In response to growing interest in offering Digital Music opportunities to learners at Key Stage 2, MAS was keen to expand the number of teachers able to deliver one-day/short courses in Digital Music as part of our annual Summer School and ongoing Music Centre programmes.

A number of MAS teachers already use Garageband to create learning aids such as backing tracks for their students and an introduction to the software has been offered as part of staff training. However several colleagues were keen to further their knowledge of Garageband and to gain a deeper understanding of how to help learners to engage with Garageband independently.

Instrumental teachers representing a range of instruments and learning settings (whole-class teaching, Soundmakers, Music Centre and small group instrumental-lessons) attended the training which included practical sessions using Garageband alongside opportunities to share best practice and to discuss broader education issues related to the planning and development of our Digital Music curriculum.

Feedback from staff involved was very positive and over 50% of those who attended will be directly involved in the delivery of Digital Music courses at MAS as part of this years Summer School (July 2010).