Digital database puts music resources at educators' fingertips

Digital database puts music resources at educators' fingertips

Music resource opens up new realm for educators. 

By Rosie Hales

September 2, 2014

Share

Dr. Rena Upitis (left) and Kingston piano teacher Jodie Compeau use the DREAM website to search for digital music resources.

 

Starting this September, music educators from across Canada will be able to find and download the best available digital music resources for free.

The Digital Resource Exchange 成人大片 Music (DREAM) is an online space created by collaborators at Queen鈥檚 University, Concordia University and The Royal Conservatory that can be used in French or English on all devices including computers, tablets and smartphones.

鈥淭he real strength of DREAM is that the resources are of high quality and relevance to music teachers. For example, teachers will often spend time sorting through a whole page of recordings trying to find one that is good enough to share 鈥 our website has done that work for them,鈥 says Dr. Rena Upitis, a professor in the Queen鈥檚 Faculty of Education and project director of DREAM.

DREAM, which took two years to develop, also allows users to listen to high quality recordings of popular repertoire. Kingston piano teacher Jodie Compeau says that functionality will augment her students鈥 learning experiences.

鈥淒REAM is a fantastic tool that streamlines my search for useful apps, websites and recordings that enhance the quality of my studio,鈥 she says. 鈥淒REAM means quickly finding a game to help my students learn to read music, or locating an app to help students mix their newest musical creations. It鈥檚 a real time saver for music educators.鈥

Additionally, users who sign up for a free DREAM account are able to rate, review and add resources to the website. All resources are approved the DREAM team.

鈥淒REAM aims to change the way that teachers learn by facilitating the exchange of information free from the constraints of distance or time,鈥 says Dr. Upitis. 鈥淭his means teachers can do what they do best: teach.鈥

 belongs to a suite of digital tools developed by Queen鈥檚, Concordia and The Royal Conservatory. Research leading to the development of DREAM was supported by the  and the . For more information, visit . 

Arts and Science