Project Lead – Michael Meroniuk, MET Alum
The New Sound is an educational initiative aimed at democratizing access to quality music education for all students, regardless of race, socioeconomic status, or geographical location. The project addresses the critical challenges facing public school music programs, including funding cuts, teacher shortages, and limited access, particularly in underserved and rural areas. These challenges have severely impacted student participation in music, hindering their artistic growth. The objective of The New Sound is to revitalize music education in public schools by providing a comprehensive solution that supports educators and enhances student engagement and skills in music.
Methodology and Use of Digital Technology
Our approach involves simplifying the learning process of recording technology for both experienced and novice music educators. We focus on practical, hands-on learning, developing fundamental skills in recording, beat-making, and music creation through the use of Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs). This digital technology is pivotal in our methodology, as it allows for the integration of modern music production techniques into the curriculum, making complex recording techniques accessible and understandable to all students. Our courses are designed to seamlessly integrate into existing music programs, providing educators with the tools they need to effectively guide their students.
Community Consultation and Impact
In developing The New Sound, we have engaged with educators, students, and music professionals, to ensure that our program meets the actual needs of those it aims to serve. The anticipated impact is significant: enhancing music education quality, increasing student participation and engagement in music, and fostering creativity and confidence among young musicians. Our project aims to bridge the gap in music education, offering equal opportunities for artistic development to students from varied backgrounds.
Project Outcomes
Funding from their first DPL Grant was used to create 100 short, free-to-access, microlearning videos that teachers can easily use to bring music technology concepts into their classroom. To date, The New Sound has reached over 50,000 viewers online, including educators and students from around the world. In addition, educators have downloaded over 200 free resources from the website. They have also shared their free digital resources with BC Teachers through the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF), and have successfully piloted their curriculum in three diverse settings: rural schools, alternative programs, and urban classrooms.
The project has received great praise from the Academic Education Community. They were invited to the BC Music Education Conference to facilitate two workshops centered around music technology. They were also accepted to present at the Wisconsin Music Educators Conference, and will be presenting on “Digital Pedagogy for Music Education” at the Hawaii International Conference on Education in 2025. Project lead, Michael Meroniuk, has also been featured in BCTF Teacher Magazine.
We are excited to see what more they will be able to achieve with their new funding.
Learn more about The New Sound by visiting their website.
