After nearly 10 years of research and two years of back and forth with publishers, my book - The Teachers Guide to Music, Media & Copyright Law - is finally available for purchase. Hal Leonard published the book (they are a fantastic company to work with) and it is available on many different websites for purchase, including Amazon.com, HalLeonard.com, Barnes & Noble, and soon on the SoundTree Educational Web Store. There is a companion website for the book located at www.copyrightbook.net that includes a Q&A forum, links to other copyright resources, and downloadable files to be used in the classroom. The book actually came out ahead of schedule, thanks to the editorial contributions of David Moser, Rob Cohen, and the amazing Rusty Cutchin. I couldn’t be happier with the result.

If you are heading down the San Antonio, TX for the upcoming, TI:ME/TMEA Conference, I will actually be doing a book signing, and the SoundTree booth will have plenty of copies on hand. If you already have a copy of the book I’d love to hear what you think of it. Now, on to the next project…

I wlecome your questions and comments.

I am sitting in Newark Airport right now waiting for my 7:30am flight to Chicago, and I feel lost.

I’ve been traveling quite a bit lately and when my alarm clock rang at 4:30am this morning, it took me a little bit longer to get up. After showering and getting dressed I went downstairs to get my much needed cup of coffee. I put it into my travel mug and headed for the door. After getting all of my luggage into the car, I started it up and reached instinctively for my coffee. It wasn’t there. Grumbling to myself I walked back inside my house to pick it up off the counter. That was a close one.

On my way….

As I turned off of the New Jersey Turnpike at Exit 14A for the airport I reached instinctively for my other appendage - my cell phone. It wasn’t there. After frantically searching my pockets, I realized that it was still charging in my kitchen at home. I had one of those adrenaline rushes that you get when bad things happen. What happened next has made me realize how tethered we all are to technology. I actually considered turning around and going home to get it. While it would have definitely meant a stressful dash home and a strong possibility that I might miss my flight, I actually considered turning around. How would I be able to communicate with the world? How would anyone know how to get in touch with me? What if there was an emergency? How would I be able to survive 24 hours without my Palm Treo? Thankfully, my rational side kicked in and I asked myself, what would I have done 15 years ago when I didn’t have a cell phone? How did I survive off the network? I decided to be adventurous and travel unconnected. I kept driving towards Newark.

It is amazing how technology has become so integrated into our lives. I no longer wear a watch because I have my cell phone. I am always connected to my employees at work via email and voice. I check my flight status on my phone. I have over 250 contacts stored in my speed dial. What is even more amazing were the alternatives that immediately started streaming through my head. Not being able to communicate is not an option. After getting through airport security I went to a store and bought a Phone Card. I used to have a phone credit card with AT&T - those were the days. I used to make collect calls - who does that anymore? At least I will be able to make some calls at a public phone. I’ll just have to find one.

I am now sitting on the airplane as I write this. I am connected to the Internet via a wireless Internet card on my computer. Oh yeah…I’m still connected! I have Skype! I can make some phone calls to my friends on Skype! I can still check my email! I will be able to get through this. Whew…that was a close one.

Wait, my laptop battery is only at 8%…hope I have my charger with me.

Today I will be flying to Columbus, OH for the OMEA Conference. I will be presenting the Keynote Address as part of the TI:ME Central Regional Conference on behalf of SoundTree. The title of my session is New Trends in Music Technology - my personal favorite to present. During the presentation I get to show all of the most recent software and hardware available to music educators. I also urge educators to consider the inclusion of alternative performance ensembles into their music programs - including rock bands, laptop orchestras, and even turntables/DJing. I will also be presenting a session on GarageBand and how it can be used across the music curriculum. All of my session materials have been posted on a special landing page. I will also be podcasting both sessions, which will be posted on my podcast page.

On Saturday morning I will then head out to the famed NAMM Show (this will be my 2nd time attending). Although I am booked solid with meetings, I am looking forward to roaming around to see all of the new products that will be coming out this year. I will be sure to give my NAMM report early next week to fill you all in. On Sunday I have been asked to give a presentation as part of an interview with Sandi Jordan from NAMM that covers the new trends that I will be discussing at OMEA.

Late Sunday night I will board the red-eye flight back to Newark so that I can present a session on music technology to music educators as part of the Professional Development series at the Morris Museum. Hopefully I’ll get to stop home on the way for some much needed rest! I will also present another session on Web 2.0 in the classroom on Thursday.

It’s a ton of travel in only a few days, but I am loving every minute of it. Hopefully I will see you at one of these events, or in the near future!

Tomorrow I am heading down to Tampa, FL for the annual FMEA Conference. I will be presenting two sessions on behalf of SoundTree. All of my session materials are located at a special landing page that was created specifically for the conference. Podcasts of both sessions will be posted on my podcasting site.

I always enjoy presenting at FMEA. It is a huge conference and there are so many wonderful music educators at the show. If you are going to be at FMEA, please stop by my sessions or come and visit me at the SoundTree booth in the Exhibit Hall. Hope to see you there!

Believe it or not, I still get Christmas presents from my parents every year. At almost 40, I still look forward to seeing what my parents will get me each year. For the past couple of years it has been something either for the house or a new suit - useful to be sure, but not like the presents I got when I was a kid. This year however, they got me a gift that I absolutely love, and when I ripped the wrapping paper off I believe the word “Awesome!” was uttered at an unusually high volume. My gift: RockBand 2 for the Nintendo Wii.

For those of you who read this blog on a somewhat regular basis, you might remember that my wife bought me Guitar Hero 3 for my birthday back in September. I thoroughly enjoy the game, and usually play it late at night when everyone has gone to sleep. The graphics and lyrics are a bit too risqué for my two young daughters so I don’t play it in front of them. RockBand 2 however is a little different, so for the past couple of days it has been the Frankel Family Music Hour in our basement. For those of you who don’t know the game, it comes with three instruments: guitar, drums, and a microphone. Each is hooked up to the Wii game console via wireless USB dongles that plug into the back. The game allows all three devices to be used simultaneously during a song. I love playing the drums (at the medium level right now), my daughter loves being the lead singer (she is a bit of a ham), and even my lovely wife gets into the act playing either drums or guitar. I had my brother (he is a Blue Man in Blue Man Group and an excellent drummer) over this weekend and it was terrific to have a community experience with music - the first time I can recall since childhood.
The game setup is very similar to Guitar Hero 3, with two cascading music tracks on either side of the screen and the lyrics to the song scroll across the top of the screen. What amazed me about the game is that it actually judges the pitch accuracy of the singer by translating the voice that comes in to a visual representation on the screen. It also amplifies the voice and even adds effects when the song calls for them. Our current favorite songs include “Eye of the Tiger”, “Hungry Like the Wolf”, and my daughter’s favorite “That’s What You Get”. We have created a band, and we will be touring soon!

So what are the implications for music education? As you may be aware I believe that music educators should whole-heartedly embrace games like Guitar Hero, Wii Music, and RockBand as the students they teach are spending hours playing these games at home. There are very real musical skills being trained while playing the games (sight reading, rhythmic accuracy, pitch, and the value of practice), and with some creative implementation, I believe that they could be used to get students making “real” music on traditional and non-traditional instruments. It wouldn’t be that crazy in my opinion for a teacher to have a Wii system (or PlayStation and XBox 360) in the music classroom. What do you think? Do you have a video game console in your classroom? How do you use it? Would you ever consider integrating one into your music curriculum? Why? Why not?

I welcome your comments and questions. Thanks Mom & Dad!

For the last two years, I have posted my New Year’s Resolutions on this blog in an effort to follow through on some of them. I’m not sure why people have New Years’ resolutions, but I continue the tradition anyway. 2009 will pose some significant challenges and will hold some wonderful opportunities for me as I continue as the Managing Director of SoundTree. I am thrilled with my career choice, and I must admit, I don’t miss teaching all that much - although I dearly miss my colleagues. Being able to do the thing you love most on a daily basis is certainly a blessing, and the year ahead will be exciting no matter what happens with the economy. Technology is a fast-moving world, and I love being a part of it on a full time basis.

Here is my list of 10 Resolutions for 2009:

1. The computer and cell phone stays off during family time.
2. Get all of my to-do’s done quickly and effectively.
3. Spend more time with my family.
4. Follow through on all of the exciting projects that I am currently working on.
5. Exercise - a lot. I am totally out of shape.
6. Continue to explore ways to incorporate alternative music ensembles into a school music program.
7. Promote my new copyright book.
8. Read as many business books as possible.
9. Stress less.
10. Lose all of the weight I have put on over the past year. Eating out on the road can do some serious damage.

I wish you and your family a prosperous, healthy, and Happy 2009!