Digital Music Lab Arrives as Ahern School

The following was submitted by Assistant Superintendent Amy Berdos as part of the Foxborough School Committee’s Teaching and Learnings Highlight series.

At the April 27, 2015 School Committee meeting the Ahern Middle School Music Technology Lab was featured as the Teaching and Learning Highlight. Ahern music teacher, Ms. Leanna Pink shared how this digital music lab is being used to provide opportunities for middle school students to learn and create music. She first began by sharing that she personally was a product of the Foxborough Music Program and “passing it on is a true honor.” Ms. Pink was joined by two Ahern Middle School students Corey Hall and Daniel Adams as they described the lab and showed pictures of the twenty-five computers connected to individual keyboards. Students utilize the software MixCraft5 in the Introduction to Music Technology elective course as they learn how to create and play music. The teacher is able to listen through a central computer on their own headset to each student individually in real-time. “While listening to a particular student, I am able to provide individual personalized feedback directly to each student through my own headset,” Ms. Pink explained.

Ms. Pink and her students agreed that the music lab and MixCraft5 software has provided for a great amount of learning, creativity and fun. She went on to say that students are able to work at a pace that works for them and have fun learning how to use all of the technology. Corey and Dan described how the elective course has allowed them to express themselves through music in ways not available to them in the past. Each shared some of their own experiences from participating in the elective course agreeing that the course has helped them to learn keyboarding, compose and share original works of music. Corey stated that although it was his first experience with composing music he has always liked song writing and this course has helped him with it. “It lets me express myself through music and not words.” Ms. Pink agreed, sharing that their personality comes out in their music. Dan found his course to be enriching stating that it helped him understand composition, note order, and tone. He also shared that the range of instruments available on the keyboard has helped make rhythms simpler.

Ms. Pink explained to the committee that the eighth grade elective course is in its second year and has been instrumental as a feeder program for Foxborough High School.

In closing, she expressed her great appreciation to the Foxborough Schools and the greater community for supporting strong music programs for students. Ms. Pink also commended Foxborough music educator Mr. Ted Haggerty for advocating for the technology lab commenting that he “truly helped make this dream come true.” The chance to teach in a technology music lab like the one at the Ahern Middle School is a privilege!” The Technology Music Lab at Ahern Middle School is another example of the unique opportunities provided to Foxborough students. There are very few middle schools that have a lab such as this one allowing them to experience the Arts and express themselves in creative and collaborative ways.