Hello!
Unfortunately I'm about to lose all the webspace that I have previously been able to use. The University that I have been studying at is closing the department down as of Friday 22nd December. This unfortunately means that all my podcast links will break, sigh. I'm going to rationalize the podcasts, the tutor is pretty much already down anyway, but I'm going to have to decide what podcasts I can and can't keep up here. I may resort to a "please donate to keep the podcasts up" button. We'll see! In the mean time if you visit the site but can't get to any of the podcasts, please give me a shout and I'll fix the ones you'd like the fastest. I might get things transferred over before the webspace gets wiped, but then again, I might not. You'll be pleased to hear that I'm going to do some videocasts in the New Year and I'm going to use youtube to host them, so at least I won't have any data transfer issues with that! Right now, I'm nearly done on the dissertation, I'm onto the 3rd draft now, so wish me luck and hope to hear from you soon!
:)
Vx
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Sunday, October 29, 2006
A Vicki & Jonny Episode
A Vicki & Jonny Episode
Hello!
I got so excited at having finally recorded all the episodes of the tutor book that Jonny and I decided to put together a 'normal' podcast of some Scottish Smallpiping. So I went straight out into the shed and put this show together. Four different tracks in different keys from different albums just showing off the Scottish Smallpipes. So if you've heard the tutorials or the earlier podcasts and just want to hear some good old Scottish Smallpipe playing, this is definitely the episode for you! If you like what you hear there are oodles of links down the right hand side for you to follow to various sorts of shops!
Enjoy!
:)
Vicki & Jonny
Hello!
I got so excited at having finally recorded all the episodes of the tutor book that Jonny and I decided to put together a 'normal' podcast of some Scottish Smallpiping. So I went straight out into the shed and put this show together. Four different tracks in different keys from different albums just showing off the Scottish Smallpipes. So if you've heard the tutorials or the earlier podcasts and just want to hear some good old Scottish Smallpipe playing, this is definitely the episode for you! If you like what you hear there are oodles of links down the right hand side for you to follow to various sorts of shops!
Enjoy!
:)
Vicki & Jonny
Thursday, October 26, 2006
Finished Editing the final chapter...
Audio File
Hello!
I've finally finished editing all the chapters of the tutor book, hurrah! You probably noticed that I've removed the previous chapters from here. (Except chapters one and two). I'm now really coming to the final lef of the dissertation, so I'm collecting up as much last minute feedback as possible. I will probably broadcast the final four episodes and leave them here for a short amount of time very soon. My final request is, if you've enjoyed the tutor and don't want to give any feedback, then, maybe, erm, possibly, think about buying our album? We'd appreciate that!
If you're in the states we're on CDbaby. If you're into Paypal and on this side of the pond, we can do that. Or you can just visit our online shop!
Thanks for tuning in!
:)
Vx
Hello!
I've finally finished editing all the chapters of the tutor book, hurrah! You probably noticed that I've removed the previous chapters from here. (Except chapters one and two). I'm now really coming to the final lef of the dissertation, so I'm collecting up as much last minute feedback as possible. I will probably broadcast the final four episodes and leave them here for a short amount of time very soon. My final request is, if you've enjoyed the tutor and don't want to give any feedback, then, maybe, erm, possibly, think about buying our album? We'd appreciate that!
If you're in the states we're on CDbaby. If you're into Paypal and on this side of the pond, we can do that. Or you can just visit our online shop!
Thanks for tuning in!
:)
Vx
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Chapter Seven is edited.....
Chapter Seven Podcast
text file!
Hello!
Chapter seven is fully edited and ready for listening to. I'm requesting some more answers of the reserarch questions, so for everyone that hasn't sent back any feedback to me I'm going to post the link to the question file once more. Please, please, please. If you're using any of the materials that I'm posting and you really don't want to answer the questions, just drop me a line and say hi. I've got three months left before I hand in my dissertation, so there's still time to say hello and help mne out!
There's a bit of a twist included in the audio file that I've linked above. So have a listen and then get in touch! You can e-mail me at: vix@ultralab.net
Hope to hear from you soon!
:)
Vx
text file!
Hello!
Chapter seven is fully edited and ready for listening to. I'm requesting some more answers of the reserarch questions, so for everyone that hasn't sent back any feedback to me I'm going to post the link to the question file once more. Please, please, please. If you're using any of the materials that I'm posting and you really don't want to answer the questions, just drop me a line and say hi. I've got three months left before I hand in my dissertation, so there's still time to say hello and help mne out!
There's a bit of a twist included in the audio file that I've linked above. So have a listen and then get in touch! You can e-mail me at: vix@ultralab.net
Hope to hear from you soon!
:)
Vx
Saturday, August 05, 2006
The Golden Birch - A Video podcast!
Video Podcast!
The Dots.
A different kind of podcast today. As a result of the feedback I got I decided to have a go with the videopodcasting to see if it worked / was worse. I've been out visiting my grandma in Sweden with no access to broadband or any technology other than the computer, so I've put together some old video I made and exported it to a video cast, so there's none of my usual banter. (Maybe you'll find that better, lol) It simply plays through in three different ways a tune, takes roughly 12 minutes. It weighs in at a weighty 35Mb (weighty for the length of time anyway). I'd love it if you'd give the tune a go and then put some feedback either here or e-mail me here!! You don't need to worry about anonymity, I'll not use any names for the dissertation or anything like that so no worries, but leaving messages here is fine too.
So let me know how you get on, does the video add sufficiently to the learning experience to warrant the extra size of file (about three times larger per minute than without the video).
ok, back to editing chapter 7......
Have a good summer.
:)
Vx
The Dots.
A different kind of podcast today. As a result of the feedback I got I decided to have a go with the videopodcasting to see if it worked / was worse. I've been out visiting my grandma in Sweden with no access to broadband or any technology other than the computer, so I've put together some old video I made and exported it to a video cast, so there's none of my usual banter. (Maybe you'll find that better, lol) It simply plays through in three different ways a tune, takes roughly 12 minutes. It weighs in at a weighty 35Mb (weighty for the length of time anyway). I'd love it if you'd give the tune a go and then put some feedback either here or e-mail me here!! You don't need to worry about anonymity, I'll not use any names for the dissertation or anything like that so no worries, but leaving messages here is fine too.
So let me know how you get on, does the video add sufficiently to the learning experience to warrant the extra size of file (about three times larger per minute than without the video).
ok, back to editing chapter 7......
Have a good summer.
:)
Vx
Thursday, July 20, 2006
A competition!
Podcast!
Hello!
Here is just a quick podcast for you guys! Thank you for downloading and using the tutor and the materials and the tunes! It's been wonderful to see people from all over the world taking part and learning the Smallpipes! Now it's your turn to do me a little favour and I'll send you a present to say thanks! I have 10 questions that I'd really like answered and in return I will send the first 20 people to e-mail me feedback a CD. I'd like the answers to be a couple of sentences for each question really, not just a yes or no answer. It'll be a seriouskitchen album, (I'm the piper on the album). All you need to do is to be one of the first 20 to feedback. I'm keeping the competition open for 7 days starting from the 21st July '06. I talk about the questions in the podcast, but I'll put them here and include a text file that you can send back to me if you like. So here they are:
1. How would you describe the quality of your learning experience?
2. Describe what you learned from the podcast?
3. To what extent did you enjoy the experience?
4. What changes could be made / added to these podcasts to improve the learning experience?
5. In creating the tutor book to podcast I have attempted to anticipate any difficulties and pitfalls, how succesful did I manage this? (Rate me from 1 - 10, 1 being not very good and 10 being fantastic)
6. How was the sequencing of the material in the tutor? (so far) Was it pitched at the right level for a beginner through to more experienced player?
7. Chapters seven to ten haven’t been recorded yet, how can the learning experience be improved?
8. Would you recommend this blog and podcast to other fellow (or would be) pipers?
9. What brought you to this podcast?
10. Any general observations?
Right click to download the text file!
Send your feedback here!!
Hello!
Here is just a quick podcast for you guys! Thank you for downloading and using the tutor and the materials and the tunes! It's been wonderful to see people from all over the world taking part and learning the Smallpipes! Now it's your turn to do me a little favour and I'll send you a present to say thanks! I have 10 questions that I'd really like answered and in return I will send the first 20 people to e-mail me feedback a CD. I'd like the answers to be a couple of sentences for each question really, not just a yes or no answer. It'll be a seriouskitchen album, (I'm the piper on the album). All you need to do is to be one of the first 20 to feedback. I'm keeping the competition open for 7 days starting from the 21st July '06. I talk about the questions in the podcast, but I'll put them here and include a text file that you can send back to me if you like. So here they are:
1. How would you describe the quality of your learning experience?
2. Describe what you learned from the podcast?
3. To what extent did you enjoy the experience?
4. What changes could be made / added to these podcasts to improve the learning experience?
5. In creating the tutor book to podcast I have attempted to anticipate any difficulties and pitfalls, how succesful did I manage this? (Rate me from 1 - 10, 1 being not very good and 10 being fantastic)
6. How was the sequencing of the material in the tutor? (so far) Was it pitched at the right level for a beginner through to more experienced player?
7. Chapters seven to ten haven’t been recorded yet, how can the learning experience be improved?
8. Would you recommend this blog and podcast to other fellow (or would be) pipers?
9. What brought you to this podcast?
10. Any general observations?
Right click to download the text file!
Send your feedback here!!
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Chapter Six
Chapter Six Podcast
Chapter Six PDF
Hello!
I managed to get this chapter recorded and edited and up in less than a month this time, hurrah! I've been getting some wonderful feedback from all over the world, so thank you so very much. If you've not said hello to me yet, please, please do! If you want to e-mail the feedback through you can use this address: vix[@]ultralab.net you'll need to remove the square brackets!
This month it's more gracenotes, strikes (or blaps as I've affectionately labelled them). Again the chapter is really long weighing in at 46Mb, this is 1Mb smaller than last month though. No-one complained that it was too long, so I've left it at this length again. If you think it is too long though, do drop me a line and let me know!
I hope I've not screwed up on any numbering this time, I've exported the pdf from the version I was reading and not taken the shot cut of using the pdf I created earlier. I've hopefully exported it ok for PC users to read.
I've been contemplating what I am trying to do and ultimately what actually is my research question. It occurred to me that this sums it up:
"How can I reach and help students improve the quality of their learning using the internet and podcasting?"
This is my action research quest if you like. How can I help you improve the quality of your learning? I know that some movies would ultimately help, but the size of file would be immense, so maybe I need to intersperse the tutor podcasts with some video casts of smaller chunks of technique learning? What do you think? Would that be useful?
I'd love to hear any reflections of learning remotely like this, things like: how did you find this podcast? Are you finding it helpful? What's it like as a remote learner? Do you like the anonymity? Is it easier to learn when you like and at home? Any thoughts at all!
I would love to hear any recordings that you make of any of these podcasts, so please send any though, that would be so fantastic!!!!
Thanks!
Enjoy!
(^_^)
Vx
PS oh yes, the server that the files are held on get backed up from time to time, so if they're not available, it could be that a backup is in progress and they'll work again in a couple of hours.
Chapter Six PDF
Hello!
I managed to get this chapter recorded and edited and up in less than a month this time, hurrah! I've been getting some wonderful feedback from all over the world, so thank you so very much. If you've not said hello to me yet, please, please do! If you want to e-mail the feedback through you can use this address: vix[@]ultralab.net you'll need to remove the square brackets!
This month it's more gracenotes, strikes (or blaps as I've affectionately labelled them). Again the chapter is really long weighing in at 46Mb, this is 1Mb smaller than last month though. No-one complained that it was too long, so I've left it at this length again. If you think it is too long though, do drop me a line and let me know!
I hope I've not screwed up on any numbering this time, I've exported the pdf from the version I was reading and not taken the shot cut of using the pdf I created earlier. I've hopefully exported it ok for PC users to read.
I've been contemplating what I am trying to do and ultimately what actually is my research question. It occurred to me that this sums it up:
"How can I reach and help students improve the quality of their learning using the internet and podcasting?"
This is my action research quest if you like. How can I help you improve the quality of your learning? I know that some movies would ultimately help, but the size of file would be immense, so maybe I need to intersperse the tutor podcasts with some video casts of smaller chunks of technique learning? What do you think? Would that be useful?
I'd love to hear any reflections of learning remotely like this, things like: how did you find this podcast? Are you finding it helpful? What's it like as a remote learner? Do you like the anonymity? Is it easier to learn when you like and at home? Any thoughts at all!
I would love to hear any recordings that you make of any of these podcasts, so please send any though, that would be so fantastic!!!!
Thanks!
Enjoy!
(^_^)
Vx
PS oh yes, the server that the files are held on get backed up from time to time, so if they're not available, it could be that a backup is in progress and they'll work again in a couple of hours.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Chapter Five
Chapter Five Podcast
Chapter Five PDF
Hello!
I figured a month was long enough in between posts! I've had some nice feedback, but I know that more people are downloading the files than are saying hello! So please, even if it's just a a hello, please let me know you're out there! Even if it's a negative comment, like what you're doing is no good, I'd like to hear it!
This month it's the turn of grace notes. This can be controversial, so I just want to point out that some of the gracenotes that I've included are there to give you the facility to use them. What I am teaching isn't gospel! So do the exercises, learn the gracenotes and then apply them as you see fit!
This chapter is also really long. I was going to cut it into two halves, but I really want to publish it today and it would mean going back and re-recording a new ending and a new start. It would be interesting to hear if you think this is too long! I know I prefer to listen to podcasts that are around the half hour mark, but I guess that this is a learning/teaching tool and slightly different maybe. Anyway, let me know! If you want to e-mail the feedback through you can use this address: vix[@]ultralab.net you'll need to remove the square brackets!
Please have a look at the questions in the last post and mail me or leave a comment here!
I would so love to hear any recordings that you make of any of these podcasts, so please send any though, that would be so fantastic!!!!
Thanks!
Enjoy!
Laters
(^_^)
Vx
Chapter Five PDF
Hello!
I figured a month was long enough in between posts! I've had some nice feedback, but I know that more people are downloading the files than are saying hello! So please, even if it's just a a hello, please let me know you're out there! Even if it's a negative comment, like what you're doing is no good, I'd like to hear it!
This month it's the turn of grace notes. This can be controversial, so I just want to point out that some of the gracenotes that I've included are there to give you the facility to use them. What I am teaching isn't gospel! So do the exercises, learn the gracenotes and then apply them as you see fit!
This chapter is also really long. I was going to cut it into two halves, but I really want to publish it today and it would mean going back and re-recording a new ending and a new start. It would be interesting to hear if you think this is too long! I know I prefer to listen to podcasts that are around the half hour mark, but I guess that this is a learning/teaching tool and slightly different maybe. Anyway, let me know! If you want to e-mail the feedback through you can use this address: vix[@]ultralab.net you'll need to remove the square brackets!
Please have a look at the questions in the last post and mail me or leave a comment here!
I would so love to hear any recordings that you make of any of these podcasts, so please send any though, that would be so fantastic!!!!
Thanks!
Enjoy!
Laters
(^_^)
Vx
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Chapter Four and some questions!
Chapter Four Podcast
Chapter Four PDF
Hello!
Sorry it's been a few too many weeks since my last post! I've been fretting over my research questions and trying to make sure that what I am doing is valid. I'm struggling along with the research methodology of my study and just about everything really. Mostly I'm trying to answer the question, what am I trying to achieve. I'm having a hard time putting it into words really. My background is that of a peripatetic instrumental music teacher (flute mainly) and I'm trying to combine my online work with the concept of being a "peri". I've been getting feedback via e-mails which is fantastic, so please keep that up. I've got some questions for other people too, the people that haven't mailed me!
So here is the next chapter of the tutor book. What I'd like to know is this.
1. Is the tutor book working as a podcast teaching tool. Not so much the pedagogy side of the actual book, but the medium by which I'm teaching with it? No is a perfectly good answer!
2. Did you prefer it when I was just doing tunes? I'm more than happy to go back to that. Obviously I will when the tutor is done with anyway!
3. What is the experience like? What is good about taking the tunes from here (or bad!) I'd like to know a bit about what is good about online learning. Is it essentially a lonesome thing, ie a personal and private thing, to remain anonymous or would you like some personal feedback?
4. Does this whole thing work for you, I guess people that feedback on the whole will be positive, but I'd like to hear negative stuff too!
5. If you're a teacher, are you managing to use any of this material?
Anyway, I'm posting this podcast now. So let me know how you all get on with it! I hope that the pdf works first time this time! In fact I just hope I have all the links correct. Sigh! I'll have better questions next time, I just didn't want you to think I'd abandoned you all! Thanks!!!!
Enjoy!
Laters
(^_^)
Vx
Chapter Four PDF
Hello!
Sorry it's been a few too many weeks since my last post! I've been fretting over my research questions and trying to make sure that what I am doing is valid. I'm struggling along with the research methodology of my study and just about everything really. Mostly I'm trying to answer the question, what am I trying to achieve. I'm having a hard time putting it into words really. My background is that of a peripatetic instrumental music teacher (flute mainly) and I'm trying to combine my online work with the concept of being a "peri". I've been getting feedback via e-mails which is fantastic, so please keep that up. I've got some questions for other people too, the people that haven't mailed me!
So here is the next chapter of the tutor book. What I'd like to know is this.
1. Is the tutor book working as a podcast teaching tool. Not so much the pedagogy side of the actual book, but the medium by which I'm teaching with it? No is a perfectly good answer!
2. Did you prefer it when I was just doing tunes? I'm more than happy to go back to that. Obviously I will when the tutor is done with anyway!
3. What is the experience like? What is good about taking the tunes from here (or bad!) I'd like to know a bit about what is good about online learning. Is it essentially a lonesome thing, ie a personal and private thing, to remain anonymous or would you like some personal feedback?
4. Does this whole thing work for you, I guess people that feedback on the whole will be positive, but I'd like to hear negative stuff too!
5. If you're a teacher, are you managing to use any of this material?
Anyway, I'm posting this podcast now. So let me know how you all get on with it! I hope that the pdf works first time this time! In fact I just hope I have all the links correct. Sigh! I'll have better questions next time, I just didn't want you to think I'd abandoned you all! Thanks!!!!
Enjoy!
Laters
(^_^)
Vx
Thursday, February 23, 2006
SSP tutor podcast No. 2
Hello!
Welcome back! I've had some wonderful comments from people about the first podcast, so here at last is the second. I'm making a couple of alterations to the chapter one, especially the tuning of the drones. It was pointed out that the 'throbbing' of the drones gets slower not faster, so sorry!!!! That'll change!!! (Then I'll re-put the file!)
I hope you're getting used to my 'colloquial' speak. I'm going to post up some questions for you to answer for me very very soon, but to keep you going here is the next file!!!! As always, please e-mail me with feedback. Absolutely anything, from this works, to this doesn't. Even if the tutor just makes you feel good about playing, anything that springs to your mind! Please, please, please! Right, enough chatter, on with the tutor!
Enjoy!
Laters
(^_^)
Vx
Welcome back! I've had some wonderful comments from people about the first podcast, so here at last is the second. I'm making a couple of alterations to the chapter one, especially the tuning of the drones. It was pointed out that the 'throbbing' of the drones gets slower not faster, so sorry!!!! That'll change!!! (Then I'll re-put the file!)
I hope you're getting used to my 'colloquial' speak. I'm going to post up some questions for you to answer for me very very soon, but to keep you going here is the next file!!!! As always, please e-mail me with feedback. Absolutely anything, from this works, to this doesn't. Even if the tutor just makes you feel good about playing, anything that springs to your mind! Please, please, please! Right, enough chatter, on with the tutor!
Enjoy!
Laters
(^_^)
Vx
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
SSP Beginner Tutorial 1 & 2
Tutorial 1 and 2
PDF file of book
Hello!
Welcome back! It's been a while, I've been busy (organising a wedding mostly, but that's a different story!). Anyway my plan now is to podcast the tutor book that I wrote. Now, I know that most of you guys already play the smallpipes, but what I'd find really useful is for you to have a look and a listen and let me know your thoughts. I'd love it if you took the materials and give it a go with any of your students. It is in A, maybe I'll do a D version if there is lots of demand, but it is quite time consuming, so here is the A version. I'm going to work my way through the entire book, but as this is for total beginners the first two chapters deal with the complete basics.
If you're a new person looking at this blog/podcast welcome, great to have you on board. If you don't have a set of pipes, then a practise chanter would do, in fact, I think would be better! So get to your local folkie shop and get a really cheap one. (Hobgoblin do them). I'll give more info laters, but please, please, loads of feedback. Use this tutor and let me know how it goes. Drop me a line and say hi too!!!!
laters!
Vicki
PDF file of book
Hello!
Welcome back! It's been a while, I've been busy (organising a wedding mostly, but that's a different story!). Anyway my plan now is to podcast the tutor book that I wrote. Now, I know that most of you guys already play the smallpipes, but what I'd find really useful is for you to have a look and a listen and let me know your thoughts. I'd love it if you took the materials and give it a go with any of your students. It is in A, maybe I'll do a D version if there is lots of demand, but it is quite time consuming, so here is the A version. I'm going to work my way through the entire book, but as this is for total beginners the first two chapters deal with the complete basics.
If you're a new person looking at this blog/podcast welcome, great to have you on board. If you don't have a set of pipes, then a practise chanter would do, in fact, I think would be better! So get to your local folkie shop and get a really cheap one. (Hobgoblin do them). I'll give more info laters, but please, please, loads of feedback. Use this tutor and let me know how it goes. Drop me a line and say hi too!!!!
laters!
Vicki
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