The History of Instructional Technology and Design in Music Education

Pope Gregory the Great, concerned with the pitfalls associated with the oral tradition of transmitting music, commissioned the Roman Catholic Monks and Nuns to develop a system of music notation. They developed a system of 4 lines and 3 spaces, as well as neumes, small shaped notes. It was the single most important development in music of that era, and was the first instructional tool used for academic purposes in music.

Following the mass production of the Gutenberg Bible, musicians learned that they, too, could have music printed in bulk. Historically, they had printed each and every copy by hand, which was labor intensive and very costly; realistically, only the church could afford to copy music and have it preserved. The development and printing of staff paper made it possible to instruct aspiring musicians, sacred or secular, rich or poor, in the craft of music composition.

The pianoforte, developed by Bartolomeo Cristofori, was the first instrument that could be played both soft and loud. Piano = soft, and Forte = loud, hence the name. The piano became the leading instrument in the advancement of music theory. It is essential that students develop an understanding of the keyboard, as it is the basis for creating melodic and harmonic structures. Most every K-12 music classroom, as well as those in higher education, have keyboard instruments.

After modifying and adjusting earlier attempts, Johann Maelzel patented the first metronome that produced sound and had a scale for tempo manipulation. This tool was one of the most important developments in the 19th century for music instruction. It was designed to lock in a desired speed, teaching the student how to maintain a steady tempo and preventing the urge to rush or drag. All music students are expected to use metronomes in their study and practice.

Thomas Edison’s cylinder phonograph allowed individuals to record and play back audio with high quality, for the times. It was more compact and smaller than the earlier phonoautograph, developed by French inventor Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville, and more sophisticated. The phonograph allowed for individuals to speak, sing or play into the “machine”, and hear the play-back almost immediately.

Thomas Edison is also credited with the development of the first microphone, as he secured the legal patent; however, British inventor David Edward Hughes claimed the gizmo, and in all likelihood was the legitimate creator. The microphone developed and improve over a full century from beginnings with the manipulation of carbon granules to electric currents and charges. Music students were able to have acoustic energy immediately converted to electrical energy, amplifying volume.

The original “cans” were invented by Nathanial Baldwin, and were not necessarily intended for music, although it did not take very long before musicians and music teachers understood the importance of its capabilities. For the first time, music moved from a social purpose to privacy for the listener's enjoyment. More than a century later, students use headphones to finely tune their craft, to analyze and explore complex music, to record, and to critically “listen”, an almost abandoned skill.

The first public radio broadcast aired from KDKA in Pittsburgh, PA. It was originally designed for public service announcements and news; however, it emerged as competition for the phonograph. Phonograph companies tried to forbid the broadcast of live music, as they claimed ownership of the recorded audio. But musicians could perform live in the studio and benefit from almost immediate broadcast to those who owned portable radios. By the 1940s most every classroom benefited from a radio.

LP stands for “long playing” and gives original meaning to today’s beloved “album.” The LP revolutionized the way people listened to music, and gave them an opportunity to actually own music from their favorite artists. While the phonograph and radio made it possible to hear specific songs, the LP gave ownership of entire collections to the American people. Teachers benefited from having a classroom library of albums for students to enjoy, and to improve their critical listening skills.

Using magnetic tape, recording technology developed in 1928, by German engineering company, AEG (Allgemeine Elektricitäts-Gesellschaft). This portable recording device could be used in homes or classrooms. Though the audio quality continued to improve, the tape recorder produced significantly better playback than the phonograph and LP. Teachers could play recorded music in the classroom; and the convenience and access revolutionized the way listening skills were taught.

The quality of audio recording improved; however, the 2-channel stereo technology was a game changer. This technology enabled audio engineers to divide the audio into 2 separate tracks. Known as hi-fi (high-fidelity), this technology swept through Hollywood and forever changed the movie industry. (Disney’s Fantasia). it legitimized the industry as music students began seeking out instruction in audio engineering. Music technology began to advance exponentially following this development.

The technique of digital reproduction was realized and Denon released the first digital album. This technology was made available commercially, and ambitious music students could also record in the privacy of their home, if they could afford the equipment. The digital recorder allowed for multi-track recording, an improvement from 2-channels, and changed the way professionals and students produced music, as commercial studio space was no longer necessary…desired maybe, but not required.

As a result of decades of exploration in how one can manipulate sound electronically, the digital keyboard, or synthesizer, revolutionized the market and the way students produced sound. Ross Grable marketed the first keyboard after adjusting blueprints and designs of earlier inventions. The synthesizer is an electronic musical instrument, designed much like a piano, but can generate audio to emulate a variety of other instruments or sounds. It could also record, store, loop, and play audio.

Philips and Sony took audio recording to the next level when they collaborated on the development of the CD, an audio disc that could have hi-fi quality sound reproduced with a laser; digital data was immediately converted to analog sound, making LPs and tapes a soon-to-be thing of the past. In 1982 Billy Joel’s 52nd Street album was the first to be made available on CD. In music education, the CD replaced the tape for aural development.

Musical Instrument Digital Interface is the technology that produces a type of communication from recording devices, computers and digital instruments. Entire albums could be produced with a vocalist and a computer. Recorded tracks can be layered to produce a full band sound, without the human elements of rushing, dragging, sharp and flat pitches.

This digital recording and editing system continues to be one of the most powerful production tools in recording history. It features multi-channel recording capabilities and is faster than any other program. Universities, with audio engineering programs, teach ProTools and students can earn certificates in ProTools. The program provides online tutorials for anyone wanting to record professional-quality music, and is affordable for most music students.

Life for the music student was forever changed when the free world was granted access to the internet. In a few short years information was available to every classroom and student regarding music history, music development, music theory, and performance. As decades passed, this technology made music sharing simple, something that was previously difficult and expensive. Students could access online instruction and communicate with performers, instructors, and artists from around the world.

Although invented a few years earlier, it wasn’t until 1995 that the genius of the MP3 was realized. It is a compressed, digital version of audio; unlike vinyl, tapes and CDs, these files can be stored and shared on personal devices. Pioneer, Karlheinz Brandenburg was able to store and share Suzanne Vega’s hit “Tom’s Diner” on a compressed digital file that he called an MP3. The MP3 allows students to store an almost unlimited amount of music on computers and other personal devices.

Developed by a geophysicist, Auto Tune is a program that can be used in conjunction with most any recording system. It is a controversial tool that artists debate, as it is responsible for catapulting sub-par talent to stardom. It is capable of finely tuning the recorded human voice or instruments. The literal turn of a button can alter a recording to make pitches more centered, and vocals perfect. Auto Tune replaces critical listening and aural skills, once paramount in music instruction.

Apple not only revolutionized how we listen to music, but it changed the way we teach music. Students are no longer bound to the classroom or computer. They can drive, exercise, walk across campus, eat, sleep, engage in any activity while accessing music from anywhere in the world. The textbook, soprano part, trumpet line, lyrics, chord structure, texture, form, the study guide and exam can be accessed anywhere, at any time from the handheld device in her purse, in his pocket, or on their wrist.