As the Fall 2020 semester continues online for the majority of the student body after the initial campus shutdown last spring, many classes have had to be adjusted to the new online format to effectively communicate class material. Classes including lab and project components have especially had to devise substitutions for the in-person experience. The Music and Technology department within the College of Arts and Letters has faced unique challenges having to teach students without normal access to musical instruments and in-person music studios.
Beginning with the initial shift to online classes last spring, Music and Technology (M&T) students were already equipped with a variety of software programs and an audio interface given to all M&T students upon entering the program. However, there was the problem of how students would access instruments needed for their classes. According to M&T Professor Robert Harari, Kelland Thomas, Dean of the College of Arts and Letters, and David Zeng, Vice Provost for Academic Innovation and Faculty Affairs, approved the purchase of equipment for Music and Technology students to support the transition to online classes. Equipment included “50 portable pianos to support all the piano classes and private lessons, 50 condenser microphones for general check out to support all courses in the program, 35 stereo location microphones to support the Sound Design class, and 30 Novation MIDI controllers to support multiple classes.”
Currently, first-year M&T students who chose to attend classes in person have access to on-campus resources such as the music studios in Kidde 350 and Kidde 390 and instruments in on-campus classrooms. Meanwhile, the rest of the students in the program are taking classes entirely online. According to Professor Harari, as weekly COVID-19 testing is established for on-campus students, the music studios will be able to open for first-year students as well as senior students who may need access to the studios for research and for senior thesis projects. Furthermore, the music studios are currently being maintained according to the CDC and music industry standards for cleaning sensitive and high-touch electronic music equipment. Additionally, upperclassmen will be able to check out equipment as permission for remote students to access campus becomes available.
As for the current progress of online classes, the Music and Technology department has made efforts to modify courses to teach as effectively as possible. Strategies used by M&T professors have included online collaboration between students and utilizing a flipped model approach to allow students to learn by working on projects together. Furthermore, a program-wide meeting was held this past week for all students and staff. According to Professor Harari, “the general consensus was that everybody was enjoying their classes (as much as they can) and that the faculty has done a good job in modifying their courses and pedagogy to make the course delivery enriching and engaging.” In addition to the academic online engagement efforts, the Music and Technology department has also been hosting weekly remote social events for students and faculty such as listening parties and DJ’d dance parties as well as seminars on industry innovations and professional workflow to maintain morale and engagement amongst students and faculty.
Be First to Comment