuseScore, and Flat.io, considering that most people won’t have the technical skills to operate more advanced software like Ableton and Sibelius.
Also, with the recent pandemic (not so recent anymore), music education has rapidly shifted online, and Soundtrap provides students with tools for music creation and online collaboration. It’s also interesting to note how Spotify acquired Soundtrap in 2017, saw its growth during the pandemic, and then sold it back to the original founders in 2023 (source).
Evaluating Browser-Based DAWs
Soundtrap and similar browser-based digital audio workstations (DAWs) are quite powerful for their platform. While desktop software DAWs like Ableton Live and Logic Pro offer extensive features, Soundtrap serves as an online alternative that is more viable for beginners. Not only are the basic features free, but schools can also opt to pay for additional functionalities. However, I feel that’s where Soundtrap’s advantages end. After trying Soundation, Soundtrap does feel a bit 'toy-like'. Soundation offers much more robust resources and tutorials, and its paid version is more affordable than Soundtrap's.
Nevertheless, when discussing the effectiveness of online DAWs in music education, I think they are excellent resources. They allow students to explore their own creativity and understand how their favorite music is made, providing a practical insight into the music creation process.
Mindfulness and Managing Digital Distractions
Practicing mindfulness was one of the strategies we discussed in class. We began the lesson with a meditation session, although, to be honest, I don’t really connect with meditation. My mind is always preoccupied, and I can't seem to achieve a state of complete serenity. However, we also explored other techniques to mitigate the negative effects of social media, especially for children. One such method is using parental controls. Studies have shown that parental controls can indeed reduce mental health issues and anxiety in children by limiting their time on their phones.
