(Laredo)—Have an Apple iPod or other MP3 player? Texas A&M International University has a podcast just for you.
In November, TAMIU launched its first podcast featuring selections from the TAMIU Symphonic Band's Oct. 17, 2004, performance at the Center for the Fine and Performing Arts' Recital Hall. The Symphonic Band includes students and community members.
Podcasting is free audio programming that listeners download onto an iPod or other MP3 player from a designated Internet site or by using an application such as Apple's iTunes. The files are stored on the player for the individual's listening at any time. Information about the file and links to the programming source are embedded and available by Internet.
This first effort is one of a planned series of initiatives that will offer other news about TAMIU and campus life on a regular basis, said Steve Harmon, TAMIU director of public relations, marketing and information services. The initiative has been dubbed "iTAMIU Podcasts." More information is available by visiting tamiu.edu/podcast.
"We're a university committed to technology and its ability to bridge time and distance. Podcasting, while relatively new, is fast becoming a medium of choice worldwide. We're blessed to be able to provide this new service and look forward to opportunities to develop additional programming for iTAMIU in the near future," Harmon explained.
Leading the podcasting effort were Mario Pena, university webmaster, and Daniel Martinez, associate webmaster.
The featured Symphonic Band performance for this first podcast is Frank Ticheli's "Postcard," a sound memorial to Ethel Virginia Curry, mother of the great band conductor Robert Reynolds. Additional performances include "The Titanic Saga" and "Shirim," both from the same performance.