FOCUS ON STUDENTS: Why Music Technology Enhances Student Success
As a parent of two elementary-aged children, I don’t have to think twice about what engages my kids, both for fun and learning: computers and music! When we get home from work and school, my fifth-grader shoots straight for the computer in our recreation room.
Many schools today have facilities to make high-quality audio and video recordings of performances and rehearsals, providing immediate feedback to students and educators. These recordings double as fabulous advocacy tools to make parents, community members and administrators aware of school music program successes. Music technology tools are very appealing to students and they keep your district’s music programming meaningful and relevant in the 21st century.
Audio Recordings – and So Much More
At this year’s school holiday concert, I’ll once again use a portable digital recorder (about cell phone size with a stereo microphone) to capture the performances from my seat in the audience. My daughter will burn a CD and share the recording with her choir and band directors. And, we’ll email an MP3 file of one choral arrangement to a close friend who composed the selection.
As an advocacy tool, recordings such as these are easy to create and share with your school board members. You can attach them to email newsletters, send them to the media, or play them during a school board presentation to backup an impact statement illustrating the importance of music programming to students.
But there’s much more to technology in music education than recording audio: school music classes also incorporate MIDI keyboards, electric guitars, computers and a wide variety of software. These technology tools not only help build and grow successful arts programs; they also help students make clear connections to math, science and English language arts and, in some cases, contribute to improved student morale and attendance.
Success Stories and Results
Here are three examples where program strategies and systems joining technology and music have created success and positive results for students:
Pedro Albizu Campos School, PS161, Harlem, NY: This NYC Public School had no music program seven years ago and today thrives with nearly 975 student participants annually from grades K - 6. The VH1 Save The Music Foundation provided a grant for a 32-student electronic keyboard lab that has helped dramatically change learning for thousands of students. Janet Rudd, PS161 music teacher, says, “The keyboard lab has had a forceful impact on the lives of my students. There are waiting lists to get into keyboard class, and kids see it as a privilege and opportunity. Students are also making connections to other subjects.” Powerfully, Rudd works regularly with classroom teachers to connect concepts taught in music with math, science and reading.
Smitha Middle School, Marietta, GA: This suburban Atlanta school added an electric guitar lab in 2005-2006 to complement existing instrumental and vocal music programs. The lab includes 17 high quality electric guitars plugged into effects processors that simulate the sound of a guitar amp through student headphones. No cacophony, no disturbing neighboring classes, and lots of student demand. Dr. Melissa Arasi, Supervisor of Performing Arts for the Cobb County Schools, notes, “Since we added the electric guitar program at Smitha, the principal has commented on improved student attendance. Children that previously didn’t participate in music, and frequently missed school, attend practically every day.”
Haverford High School, Haverford, PA: This suburban Philadelphia school has long-standing, successful band, orchestra and choir programs, reaching about 300 students, approximately 20% of the school population. By hiring a music educator to teach elective courses in music technology and digital audio, Haverford has "effectively doubled the number of students actively participating in music. In fact, after five years we continue to have waiting lists of students hoping to enroll in our digital audio classes," explains Dr. Thomas Rudolph, Director of Music. Course projects cover audio recording, audio editing, composing with loops, the electronic keyboard, mixing, and sound for video; other electives focus on songwriting and piano keyboard skills.
What Do Students Learn?
Parents and administrators often ask how adding technology tools to a music program changes the curriculum and student outcomes. Use of technology (MIDI keyboards, guitars, software and computers, etc.) in many ways enhances students’ ability to meet established learning requirements.
For example, large groups of students in keyboard and guitar labs are easily able to improvise, and students in computer music labs using notation and recording software are able to compose and arrange, generating realistic recordings and scores of their works shared on CD, via e-mail or on class web pages. Music theory programs teach and reinforce basic music reading, listening and singing skills, and provide teachers with assessment data used for grading.
Including technology in a music program provides skill-building experiences that lay essential groundwork for student success. Many 21st century careers will require digital media skills, like creating music and sound for video and computer games, music for film, recording arts and sciences, and more. In many important ways, students’ ability to compete and succeed in the workplace will be greatly enhanced by skills and facilities mastered in music technology programs.
How Do I Make This Happen In My School?
Talk to your children, your band, choir or orchestra director, or classroom music teacher. You may be surprised to learn that your school music program already uses music technology tools.
If your school hasn’t made strides in integrating technology with music, or isn’t developing new programs, here are three resources to help get things started:
The Technology Institute for Music Educators provides professional development resources, including curricula and courses. Members have access to 1,000+ lesson plans that apply music technology.
Music Education Technology Magazineis a free publication to music educators. Its website offers program profiles, lesson plans, and grants and funding articles.
In Tune Monthly is written exclusively for music making students in grades 7-12 and their teachers. Monthly magazine features include lesson plans, audio and video lessons, and more.
Consider these statistics as you make your case to decision makers in your district: The vast majority of principals interviewed in a 2006 Harris Poll – 96% - agree that participating in music education encourages and motivates students to stay in school. Further, 89% of principals feel that a high-quality music education program contributes to their school achieving higher graduation rates. Adding technology to the music education program mix serves to strengthen existing music programs, enhances student interest and excitement in music making, and encourages students to master skills that will be prevalent in the 21st century workplace.
-- Lee Whitmore, Ed.D., is managing director of SoundTree, the educational division of Korg USA, Inc., and treasurer for TI:ME, the Technology Institute for Music Educators.
