Benefits of a Group Piano Lab


     Technology is increasingly growing and is now a major part of  everyday life.  Music classrooms are now including computers, digital (music) keyboards, software and internet access.  A piano lab is a fun and educational tool that can be used for all types of students in varied learning environments. Soundtree is one of the leading companies that specifically deals with Music Technology in the classroom.  They have designed a Group Education Controller (GEC) that allows students to connect to each other (to perform duets, trios and quartets) and to the teacher through the use of  headsets.  The teacher also has the capability to listen in on students, turn all keyboard volume off and to connect to each student individually.



     Theresa Derr, who is affiliated with Centennial Elementary School in Littleton, Colorado, has a 26 station keyboard lab.  She states, “One of the best features about this lab has been the ability for the teacher to plug into individual student stations while children are working on pieces from the group curriculum." “Most of these simple songs include a duet part for the teacher to play, so the student and I are able to play duets together using different timbres on the keyboard. When the student feels especially competent, we will play together for the entire class to hear. This can be very motivating for the other students, and gives the performing student a great sense of pride. “I think coming to the keyboard lab is an activity children truly look forward to,” Mrs. Derr continued. “I have been thrilled with the high levels of achievement we have seen, even from children who have no previous piano instruction and no instrument on which to practice at home. The SoundTree lab has had a profoundly positive impact on the students at our school.”












Statistics
taken from:
 "What Chief Administrators should know about Music Technology"
by G. David Peters
Indiana University School of Music
    

Music technology "makes you smarter!"


     Links for more Information:




Soundtree   



SoundTree is the leading provider of music technology systems to schools and educators.



T:IME



  Professional association dedicated to training and certifying music teachers in the use of music technology.




Opportunity-to-Learn Standards for Music Tech.




From MENC (Music Education National Conference)