Week 1 Blog Response 2: Kat Thoreson

Kat's blog post: The information presented on Fair Use clarified several things for me. I believe, up until now, I was following loosely the rules established. I have always asked permission before using music in my classroom, for teaching purposes, and I have clarified somewhat the issues for my students. Listening and observing the video has more clearly defined what I am able to use. I'm excited to share these clarifications with my students.  Other issues about remix have always had me wondering how they can do that. Many folks believe that new content is not being created. How can we be 'inspired' by past creation? The fair use right is rooted in the first amendment. The attorney clarified that we must 'use or lose it". I love that it follows reason and logic and is not 'black and white'.  We must ask ourselves "What is normal, particularly in the field?"  I hope to have the students write about fair use, perhaps use a case study that is complicated in order that they may understand how complicated the issues are.   A rule of thumb is to always credit your sources. 

My response to Kat's blog: 
Kat,
It is very hard to adhere completely with copyright law in this day and age. The Internet has completely changed the game in regard to how we have access to media. Students generally have no clue about copyright, nor does it seem that they care. When I have students create a mix in my audio class, my first rule of thumb is to make it original. It's ok if the beat sounds like a previously recorded one, as long as you make it your own and don't blatantly steal a loop or sample. In music there are so many ways to get in trouble with this, but there are only so many chords, progressions, and rhythms that you are bound to repeat something an artist already did.
And yes, if you credit your source, you are always better off.

Dave