I am trying to put words to describe my first six hours of using (and I am using this work loosely) Finale NotePad. When I read the assignment, my first thoughts were "what did I do the my entire childhood?" I never played with legos, I did not take piano lessons, I did not play virtual games (I'm confident they didn't exist), and I didn't watch TV (family rule). How did I spend my time because I felt until I entered this program, that I had one of the most well-rounded, centered childhoods that one could ask for. I have nothing from my childhood to call upon to enjoy any of these experiences to date. 

My next thoughts were "can I truly attempt yet another piece of technology?" "Are we ever going to be introduced to a piece of technology that I might have heard of so I don't feel that I am continuously being thrown into the ocean and not knowing how to swim?" and "Am I ever going to get to use a piece of technology long enough to truly have some sense of what it can do to assist me in my teaching?" 

Then I read Tanner's post with his frustrations. I panicked. If Tanner is frustrated, how am I ever going to be able to do this? This was followed by Greg's first e-mail to his tutorial linked. I thought I should send Greg something to thank him because it appears he is going to save me yet again. Greg, to address your thought on whether the tutorial is helpful to those without music background - it was probably helpful. I watched all of them because I felt it couldn't hurt to try to figure out what I should be doing when I started the "adventure." They provided me with the sense that I was yet going to try a piece of technology that I would not be successful in the end product. With that in mind, I started my adventure embracing Gary's words that he wanted us to focus on the learning process and not the end result. The process to this point has been very clear and concise for me: *Needing the desire to learn the technology* 

Asking an individual with no prior knowledge or interest to use a piece technology will result in frustration. My emotions have went from fear of not even being able to get the program to work (unfounded fear), anxiety about whether I would be able to get notes to appear on the paper (unfounded anxiety), to frustration on what am I trying to get out of this experience? As an educator, I have learned that all assignments must have clear objectives for students and having these clear objectives do not make the assignments any more enjoyable to the learner. After my first attempt on this technology, it seems to me as a learner that the technology either fits a persons learning style and personal interest - or it does not. I'm the person who enjoys reading a book or doing science-based activities not art/music related activities. Therefore, this activity is not matching my interest, which seems to be outweighing my learning style. I have been thinking that if I was in a classroom and I was working with someone who had some musical background - like James or Greg - it would increase my interest because they would be teaching me about music and notes as we progress through the assignment. And, the element of excitement is contagious when you work with someone who is passionate about something.