Collegian
March 20, 1986
Computers & music mix in class offered at Behren,d
University Relations—Every stu
dent enrolled in Penn State-
Behrend's "Rudiments of Music"
class has their own music com
puter tutor. The tutor knows each
student by name, is available to
help seven days a week, and can
write and play a myriad of
melodies, scales and basic
compositions.
Unlike human tutors, these
tutors draw their power from elec
trical outlets and teach their
material from a thin floppy disk;
yet the students find them very
"personal."
Sig►na Kappa Nu sponsors
24-hour dance-a-thon
by Pat Schlipf
Collegian Staff Writer
On April 4 and 5 Sigma Kappa
Nu will hold its 24-hour dance-a
thon to benefit multiple sclerosis.
It will be held in the George
Cafeteria beginning at 8:00 p.m.
The Gorge will be split in half--
half for dancers and half for spec
tators with either WSEG or Joel
Miller spinning dance records.
To participate in the dance-a
thon, you must have a partner.
The pair does not have to be from
Behrend—anyone can support the
marathon. However, each couple
New logo continued from page 1
vironment, striving not only to
raise funds but also to increase
enrollment.
However, one of Penn State's
biggest problems on the national
market is that it has hundreds of
different logos being used by
Commonwealth campuses and
University clubs and programs--
ranging from the lion head of the
the athletic department to a pro
file of Old Main's tower used by
another department, he said.
This diversity can lead to public
confusion and makes an image of
unification impossible, he said.
In lieu of the Capital
Campaign--Penn State's $2OO
million fund-raising effort--it is
crucial that the University has one
logo to be used on brochures,
booklets and informational
material which will be sent out
during the campaign.
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A computerized tutor is an in
tegral element of the sophisticated
music class. Like many classes of
the future, Behrend's "Rudiments
of Music" features high
technology instruction in a tradi
tional-liberal-arts course.
In the course, the computer
teaches students to compose their
own music. They are learning the
fundamentals of reading and
writing music, identifying notes,
harmonies and keys, and creating
scales and melodies.
"The computers are extremely
must have pledges totalling or ex
ceding $3 per hour, therefore hav
ing a total of at least $72 for the
24 hours. Couples can sign up by
Friday, March 21 and pledge
sheets must be in by Monday,
March 31. Those interested can
sign up through Pat Espin (122
Perry), the RUB Desk, or the
SKN house (898-4073).
Skippereno's is one sponsor for
the marathon. Sponsors for the
marathon can be a group or in
dependent people. Donations can
be given at the door. All are
welcome to the marathon and
support the participants.
By using one consistent logo
that can be identified with the
Uniersity it will"meet with more
success in the competitive market,
" Williams said. ,
Williams emphasized that
depending on the results of the
research, the firm may recom
mend the use of one of the current
logos instead of creating some
thing new. He added that while
University President Bryce Jor
dan has put a halt to the genera
tion of new logos by the Universi
ty, he has not placed any restric
tions on the use of current ones
Williams said he "is not at
liberty to disclose the figure" of
the project's cost. He added that
the cost of the firm's services will
come out of the money raised
from the fund-raising.
Williams said he expects the
firm's final suggestion for the
logo either this spring or summer.
simple to use, and they're helping
me learn the material a lot
easier," says Kimberly Best, a
freshman liberal-art major from
Oil City who had no previous ex
perience with computers. "The
exercises have helped me respond
more quickly to questions in class
and on exams."
Microcomputers are enhancing
the learning process through exer
cises that illustrate and play the
musical concepts students learn in
the classroom.
"Outside the class, students
have personal help mastering the
material they are learning. The
computer programs give them im
mediate visual and audio feed
back on their progress," says
Behrend music instructor David
Stuntz. "Better yet, the com
puters don't bark or laugh when
the students make musical
mistakes."
Stuntz says the computers will
be even more helpful to students
When they begin composing their
ROTC Colorguard marches in parade
by-Barrett Parker
Collegian Staff Writer
The setting is any of the men's
basketball games, the clock ticks
down and they announce the
teams. Four persons start walking
across the court - dressed in
camouflage and carrying flags.
This is ROTC Colorguard. There
is much more involved in the col
orguard than two minutes at the
beginning of a few basketball
games.
This semester, about fifteen
cadets have participated in col
orguard activities including Erie
Golden Blades hockey games,
local high school football games,
and in local parades such as the
ROTC Colorguard from left to
right: Cdt. Sgt. Barrett Parker,
Cdt. James Fogle, Cdt. Lori
Beals, Cdt. Sherece Taffe.
own music about mid-semester.
"With this system, students can
experiment with how their com
position sounds, measure-by
measure, as they are writing them
on the computer. This enables
students with no musical training
to turn out compositions that
sound good when played on an
instrument."
"This new curriculum is a much
more efficient way to teach
students music, and it's a painless
way for students to become ac
climated to computers," says
Stuntz.
"And it's fun. The computers
draw pictures, make sounds and
talk to students in a pleasant
fashion."
Exercises are completed in the
Apple Lab of the Hammermill
Building on computers equipped
with headphones. Computer
homework is completed outside
the class period.
In simple drills, the computer il
lustrates and plays randomly-
St. Patrick's Day parade last
Saturday.
Sgt. Cal Fryling, in command
of the colorguard said, "It was
tough and it was fun. I really en
joy doing...(the colorguard). It is
an honor and a privilege presen
ting the national colors."
"It's fun to do," said Heidi
Gebhardt, second in charge of the
colorguard, "...and it's good
representing the school."
Accident victim thanks Behrend
I would like to thank all of my friends, professors and all others in
volved for their thoughtfulness and concern during my time of injury. I
received so many get well cards and - phone calls that it would be almost
impossible to thank everyone individually. I hope this reaches out to
everyone who showed their sympathy. I would like to give a special
thanks to Ed and Tim, who drove to Warren during the first week after
our accident to see me and bring Behrend's condolences. I also deeply
appreciate the memorial service for my lost friends and yours. I am
unable to finish this semester, but will be back in the Fall. Once again,
Thank you.
Michael J. Shanshala
ne 3
selected notes or pitches, and
students identify them. In advanc
ed exercises, students create major
and minor scales, which appear
on the screen while the computer
plays the scales and identifies any
incorrect notes;
In each exercise, students must
select the correct answer before
the program will continue.
Tim Reese, a senior energy and
environmental technology major
from Girard says, "The speed at
which the exercises can be corn
-pleted is a real advantage over us
ing a workbook. And the com
puter asks questions randomly,
keeping the material fresh."
Stuntz says the class appeals to
students with a variety of majors
and musical backgrounds. No ex
perience with computers or music
is required.
He estimates the cost of the new
curriculum, including software, is
only about $3 more per student
than a conventional course that
uses workbooks.
Ten members of the colorguard
are participating in a drill' com
petition at Fort Indiantown Gap
on Saturday, April 19. Other up
coming events for the colorguard
include the ROTC Honors and
Awards ceremony at the end of
the term.
Any MS-I or MS-II student in
terested in becoming a member of
the colorguard can contact Sgt.
Young in the ROTC office.