Illinois State University (Music Education Program)
- Instructor: Kim McCord
- Grades Levels Included: undergraduate music education majors
- School Profile: Public University, enrollment of some 20,000 students
- Class Title(s): Advanced General Music
- Structure of NTM Class(es): undergraduate music education majors class, 10-15 students each spring.
- Software Used: Garageband
- Hardware Used:: Soundbeam, percussion controllers
- Class NTM Activities: We teach world drumming and use the Soundbeam and percussion controllers with students who have disabilities. Garageband provides the drum sounds. These concepts and skills apply to non-traditional music students in general as well as to students with disabilities.
- History: Previously it was titled General Music: Secondary Schools. I do less of middle and high school emphasis now because we no longer have a clinical experience available at our Lab School. We do emphasize urban schools and teach briefly in the Chicago Public Schools. I would like to do more composing using technology but we are unable to get access to the the ISU music technology lab during class time to learn Garageband and other programs.
- Success Stories from NTM Activities: I like using the Soundbeam and drum controllers to help students who are blind, physically disabled or students with autism to access music making. See the video online of me teaching students at the Henry Viscardi School in Long Island for examples. https://admin.acrobat.com/_a203284292/accessjazz/
- Advice to Others Starting NTM Project: I like using technology to help students with disabilities to be included in the music curriculum. Currently there are billions of stimulus money available for assistive technology. Instruments like the Soundbeam and drum controllers can be classified as assistive technology and be purchased out of special education dollars.
- Additional Comments: SoundTree is the US distributor of the Soundbeam. Also, googlle SoundBeam to see video clips.
- Date Submitted: July 2009