Weedsport High School (Weedsport NY)
- Instructor: Brian Franco
- Location: Weedsport, NY
- School Profile: 9-12 Public High School
- Class Title(s): Music Industry, Electronic Music, Songwriting and Recording, Artist and Event Management
- Grades Levels Included: 9-12
- Structure of NTM Class(es): Music Industry (introductory class)- full year, every day; Songwriting and Recording- full year, every day; Artist and Event Management- half year, every day; Electronic Music- half year, every day
- Software Used: GarageBand, Logic, D-Pro (Lighting), PreSonus Capture
- Hardware Used: iPad Lab, JamHub Lab, fully functional classroom stage with sound and lighting system, Recording Studio with Logic Pro X
- Class NTM Activities: All courses in the program are project-based. Music Industry gives students a foundation of popular music performance, songwriting and recording, and then allows students to branch off into specialized classes based upon interest.
- History: The first Music Industry class at Weedsport started as a replacement course for Music in Our Lives, which enrolled 7 students in a high school of 250 students. Since then, it has expanded to four courses which enroll approximately 60 students each year, and culminates in a three-stage music festival called MAYFEST held at a local theater.
- Success Stories from NTM Activities: The Music Industry program has preserved a teacher position in Weedsport, brought dozens of new students into the music program who would not have taken a music course, and created graduates who have gone on into Music Industry programs.
- Advice to Others Starting NTM Project: Start small and focus on small, incremental increases in your program each year! It has taken me years to get to a point where I have "everything that I want." And most of all, teach music classes that will create passionate musicians!
- Date Submitted: June 2016