Pandora+Radio


 * Pandora Radio** is an online resource that is used by subscribers to create and share their own personal radio stations. Instead of turning on the radio, users can input their own radio choices, such as favorite band, singer, or songs. From this input Pandora utilizes the Music Genome Project. According to Pandora's creator, Tim Westergren, the Music Genome Project looks at many parts of songs and helps to match similarities to the listener’s interests. This is how the listener’s personal radio station is then created.

Tim says, “We ended up assembling literally hundreds of musical attributes or "genes" into a very large Music Genome.” This compilation of music styles allows the system to match parts of songs, beats, similar sounds, and many other attributes of music together.

After the user’s radio station is created then can immediately listen and add new song due to the music genome’s suggestions of what they may like. Users can also give thumbs up or thumbs down ratings to play certain band’s songs and similar songs more or less often. Since Pandora’s creation there have been many rave reviews. Laurie M. stated, “I am on the Internet a good portion of the day everyday. Whether I am writing a review as I am doing now or just surfing around, I love to have music in the background. I used to play CD's but I get bored listening to an entire CD from one artist.”

This online tool can be used in the classroom on a daily basis if the teacher decides to utilize it. The service can provide a little bit of audible background noise during the class’s silent work time. The teacher can also use it to keep discussions on a level quieter than the music, much like the idea of having music played in a restaurant setting. This may help students that like to have a little bit of stimulation instead of absolute silence. However, if the teacher chooses the free option during registration there are usually 30 second commercials when you change stations. However this can easily be avoided by muting the radio through the commercials. The teacher could even create stations to help teach her students about certain topics. They could maybe create a “Schoolhouse Rock” station for younger kids to teach certain topics.

I feel that in my classroom setting Pandora Radio would be very beneficial. Usually people like to listen to music while they exercise. In a gym class or weight room setting this would be perfect. It would cut out many questionable things from normal radio programming, such as some of the commercials or the deejay banter in-between songs. In the gym classes that I have substituted for, they have listened to the radio, so by implementing Pandora, I feel that I can provide something that all of my students will like to listen to while they exercise.

A link to Pandora Radio is provided below.

[|www.pandora.com]