Top of the class

Tech savvy hits top note

Music teacher Roger Cousins relied on his computer know-how and some of his own cash to patch together a music lab.

By VALERIE TAYLOR
Published November 4, 2004

When teaching music theory to elementary school students, Roger Cousins did what most teachers do. He drew the notes on a blackboard, and used a pitch, his voice or a musical instrument to demonstrate its tones.

After that, "you just hope that something sticks," he said.

But in 1996, the Pine Grove Elementary music teacher ran across the Music Ace software program and was sold on its merits: students working at their own pace, hearing what they're seeing simultaneously, playing games that reinforce lessons and using a medium that's perfect for today's youngster - computers.

The only problem was there was no budget for computers, and especially the kind of hardware that this program needed. So, four years ago, when the school was retiring its old Macintosh computers, Cousins, an admitted technology junkie, jumped on the opportunity to claim the machines, which he cleaned and reconfigured to accommodate Music Ace software. With that, he developed the district's only music computer lab, networking 35 computers.

He also negotiated with the school's principal to purchase some music keyboards that accompany the program. The students who don't have a keyboard use the traditional mouse to answer questions and complete assignments.

Then two years later, it became apparent to him that PCs were more suited to the program. He also learned that Southwest Florida Water Management District, known as Swiftmud, donated computers that were obsolete for their use.

Once again he went to work salvaging usable parts from hundreds of computers. He reassembled 35 that could handle the software required for the music program.

The parts he couldn't get from the old computers, he bought on e-Bay, using his own money. It was an investment of $300 and many hours that has paid off, he said.

"(This program) is absolutely rock-solid instructionally," he said. "And it's extremely motivating. As much as the software will frustrate (the students) and challenge them, they're equally motivated to work at it. I just wish I had 16 more music keyboards."

Students sit at computers, put on their headphones and log into their own progress report, which shows them which lessons or drills they've completed successfully and which they still need to do. A computerized character, called Maestro Moderato, is the instructor for each lesson, patiently and often humorously talking the students through their assignments in his German accent.

If they're stuck, they can access a "game" that is a practice session designed to coincide with the lesson. And if that doesn't work, then the next step is Cousins himself, who provides individualized attention, something that is not possible in a traditional music program, he says. He listens to the student explain the dilemma, reviews and helps the student work through the problem.

Samantha Berberette, now a sixth-grader at West Hernando, found the Music Ace program not only fun but also inspiring when she was at Pine Grove. Not having entertained thoughts of doing anything musically before, she's now thinking about taking either piano or flute lessons.

"And next year, I'm thinking about taking band as an elective," she said. "(The Music Ace program) made me want to go into band more."

The program has its share of skeptics - parents and even some faculty members who think the students are simply playing games on computers. That attitude, Cousin says, might come from the computer games that kids play at home, which many adults feel are basically a waste of time.

But, he says, skeptics often change their minds.

"Any time I get the sense that someone's thinking that, I always drag them in and sit them down and have them start working through this," Cousins says. "Usually, after about 15 to 20 minutes into it, they're saying, "Oh, wow, this is unbelievable."'

[Last modified November 4, 2004, 00:41:23]