"... I'm also trying to figure out ways of using Moodle for music other than just a few java applets with guitar chord tools, recorder fingering displays or flash videos of performances. Any ideas anyone?"
I use Moodle for music-themed projects in teaching communication skills and foreign languages. I suppose these are more about music appreciation and community-building than actually learning how to make music. Here are some examples:
- DJ Project: Students make a CD of their favorite songs and record themselves as a DJ introducing each song. In Moodle they post their DJ text in a forum for teacher/peer commenting and as a powerpoint in the Project Module.
- Favorite Artists Project: Students choose their favorite artist, research them on the internet and make a presentation in class with powerpoint. They upload their powerpoint files into the project module for peer assessment.
- Music History Class: Another teacher runs a cultural history class on the "Blues". He embeds youtube videos of concerts and samples of music, along with forums, quizzes and other activities.
- Blog: I require one blog entry where students write about their favorite groups they listen to. They add a photo and write 20-50 words describing the music and why they like it. I give both an official tag and they make a custom tag.