Ronnie Kabbash signed up to prepare for her college studies, while Mia Vargas-Rosado was interested in exploring music without using an instrument.
They and their classmates have tuned into a new course—-Digital Composition— offered at Bridgewater-Raritan High School this fall semester.
“This is our first class in this new course,’’ reported David Zas, a Music Teacher at the high school who was the course’s first instructor.
This class is one of the many new courses of various subjects introduced this school year at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, according to Karen Jones, the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District.
Mr. Zas explained the curriculum for this highly popular class.
“Digital Composition is a semester course that teaches students about the basics in creating a track, using industry terminology, and composing techniques for original works. Each student operates on their desktop with a digital audio workstation (DAW). This DAW is cloud-based and allows for projects to be developed anywhere there is WiFi,” Mr. Zas said.
He continued to share the focus of this class.
“Students need no experience making music or playing an instrument, but it is strongly encouraged. By the end of the semester, students will understand how to compose a melody and add harmonic progressions on a midi keyboard,” Mr. Zas said. “They will learn terminology and how it applies to any studio (virtual or not). Students will be offered feedback and suggestions on compositions based on the music they've written in class.”
During this Friday morning of October 3, in Room 166, the students worked on their desktops with their DAW while watching a YouTube video on the room’s large screen.
“The students are learning about melody. The students are analyzing Beethoven's Fur Elise and determining which tools of composition are utilized in writing a great melody. Students are applying these characteristics to their Soundtrap projects where students compose their own melody over an existing track,” Mr. Vaz revealed. “One of the goals of this course is for students to expand on their own creative ideas and not to rely so much on loops and samples from existing music.”
Ronnie Kabbash, a senior, is a member of the high school’s choral program and jumped at the chance to gain further knowledge of the arts that will assist her in the coming years.
“I plan to study music production and music business in college,” Ronnie said. “This class has given me the opportunity to get a basis of what I will study in college. And it is also fun to write music in your own style.”
Mia Vargas-Rosado is a junior who is a member of the high school’s orchestra. She, too, eagerly registered for this class.
“This allows me to explore different forms of art, such as digital music composing without an instrument,” Mia said. “I am so glad that this course was offered.”