1997 MSBOA Music Technology Conference





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

Deborah Scott Katz
is coordinator of instructional technology in the Ann Arbor Public Schools

1997 MSBOA
>Music Technology Conference
Thursday 16 January
8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.
Washtenaw Intermediate
School District

DEBORAH SCOTT KATZ

ow has the world of music been changed by the advent of technology? Just look around us: synthesizers, MIDI systems, CD-ROMs, the Internet, and new ways of delivering and enjoying musical performances. Perhaps most revolutionary among these technologies is the convergence of musical instruments, computers and creativity: the art of sequencing.

The 1997 MSBOA Music Technology Conference will provide special focus upon the art and process of sequencing music, as a tool for teachers and as a creative medium for students. Who better, then, to spearhead the conference than the author of The Art of Sequencing?

The conference is pleased to welcome Don Muro as keynote speaker and clinician. Muro is an accomplished performer, composer, author and educator in the field of electronic music. He is a gifted communicator and master synthesist; he inspires audiences with his vision, quick wit, and keyboard artistry. His appearance is sponsored by SoundTree, a division of Korg, which is providing a keyboard laboratory for Muro's hands-on clinics. Those of you who attended Muro's recent Michigan appearances will attest to his virtuosity as a teacher.

The Washtenaw Intermediate School District will again be our host and co-sponsor. Previous attendees agree that WISD's facilities, west of Ann Arbor, Michigan, near I-94, are an ideal setting for this high-tech event. Its conference rooms are versatile and are wired for audio, video, and computer connectivity. Their computer laboratory maintains 12 PCs and 12 Macintoshes for instruction and hands-on exploration. Parking is ample, on-site, and free.

Last year's conference attracted approximately two hundred participants from all over the state and from every category of the profession. David Mash, of Boston's Berklee College of Music, provided an inspiring and thought-provoking keynote, as well as an instructive clinic on creating multimedia. Exit surveys were again highly positive.

Last year's planning committee and volunteers were better prepared for the large turnout. In order to maintain a smooth operation, we will again limit attendance to 250 participants, and will provide lunch only for pre-registrants.

You will want to pre-register.

Expect to see a conference brochure in your mailbox shortly. In it you'll find a complete list of events, directions to WISD, and an application form. Additional information and application forms are available from MSBOA and the MICHIGAN MUSICTECH Web site. Please register early and tell your colleagues and friends. Registration, including lunch, costs just $35.

The MSBOA Music Technology Conference is Thursday, January 16, 1997, 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. See you in January!

Update: The 1997 Conference was clobbered by winter weather that kept many from attending -- but the Conference did prevail. No sessions were canceled, Don Muro was a hit, and the overall feedback was overwhelmingly positive. See you in 1998.