How did you start the program?

In 1992, I started teaching band at 4 schools. I always incorporated technology into music lessons, although limited at first. There were programs available for entering notes into the computer. My elementary bands sometimes lacked proper instrumentation, so I used the computer to arrange, notate and print parts as needed. Eventually, I purchased programs on my own, including Music Ace, Music Time Deluxe, Microsoft Musical Instruments and others.

I presented an in-service in 1994 to fellow music teachers in Birmingham, demonstrating the software programs that I used in class.

I also started taking middle school students (ones that did not play in the band but were scheduled for band) to the library to work with the students on music software programs. The students loved to learn about music using computers!

In 1996, I was asked to start a formal music technology program at one of my elementary schools (Central Park). We were given 5 Casio Midi keyboards and some Alfred Basic Piano Library books. I used Windows 3.1 computers in a separate room from our keyboards to work on students' music skills. The program started with one class of 3rd grade students and it was a great success. By 1997, I was able to get the computers and keyboards connected in my band storage room, which became the music technology lab. Each year, we have added more students and resources to build the program. I have taught instrumental music at Central Park School full-time since 1999.

Today, I am very happy to have 8 Yamaha PSR-E403 keyboards, 8 Quik-Lok tables, and 230-250 students taking the class each week. I moved the music technology lab to a slightly larger room (14' x 20') in November of 2007. We have all Windows 7 computers in the lab as of 2012. We also have a better selection of software to use with my students, as well as a 400 page website to help not only my own students, but other teachers and students as well.

Instrumental Music... Keyboards instead of Band?
I am teaching elementary band on a very limited basis at this time because we have such a high demand for students to be in the music technology class. We are able to teach more students at this age without the financial barrier of purchasing and repairing band instruments, as most of our students come from low-income homes. Also, many teachers will not allow students to be taken out of class two or more times per week for band, so the music technology class was used to increase the student participation in music and decrease the amount of time students were away from other academic classes. We have a separate general music teacher at our school. Most students are able to receive 80 minutes of music per week between general music and instrumental music.

Students
I teach approximately 230-250 students in the 2nd-5th grades each week. Each student is 'pulled' from academic classes one time per week for a 40 minute class. Students do not have to have a keyboard, computer or the Internet to be in the class. The students learn how to play the electronic keyboard and to read, write, compose, print and publish music using a computer. The class is in a 'work-at-your-own-pace' format. Students range from beginners with little knowledge of music.....to advanced beginners with some background in music (choir or piano lessons).

I try to select many of my previous students to continue from year to year. Teachers also choose students based on an interest in taking music lessons. I take as many students as my schedule will allow during the school week. The class is made accessible to all students from special education to gifted. Eight students at a time may take the class. (More information below this chart.)

Materials and Funding for the Lab (1996 - 2012)

2012

Thank you to all of the donors who helped us obtain funding for four more keyboards! The project is fully funded and we have received the keyboards!

We moved the lab upstairs in August and still need help in funding additional keyboards and software to accomodate full classes (up to 28 kids in each) up to 555 students per week (due to cuts in other faculty and arts programs).

2011

Donation for software upgrade

Mixcraft 5 Software Upgrade by Acoustica.com

2011

(May, 2011 - Stolen - loss of $800 of equipment - Police Report filed)

4 Casio CTK-501 keyboards from 1997 - located in a secured storage room in another part of the school. I do not expect the keyboards to be recovered, unfortunately. We used these older keyboards in concerts to provide more students the opportunity to play. :(

2011

District-Wide Technology Refresh Program

New Feb. 2011 - 4 Dell Windows 7 computers, replacing remaining Windows XP computers

2010

$5985 funding from Title I school funds

New Sept. 2010 - 5 Dell Windows 7 computers, replacing our Windows 98 computers

2010

$420 funding from the Birmingham City Council (2008)

7 On-Stage heavy-duty music stands to hold the keyboards during concerts

2009-2010

$1300 funding from Title I school funds

Lab pack 10 Sibelius 6 software and 6 Blue Snowflake microphones

2008

Funds from Title I school funds

3 Dell Windows XP computers

2008

$2000 Best Buy Teach Award, Best Buy Stores

1 Windows Vista computer, 4 Sony Acid Music Software programs, headphones, computer mice, microphones, print cartridges, CD's

2007

$1800 funding from the Birmingham City Council

8 Yamaha PSR-e403 keyboards

2006-07

$110 Pupil Supply

8 pairs of Headphones

2006

$2000 funding from school Principal

8 Quik-Lok Computer Tables from SoundTree

1998-2006

>$150 parts paid for and repaired by Ms. Garrett

7 Windows 98 Computers (from discarded computers within the school)

2005

$1500 funding from Title I school funds

E-beam system (similar to SmartBoard) and DuKane Projector

2003

Donation

Sibelius 3 Lab-Pack from Sibelius In-Service in School System

2003

$500 funded partially by SoundTree and PTA funding

Korg synthesizer

1997

$1000 funding from Fine Arts Department

5 Casio CTK501 keyboards

1997

$105 funding from Fine Arts Department

15 Alfred Basic Piano Library Method Books

1996-1999

School pupil supply and other funding

Various software titles including Music Ace, Music Ace 2, Alfred's Theory Games, Music Time Deluxe, etc.

2011-2012

$150 funded by Ms. Garrett

Noteflight.com subscription for my students - online music learning

1999-2011

>$150 per year funded by Ms. Garrett

Website creation, development, maintenance. Does not include software, computers, etc. purchased to create materials for website.

1996-2011

>$1200 funding by Ms. Garrett

All decorations and some of the furniture in the room purchased by Ms. Garrett

1996-2011

>$2000 funding by Ms. Garrett

Music Method Books, Alfred Titles and Music, Music Technology Books, Software, etc.

1996-2011

>$800 funding by Ms. Garrett

Numerous cables and adapters, USB cables, speakers, etc.

2006-2007

> Provided by Ms. Garrett through beta-testing program

Sibelius Groovy Software Series from Sibelius

We rely on donations of equipment for most of our needs, especially software. It has helped to be beta-testers of software for music companies to aid in acquiring software. The is not a complete listing above, but it covers many of the items used in the lab. Ms. Garrett spends quite a lot of money out-of-pocket for the needs of this program. There will be no pupil supply funding at all in 2009-2011 and beyond.