MIDI Composition and Sequencing in Music Teaching at Ellon Academy
David Birse is Principal Teacher of Music at Ellon Academy and has successfully used PCs to teach MIDI composition and sequencing for several years. Kath Squire (Development Officer for National Qualifications) interviews him to find out how his department has achieved this.
Q.How have you responded to the needs of the pupils in MIDI composition?
The use of computers in composition is not particularly new. When I arrived at Ellon Academy in 1991, I encouraged pupils to compose using computers for Revised Higher music, as it was known in those days. The Atari computer with synthesiser was a very effective tool for composing and arranging music. As PCs were introduced into the department, we decided early on to go with the Cakewalk software. It is easy to use and is able to be used as a sequencer and notation package.
With the introduction of Higher Still (National Qualifications) and the introduction of MIDI sequencing, we have encouraged our S5/6 piano/keyboard inventors to complete their Inventing tasks using MIDI. Many of these pupils then decided to choose the MIDI sequencing element as they had satisfied the criteria in their own compositions. Over the next couple of years, we increasingly used this approach in S3 and S4 with our Standard Grade pupils so that they had MIDI sequencing skills for use in S5/S6.
At this time, non-keyboard players (guitarists, drummers, orchestral instrumentalists) increasingly used the multitrack cassette recorder to build up their compositions. However, a problem developed when pupils who had not done Standard Grade wished to do music in S5/S6. For these pupils, MIDI sequencing and sound engineering were 'foreign' subjects. At the start of the session, we had to spend time inducting and instructing these pupils, which we felt was a waste of valuable time in S5 and S6.
Our solution was twofold:
- Introduce Intermediate courses in S3 and S4 (replacing Standard Grade), thereby giving pupils the opportunity to study MIDI sequencing and/or sound engineering for at least one of the two years.
- Introduce basic MIDI and sound engineering skills in S1/S2.
We are still developing appropriate courses and tasks associated with these skills but the early indications, from staff and pupils, are that these areas worthwhile parts of the S1/S2 course.
Contact
David Birse, Principal Teacher of Music
Ellon Academy
Schoolhill Road, Ellon, Aberdeenshire AB41 9JS
Tel 01358 720715
Fax 01358 723758
E-mail Ellon Academy
ellonaca@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Date posted: February 2004