Resonant Researcher

Reflections on Bauer, Chapter 7

I’ll be honest, when I first started thinking seriously about integrating technology into my music teaching, I felt overwhelmed. Not because I didn’t want to use it, but because I didn’t want it to take over the heart of what I love about music, connection, expression, and community.

Reading Chapter 7 of Bauer’s Music Learning Today helped reframe that hesitation. His discussion of TPACK, technological pedagogical content knowledge, gets to the core of what it means to teach music well with technology, not just using it. It’s not enough to know how to work a DAW, or assign students a music theory app. Real integration happens when pedagogy, content, and technology come together with intention.

One part of the chapter that really stuck with me is the emphasis on student-centered learning. Bauer makes the case that technology can be a powerful tool for shifting ownership of learning to the student, and as someone who’s always striving for more authentic engagement in the classroom, that resonates deeply. Whether it’s students recording their own parts and listening back, collaborating in cloud-based platforms, or composing with tools that didn’t exist 10 years ago, there’s something powerful about giving students the tools to make and reflect on their own music.

But, and this is where I appreciate Bauer’s nuance, it’s not about throwing tech into the mix just because it’s trendy. Reflection is key. I’ve seen plenty of shiny tools that ultimately distract more than they help. What’s stuck with me is this, if the tech isn’t amplifying the musical experience, it might not be worth it.

In my own teaching, the simplest uses have often been the most effective. Recording a rehearsal so students can evaluate their blend, looping a tricky passage to help with rhythmic accuracy, letting students create, revise, and share performances with their peers online. None of these are flashy, but they’re musical.

Bauer’s chapter reminded me that the goal isn’t to replace the human elements of music-making with tech, it’s to extend them, support them, and open new doorways for creativity, collaboration, and expression.

And that’s a goal I can get behind.