The New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) and Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts will co-present 2006 Music Technology, a summer conference in music technology, on Thursday, July 20 and Friday, July 21, 2006, at both Usdan Center and Five Towns College. The first state-wide music education technology conference ever presented on Long Island, it will focus on computer-assisted music production and notation.
The purpose of the conference, conceived by the NYSSMA Music Technology Committee, is to impart the necessary current technical knowledge vital to teaching music. Open to teachers of kindergarten through university levels, the conference is being programmed by Don Muro, founder and member of the NYSSMA committee and one of today's most prominent technology advocates, and organized by Dale Lewis, the Executive Director of Usdan Center.
Conference sessions will feature presentations by specialists from
Digidesign, M-audio, MakeMusic, Propellerhead, Sibelius, SoundTree, and Steinberg. Each session will include a product overview that demonstrates the latest program enhancements, techniques and tips to help teachers work more efficiently in the classroom, and an open forum where questions will be answered by product representatives.
There will also be workshops sponsored by Long Island's music industry. In addition, there will be receptions hosted by the NYSSMA leadership and by Long Island business leaders.
Focus On Broadway
2006 Music Technologywill have a major Broadway component, as it will illustrate how music technology is used in Broadway shows. In the evening, participants will see a production of a Broadway musical.Members of Broadway hits–Ann Harada of Avenue Q, Michelle Kittrell of Hairspray, Matt Stoke of The Wedding Singer, and Christian Borle of Spamalot–will also perform in a concert and participate in a workshop with their keyboardists and musical directors.
Fees & Registration
Fees to attend 2006 Music Technology are $50 for NYSSMA members and $75 for non-NYSSMA members, until July 10. On-site registration will be, respectively, $60 and $85. Non-music educator guests may register for $25. The Conference luncheon, hosted by James Cassara, NYSSMA president, and a Thursday dinner are covered by the registration fee. The Hampton Inn Commack will be the conference hotel, with a special rate of $125 per night, including breakfast, until June 15. There will also be discounted tickets available to the Broadway show for Thursday evening. Free bus transportation will be provided from the Usdan Center conference site to Manhattan, and back to the conference hotel.
For more information and for conference registration, visit www.nyssma.org, or contact Patricia White at [email protected].