March 4, 2004

Transforming music education

Listening center and computer lab evolves to include music creation, multimedia work

Listening Center Supervisor Jim Hobbs (lower right) demonstrates the new music software for Provost Lawrence B. Dumas and School of Music Dean Toni-Marie Montgomery. photo by Catherine Wirth

By Wendy Leopold

What started as a simple plan to move a laboratory from the School of Music to University Library is transforming the way that Northwestern students study music.

After months of planning by University Library, the School of Music and Academic Technologies, the new Music Library Listening Center and Computer Lab has officially opened its doors on the second floor of Deering Library.

The project involved exploring new music technologies and selecting the best and most innovative software available for music education. Now, instead of just delivering music as the former Listening Center did, the new facility allows students to create music from scratch using notation programs, sequencers, multimedia software, and musical optical character recognition software.

Using notation software, for example, students can compose music and then hear how the composition will sound when played on a variety instruments.

“This opens up a completely new avenue for the lab,” said Peter Webster, associate dean and John Beattie Professor at the School of Music. “The focus has shifted to include music creation and multimedia work such as CD and DVD production.”

The initial plan to relocate the School of Music’s Macintosh Lab involved transferring its resources to the Library and providing students with more technical support. The lab in the Library today features a total of 18 machines — nine PCs and nine Macs — all equipped with advanced music keyboards, headphones, and the latest software available for beginning and intermediate music applications.

These innovations require students to learn how to use the new equipment, which is where Academic Technologies (AT) came in. AT director Bob Taylor and his staff created a computer classroom for instruction by equipping a laboratory on the Library’s lower level with similar music keyboards, musical instrument digital interface sound modules, and the music software for instruction.

“The Music Library Listening Center and Computer Lab is the product of true collaboration among different University units,” said School of Music Dean Toni-Marie Montgomery.

Three units have made significant commitments to the project: the School of Music has provided funding for a program assistant and purchased music keyboards for the lower level computer lab; Academic Technologies has contributed equipment for the lower level lab; and the Library provided space and computer equipment for the new facility.

Jeannette Casey, acting head of the Music Library, and technicians Jim Hobbs and Greg Hunt also played an integral role in coordinating the move and installing equipment and software to complete the project.

“This type of collaboration keeps the Library in the mainstream of academic activity at a time of extraordinary change,” said David Bishop, Charles Deering McCormick University Librarian. “It also demonstrates the Library’s commitment to serve as a center for technology on campus.”