Music Technology in Education

I am thrilled to announce that SoundTree is now a corporate sponsor of the Vermont MIDI Project Opus Concerts. As you are probably aware, I am a HUGE fan of the work that Sandi MacLeod and Anne Hamilton have done with the Vermont MIDI Project. I believe that it is the single best illustration of technology in music education. If you’ve never heard of the Vermont MIDI Project, please go and visit their website.

This Wednesday, April 30th 2008, I will have the very distinct honor of attending my first ever “Opus Concert” at the Chandler Music Hall in Randolph, VT on behalf of SoundTree. As the Managing Director, one of my first actions was to contact Sandi to become a sponsor. The Opus Concerts (this is the 16th one) are incredible opportunities for students in the program to write for a specific instrumentation group and have their pieces performed by professional local musicians - many from the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. On this concert, 19 students will have their compositions performed by either a string or woodwind quartet. In addition to having their pieces performed, the students also have an opportunity to rehearse and conduct the musicians in preparation for the performance. I can’t wait to finally see this process live.

If you are in the central Vermont area this Wednesday, I urge you to attend the concert. Tickets are only $5 for adults and $3 for students. The concert is at 6:30pm and the open rehearsal session starts at 12 noon. I hope to see you there!