Developing Music Technology

What We Have
What We Can Do
Other Things We Are Involved In
Who Are We
Where Are We

What We Have

Stevenage Music and Arts Centre have a suit of five music technology machines all with Cubase, Reason, Sibelius and Music Maker 12 on among other programs. These are available for use by schools during the day and are always available for instrumental teachers to use.

We have recently bought a suit of ten Macbook laptops for use in schools and for outside music technology learning. These all have Garageband on them along with other music software. These are available for use in schools and community projects.

We have at least one music technology machine in all area hubs. Currently there is 1 machine at St Albans, 1 machine at Watford and 3 machines in Hatfield.

Stevenage Music and Arts Centre also have a Multitrack recording facility suitable for recording solo performers and ensembles up to an orchestra. This is based around a Pro-Tools rig on a G4 dual processor 1.42 Apple Powermac. This machine also runs Cubase, Digital Performer and Logic. The studio also has a large stock of outboard equipment including a selection of synthesizers and samplers including an EMU Proteus 2000. The studio recording facility is ideal for recording school ensembles and GCSE/A-Level recitals and can be booked for this.

What We Can Do

We can provide teaching from KS1 all the way to Post-Graduate level. Music Technology has an important presence in all of these age groups and our music technology specialist has good experience of teaching at all levels.

We can provide INSET in Music Technology to both instrumental teachers and to classroom teachers. We can provide training in most major pieces of music technology software and hardware. We are available for inset either at SMAC, or on site if you feel more comfortable in other surroundings.

We can provide consultancy on any equipment you wish to purchase. Our music technology specialist has installed and bought for innumerable studios in education facilities. This can either be done over the phone or an on-site visit for a more in depth evaluation and estimate.

We can also provide curriculum advice in Music Technology. Since the government made ICT a compulsory strand in all subjects a few years back people have been developing music and ICT curriculum. Our music technology coordinator has a number of these at all levels and is always willing to work with people to develop new projects. These are all aimed at suitable abilities with extension tasks for the more able.

Other things we are involved in

“The Mix” – The development of informal learning within Hertfordshire. We are developing the use of ICT in music and other arts.

Rap Workshops – Working with pupils to develop their own backing tracks and beats and then recording lyrics over the top – all on a laptop!

Family Jams – creating music on laptops as well as with traditional instruments and bringing different generations together.

Rock Project – Recording and producing work created in Rockschools and at gigs.

NUMU – Hertfordshire is leading the way on this exciting project for pupils showing their work online and having it rated by peers and arranged in a chart

Musical Futures – Development of music production to the whole class environment and letting pupils discover how to create music on their own.

Who We Are

Tim Hallas – Leader for Music and ICT
Tim provides the majority of the training and consultancy work above. He is an experienced teacher and has taught at all levels. He is based at Stevenage Music and Arts Centre and can be contacted on the numbers there or by e-mail at:

tim.hallas@hertsmusicservice.org.uk

Mike Wilson
Mike is the music technology teacher on Saturday mornings at Stevenage Music and Arts Centre.

Where We Are

Stevenage Music and Arts Centre
Valley Way
Stevenage
SG2 9AB

Tel: 01438 351138
Fax: 01438 746413

Email: tim.hallas@hertsmusicservice.org.uk