Overview

Alternative Certification is designed for in-service music teachers who have experience in music technology and wish to apply for TI:ME Certification without taking one or both of the required TI:ME Level 1 courses. The requirements for TI:ME Level 1 Alternative Certification are listed below. Alternative certification for level 2 is not available.

There are two required content areas for TI:ME Level 1 Certification:

• TI:ME 1A: Basic Skills in Music Technology: Music Notation Software, Music Production (aka Sequencing), and Electronic Instruments.
• TI:ME 1B: Basic Skills in Music Technology: Instructional Software, The Internet and Digital Media.

It is possible to achieve TI:ME Level 1 Certification via any of the following:

• Take the two TI:ME Level 1 Courses (1A and 1B) at approved institutions.
• Complete the Alternative Certification for both Level 1 courses (1A and 1B).
• Take either course at an institution and complete the second via the Alternative Certification process.

The objective of TI:ME Level 1 Certification is to impart practical skills and knowledge to in-service teachers (ISTs) to allow them to integrate technology effectively into teaching and learning. The TI:ME 1A content covers basic skills in music notation software, music sequencing software, MIDI theory, and the use of electronic musical instruments. The TI:ME 1B content covers basic skills in computer assisted instruction, multimedia, and telecommunications.

Details

Procedures for completing the Alternative Certification Requirements for TI:ME 1A or 1B

1. Become a member of TI:ME.
2. Read a copy of Technology Strategies for Music Education.
3. Fill out the application for Alternative Certification. You may apply for alternative certification of Level 1A, Level 1B, or both.
4. Mail a $150 certification fee for each requested certification to TI:ME at 3300 Washtenaw Ave., Ste 220, Ann Arbor MI 48104. If you are applying for both 1A and 1B certification, send a total of $300.
5. A password will be sent to you via email so that you may access the course materials.
6. Download and print the TI:ME Level 1A or 1B workbook from the Certification Course Materials section of the TI:ME web site.
7. Make arrangements to attend the TI:ME Annual Conference. Registration information for the conference can be found on the TI:ME web site.
8. Prepare proof of proficiency items detailed below and demonstrate them at the conference.

TI:ME 1A Proof of Proficiency Items

1. Complete all the worksheets and the MIDI setup diagrams in the TI:ME Level 1A workbook. Refer to the Technology Strategies for Music Education as needed to complete the worksheets.
2. Submit complete notated versions of Invention No. 4 by J. S. Bach, Oh Susannah by Stephen Foster, and The Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key and John Stafford Smith. The page layout and appearance of the submissions should be similar to the models in the workbook. Applicants may use their choice of notation software.
3. Submit a printed notation project of at least 24 measures in length, 4 or more staves, with at least one transposing instrument. The final project should be turned in as a full score in concert pitch as well as individual parts in their appropriate transpositions. Applicants are free to select their own projects which meet the criteria.
4. Submit acompleted sequencing project of at least 24 measures in length, 5 or more tracks, with at least 4 different timbres. ISTs are free to select their own projects which meet the criteria. This project should be submitted as a standard midi file on Mac or PC disk.
5. Submit a 1,000-word paper on notation software. Describe feature sets found in professional notation software as compared to those found in software designed for more casual users or young children. Describe several ways to use notation software to enhance teaching and learning.
6. Submit a 1,000-word paper on electronic musical instruments. Describe feature sets found on professional-level keyboards as compared to those found on instruments designed for more casual users or young children. Describe the setup and basic operation of electronic instruments. Describe MIDI, General MIDI, and standard MIDI files and their practical uses. Describe methods for integrating electronic instruments into the music curriculum.
7. Submit a 1,000-word paper on sequencing software. Define the term “sequencer” and describe the types of sequencers currently available (hardware, software, and integrated). Describe feature sets found on professional sequencing software as compared to those found in sequencing software designed for more casual users or young children. Describe the setup and basic operation of electronic instruments. Describe methods for integrating MIDI sequencers into the music curriculum.

TI:ME 1A Proficiency Demonstrations

Applicants will demonstrate their level of proficiency during the Level 1A Alternative Certification Session at the TI:ME Annual Conference or, by special arrangement, with an instructor designated by TI:ME. Applicants should bring full or demo versions of software to install in the event that their preferred software package is not already available. The test facility will contain Power Macintosh computers and one or more Windows PCs pre-loaded with popular notation and sequencing packages. Applicants are welcome to bring their own laptop computers though this is not a requirement.

1. Notate a brief excerpt (4 to 8 measures) of an ensemble piece for instruments, piano, and solo voice using notation software of the applicant’s choice. The excerpt will contain multiple voices on at least one of the staves, lyrics, chord symbols, and expressive markings. Applicants will see the excerpt for the first time at the Level 1A Alternative Certification Session.
2. Sequence a brief excerpt (8 to 12-measures) of an ensemble piece for electronic musical instruments using sequencing software of the applicant’s choice. The excerpt will require applicants to play all notes on a keyboard, insert patch changes, and create controller data for volume and stereo pan. Applicants will see the excerpt for the first time at the Level 1A Alternative Certification Session.

TI:ME 1B Proof of Proficiency Items (sent by U.S. mail to TI:ME)

Complete all the worksheets in the TI:ME Level 1B workbook. Refer to the Technology Strategies for Music Education as needed to complete the worksheets.

1. Introduction to Instructional Software Activity Sheet
2. Exploration of Musical Instructional Games Activity Sheet
3. Evaluating Instructional Software Activity Sheet Complete the activity sheet for a program of your choice.
4. Evaluating Instructional Software Activity Sheet Complete a copy of the activity sheet for two CAI programs.
5. Evaluating Instructional Software Activity Sheet Complete a copy of the activity sheet for two multimedia CD ROM lessons.
6. Practical Techniques for Integrating Instructional Software Activity Sheet
7. Print a screen (“screen-shot”) from an instructional program.
8. Instructional Software, the National Standards and the TI:ME Strategies for Music Education Activity Sheet
9. Configuring Hardware and Software for Instructional and Multimedia Use Activity Sheet
10. Introduction to the Internet Activity Sheet
11. Definition of Terms Activity Sheet
12. Exploration of Known Sites Activity Sheet
13. Searching For Information Activity Sheet
14. Data Types On The Internet Activity Sheet
15. Curriculum Integration Activity Sheets
16. The Internet, the National Standards and the TI:ME Strategies for Music Education Activity Sheet
17. Export a bookmark list for a selected class topic to disk.
18. Print useful instructional materials from the internet.
19. Download an instructional sound, picture, and movie from the internet to a disk.
20. Configuring the Browser Activity Sheet
21. Getting Connected Activity Sheet
22. Site Assessment Activity Sheet
    Complete a copy of the the activity sheet for two internet sites.
23. Introduction to Multimedia Activity Sheet
24. Complete one of the following activity sheets – your choice. Images: Scanning a Picture Activity Sheet Images: Using a Digital Camera Activity Sheet
25. Edit the picture created in Number 24 (above) as follows: Adjust the brightness, crop the picture so that only part of the image shows, enlarge or reduce the size of the picture. Save both versions of the picture to disk.
26. Integrate multimedia elements into a word processing program and save the results to disk.
27. Capturing Digital Audio Activity Sheets
    Save an original sound illustrating a musical concept to disk.
28. Working With Standard MIDI Files Activity Sheet
29. Create an original multimedia project which is useful in the classroom. The project should contain text, graphics, and sounds. The project may be developed using any multimedia software including a full-featured (multimedia-capable) word processor, presentation software, multimedia authoring software, or an internet web-site editor. The multimedia project should be “content-rich” and of practical use to students of music.
30. Digital Media, Multimedia Authoring, the National Standards and the TI:ME Strategies for Music Education Activity Sheet

TI:ME 1B Proficiency Demonstrations

Applicants will demonstrate their level of proficiency during the Level 1B Alternative Certification Session at the TI:ME Annual conference or, by special arrangement, with an instructor designated by TI:ME. Applicants should bring full or demo versions of software to install in the event that their preferred software package is not already available. The test facility will contain Power Macintosh computers and one or more Windows PCs pre-loaded with popular internet browsers, word processors, and multimedia software. Applicants are welcome to bring their own laptop computers though this is not a requirement.

1. ISTs will show their “screen-shot” of an instructional program.
2. ISTs will load the saved bookmark file on the computer at the conference and will give an overview of selected sites.
3. ISTs will display the materials printed from the internet.
4. ISTs will load and play or display the downloaded sounds, pictures, and movie files from the internet.
5. ISTs will display the picture scanned or captured with a digital camera and the edited version.
6. ISTs will load and play their original sound
7. ISTs will demonstrate their multimedia project.
8. ISTs will demonstrate how to add text, sound, graphics, and movies to the multimedia program of their choice.