Music technology as an alternative to the traditional high school music experience

There is a growing disparity between the activities currently used in music education and the musical experiences of the average student. In order for music education to stay culturally relevant, course offerings should expand beyond the realm of ensemble performance. Many students not involved with "traditional" music ensembles are heavily involved in sequencing or loop-based music composition software without academic outlets for their creative energies. Educators must embrace these technologies in order to create a more diverse and inclusive music education program. Music technology is a fantastically rich opening for music education. Teachers can expand the number of students they teach as well as tackle important artistic issues by embracing the common tools of popular music. The equipment needed for such a program is inexpensive and may already be available. Providing music technology courses at the high school level also creates a pedagogical need for music education students facing a curriculum rich with technology. The end result of these plans is to equip music education students with sufficient training and creativity to reach out to the widest possible student body regardless of their past musical experiences.