Program Launch Date: October 2025

Program Location: MS 35 Beacon Program, 272 Macdonough Street

Time: Wednesday’s After School From 3pm to 6pm

Synopsis: In today’s digital age, music creation has become more accessible than ever, thanks to advancements in technology. Our proposed program, “Beats & Bytes,” aims to introduce middle school youth to the exciting world of music production through computer technology and beats software. This initiative will provide students with the opportunity to explore their creativity, develop musical skills, and gain a foundational understanding of music production. This is the beginning of a sequential curriculum taking us all the way to college level and/or music conservatory preparedness on actual music instruments.

Vision: Building this program can be the catalyst for us to create our own youth jazz competition circuit, where ensemble members compete for trophies and cash prizes or scholarships.

Schedule: The “Beats & Bytes” program will span 10 weeks, consisting of weekly sessions lasting 1.5 hours each. The curriculum will include:

Week 1: Introduction to Music Production; Overview of music production and technology; introduction to beats software and equipment;

Week 2: Understanding Rhythm and Beats; Basics of rhythm and tempo; creating simple drum patterns.

Week 3: Exploring Melody and Harmony; Introduction to melodies and chord progressions; using software to create melodic lines.

Week 4: Sound Design and Sampling; Understanding different sounds and how to use them; introduction to sampling techniques.

Week 5: Creating a Song Structure; Basics of song structure (intro, verse, chorus, etc.); planning and outlining a song.

Week 6: Collaboration and Group Projects; Forming groups to work on collaborative projects; sharing ideas and providing feedback.

Week 7: Mixing and Editing; Introduction to mixing techniques; editing tracks for clarity and balance.

Week 8: Finalizing Projects; Completing group projects and preparing for presentation; tips for finalizing and exporting music.

Week 9: Performance Preparation; Preparing for a showcase event, rehearsing and refining presentations.

Week 10: Showcase Event

Students present their final projects to peers, parents, and community members; celebration of creativity and achievements.