Creating Music Through Technology

There are a crazy amount of music writing programs. I have recently downloaded a free program called acid xpress and you can record voices, instruments, electronic sounds, and create podcasts and music. You can cut and edit the songs and it is a very creative process. It not only gives you satisfaction in creating music but you are also learning how to edit your musical creation.
There are also programs, like Finale, in which you can write your own music, actually make sheet music to go with your musical creation, or for a school project for the Digital Natives in your lives. This is also a great tool for transposing music.
These programs are sending us into a completely different style of teaching because it gives our students an independance that they haven't had before, and a certain resposiblity for being independant. The creative process is becoming easier and more efficient and as Digital Natives grow up and contribute more in our society, this will become more common place. We need to learn as much about technology as possible so that we can teach all of these Digital Natives a safe and appropriate way to use technology and not abuse it.