Nerd-friendly playlists that might be fun to watch
Learning Time: This is how I teach my daughter at home
I invite parents to check out how Alice learns, and get some "Learning Time" ideas for your own kids or daycare. It is mostly play based activities, which I usually think up on the spot. Kids of this age (0-8) still learn best through play activities, but there is a fine line between purely playing and having a focused learning experience. She thinks that learning math and reading are fun activities–partly because I never push it on her, and also because she knows it is a surefire way to get my full attention for as long as she focuses. I try to be a very animated fun Mom during the activities. If she wanders off into a state of distraction, I mildly scold her and let her know that we are no longer in "learning time" and that I have other things I need to do. That almost always pulls her back in. I only merge into playing-with-her after I feel she has actually learned something substantial. And at that point I really do merge into playing (on purpose!) to blur the line between work and play so that she keeps in her mind that learning is fun. I have no idea how this will merge into actual grade school. I'm learning as I go! See the full list of videos here.
I invite parents to check out how Alice learns, and get some "Learning Time" ideas for your own kids or daycare. It is mostly play based activities, which I usually think up on the spot. Kids of this age (0-8) still learn best through play activities, but there is a fine line between purely playing and having a focused learning experience. She thinks that learning math and reading are fun activities–partly because I never push it on her, and also because she knows it is a surefire way to get my full attention for as long as she focuses. I try to be a very animated fun Mom during the activities. If she wanders off into a state of distraction, I mildly scold her and let her know that we are no longer in "learning time" and that I have other things I need to do. That almost always pulls her back in. I only merge into playing-with-her after I feel she has actually learned something substantial. And at that point I really do merge into playing (on purpose!) to blur the line between work and play so that she keeps in her mind that learning is fun. I have no idea how this will merge into actual grade school. I'm learning as I go! See the full list of videos here.
March 8, 2013 “Microtonality: The New Frontier in Music”
Elaine Walker lectures on Microtonality, explained for the beginner, at Florida Atlantic University. This was the final lecture for the Spring 2013 Frontiers in Science public lecture series. Supported by the FAU Lifelong Learning Society Endowed Professorship in Science – See the brochure | http://science.fau.edu
Elaine Walker lectures on Microtonality, explained for the beginner, at Florida Atlantic University. This was the final lecture for the Spring 2013 Frontiers in Science public lecture series. Supported by the FAU Lifelong Learning Society Endowed Professorship in Science – See the brochure | http://science.fau.edu
Elaine lectures on the Bohlen-Pierce Scale @ the Goethe Institute, Boston, 2013
I give an overview of my work with the Bohlen-Pierce scale over the years (a macrotonal musical tuning system based on a 3/1 frame (three times the frequency, called a "tritave", as opposed to the 2/1 "octave") divided by 13 equal steps), starting with how Dr. Richard Boulanger introduced me to the tuning and how it turned out I was a fan of John R. Pierce all along, to my research at NYU during my Masters studies when I got to know Heinz Bohlen. Then I will talk about what I am working on now, with the hexagonal keyboard layout I developed, outlining chord progressions and fingerings on the keyboard, and composing new music. Supporting audio | View performances and other lectures
I give an overview of my work with the Bohlen-Pierce scale over the years (a macrotonal musical tuning system based on a 3/1 frame (three times the frequency, called a "tritave", as opposed to the 2/1 "octave") divided by 13 equal steps), starting with how Dr. Richard Boulanger introduced me to the tuning and how it turned out I was a fan of John R. Pierce all along, to my research at NYU during my Masters studies when I got to know Heinz Bohlen. Then I will talk about what I am working on now, with the hexagonal keyboard layout I developed, outlining chord progressions and fingerings on the keyboard, and composing new music. Supporting audio | View performances and other lectures
AXIS for the Bohlen-Pierce Scale
Elaine rearranges the keys for the Bohlen-Pierce Scale on this hexagon "sonome" keyboard. The Bohlen-Pierce Scale is a macrotuning based on a 3/1 frequency ratio, divided by 13 equal steps. See http://www.ziaspace.com/elaine/BP for research on the BP Scale.
Elaine rearranges the keys for the Bohlen-Pierce Scale on this hexagon "sonome" keyboard. The Bohlen-Pierce Scale is a macrotuning based on a 3/1 frequency ratio, divided by 13 equal steps. See http://www.ziaspace.com/elaine/BP for research on the BP Scale.
Electronic Music Geekdom
This playlist includes anything along the lines of instructional videos, presentations, and documenting things such as building or modifying gear. My main interests are in alternate tunings and controllers, fractal-generated (chaos) music, and making unusual sounds.
This playlist includes anything along the lines of instructional videos, presentations, and documenting things such as building or modifying gear. My main interests are in alternate tunings and controllers, fractal-generated (chaos) music, and making unusual sounds.
Mars On Earth
Some of my most exciting experiences have been with the NASA Haughton-Mars Project (HMP) which takes place in the High Arctic 75˚N on Devon Island, and is operated by the Mars Institute. Read more about the HMP here.
I was the Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Mars Institute for several years. My duties were reporting on the many science projects being conducted, so I would talk the scientists into letting me tag along, and if they were in the mood, I'd interview them and blog about it. I participated in the 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2010 field seasons. Here are some fun and informative videos I did while I was there, including one music video which is how I got involved in the first place. In 2003 I was invited to make a video about humans-to-Mars, commissioned by NASA and the HMP.
Some of my most exciting experiences have been with the NASA Haughton-Mars Project (HMP) which takes place in the High Arctic 75˚N on Devon Island, and is operated by the Mars Institute. Read more about the HMP here.
I was the Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Mars Institute for several years. My duties were reporting on the many science projects being conducted, so I would talk the scientists into letting me tag along, and if they were in the mood, I'd interview them and blog about it. I participated in the 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2010 field seasons. Here are some fun and informative videos I did while I was there, including one music video which is how I got involved in the first place. In 2003 I was invited to make a video about humans-to-Mars, commissioned by NASA and the HMP.