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Larry Peterson
December 11, 2000

Larry Peterson

Multimedia in Music

Helping students from different academic backgrounds understand something as complex as an operatic or orchestral performance is a challenge for many music professors.

Since 1986, Larry Peterson, music, has used computer technology to help his students see, hear, learn and understand these complex works. “I have used technology to help music majors, non-majors as well as distance learners,” Peterson said.

In two classes, Peterson uses three multimedia lessons to teach different sets of musical concepts while the students study opera. By highlighting parts of the score during a performance, adding text pointers and historical images, Peterson is able to communicate abstract information to his students with remarkable efficiency.

“I can teach in much greater depth, even to non-majors." Student response has been overwhelmingly positive, too. “The visual component helps the students ‘see’ the concepts and increases their interest. And, that increased interest further enhances students’ ability to understand the material,” he said.

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“The visual component helps the students ‘see’ the concepts and increases their interest. And, that... enhances students’ ability to understand the material.”

—Larry Peterson