M I C H I G A N - S C H O O L - B A N D - & - O R C H E S T R A - A S S O C I A T I O N
 
Jennifer Arnold
teaches instrumental music, grades K-12, in the Oakridge MI Public Schools. She is former chairman of the MSBOA Technology Committee.		  

Pepper National Music Network

JENNIFER ARNOLD

The Pepper National Music Network (PNMN) is a national computer network sponsored by J.W. Pepper & Son, Inc., to enhance music education through on-line communication of music educators. Access to this network, presently free of charge to its users, can be gained with almost any type of personal computer. All that is needed is a modem; users may use their own communications software, or may use the proprietary software provided by Pepper. 


Pepper's Toll Free
Music Line is
800 / 345-6296.		   Once you have signed on with Pepper, you can do a variety of valuable online activities:
  • get the latest information about clinics and clinicians, contests, publications, instruments, hardware and software;
  • communicate with colleagues all over the country;
  • participate in a variety of open forums on topics of interest to ensemble directors;
  • obtain answers to technical questions from music companies and industry representatives;
  • link up directly with MENC, MSBOA and other organizations;
  • download and upload computer information and files; and
  • order music literature and check on the status of orders. 
This network was a Godsend to me during a difficult time. Communicating with other directors, ordering music on Sunday afternoons, getting feedback to my questions when I could not find answers anywhere else -- all this made my band job much easier. It was so easy to use, too! 

If you have not become a part of this network because of those incessant excuses that all music teachers have, quit making excuses! It is a lot of fun and worth putting aside the excuses. 

Michigan MusicTech Home Page   J.W. Pepper & Son should be congratulated for subsidizing this valuable network. They have vowed to absorb the expense of this endeavor for the immediate future as a service to our profession. 

If you would like to join the eight thousand-plus registered users of PNMN, call the Pepper Toll Free Music Line. They will promptly mail you your ID number, Personal Identification Number, and User Guide. See you on PNMN.

Update: Since this article appeared in April 1993, Pepper Music Network has estalished a Web site, with Telnet access to network activities.