Past projects 13
Mobile Recording Studios
Funded May 29, 2015Thank you so much to all of you for contributing and believing in this project. We've come a long way this year in the audio engineering class and this is going to be a huge next step for my students and the program. Because of your efforts and faith in advancing technology in music education my students will be able to venture out of the studio and into the community armed to record. Projects will no longer be tied to desktop computers that are subject to availability and certain class periods. Instead, these young recording engineers can turn any room (or outside space!) into a recording studio.
On behalf of all my students both current and future, we really appreciate your support and generosity. Thank you so much, and have a great summer!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Eisemann
The First Audio Engineering Computer
Funded Feb 7, 2015Needless to say my students were thrilled when the first audio engineering computer arrived. They fully understand the value of having a dedicated work station available to them whenever they need to pursue projects. Within the first day of having the computer we had it set up with software and equipment. The very next day, we began using to run recording sessions. Our first artist was a singer/songwriter who played the banjo and was here to record a song using student written lyrics for the Voices in American Literature class. The project went fabulously and the quality of the recording was amazing.
From that very first recording on the computer has been used almost daily by students either recording live music, creating their own electronic music projects, mixing or research for audio engineering presentations. Even as I write to you this very minute there are students using the computer to compose electronic dance music and edit audio for a film sound design project.
Having this computer has not only had a huge impact on the work flow of the class but has also legitimized the program. On behalf of all my students I thank you for your donation and for helping to bring life to this amazing new program. We couldn't have done it without you!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Eisemann
Microphones 3.0 - Expanding Our Polar Patterns
Funded Sep 30, 2014This project has definitely been a game changer for my students. Before this project was funded my students had been very limited in their selection of microphones to use in their studies. This project opened the doorway to countless new possibilities that are still being discovered today.
Since these microphones arrived they have been used on almost a daily basis to record college auditions, choirs, bands, orchestras, boomwhackers, student bands, and anything else that you can think of. Because of their multiple pickup patters my students have been able to expand their knowledge through experimentation and have a more authentic learning experience as a sound engineer.
Because you helped us fund a pair of them the impact has been doubled. My students have been able to use the two microphones in combination to try a variety of unique micking techniques. Because of their flexibility and exceptional response they have quickly become one of the 'go to' favorites of everyone in the class.
I can't thank you enough for helping to fund this project - it has drastically changed my classroom and the potential for my student's learning. You rock!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Eisemann
This classroom project was brought to life by an anonymous donor and 8 other donors.Live Performance Microphones: Stepping Up Our Game
Funded Oct 21, 2014This project was huge for us. It was huge for my audio engineering students, who got to work with professional quality microphones on the biggest concert/show of the year. It was huge for my choir students, who finally had professional quality sound reinforcement in our antiquated (and lovable) auditorium. It was huge for the thousand-plus parents and audience members at our Winter Concert who could finally hear the choir for the first time in years when it sang with the band. As I've said, this was huge.
When the microphones arrived most of my students in Audio Engineering didn't really know what to think. At first glance, they weren't super excited about a set of microphones designed specifically to hang and pick up a choir. They were more used to getting excited about microphones with multiple pickup patterns and different types of diaphragms. But, the small number of students who are in Audio Engineering and Choir hit the roof. They knew just how influential these mics were going to be. And after the Winter Concert the rest of the class was convinced as well.
Because these mics are specifically designed for use with a choir my students went through a number of scenarios testing their abilities at different heights and distances from the singers. After learning their capabilities they got experience working in a theater setting hanging the mics from the hemp and cable fly rigging. It was probably one of the most 'real world' experiences they've had to date.
Because of your support for this project you have helped thousands of people within our high school community. My Audio Engineering students are learning to work with specialized gear. My choirs are able to be heard at their full potential for the first time. The audience is getting a much improved experience during concerts, and the awareness of this program is increasing. On behalf of my students (both current and future), and the entire high school community - Thank you so much for your support. You have truly helped to make a difference in our community!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Eisemann
This classroom project was brought to life by an anonymous donor and 6 other donors.BoomWhackers: Low Tech to High Tech
Funded Aug 11, 2014You have no idea the delight on my student's faces when I opened up a large, rectangular cardboard box filled with brightly colored plastic pipes. They had no idea what they were getting into. I didn't tell them what was inside the box - only that they would love it and be an amazing asset to our classroom. I was right on both accounts. I don't care how old you are, playing with a series of brightly colored plastic tubes that make music when you hit them on things is a blast!
Once the initial euphoria of creating a cacophonous ruckus and the temptation to have Lightsaber duels subsided my students slowly began to understand the educational value the Boomwhackers had to offer. Since that initial day my students have used the Boomwhackers to measure wave length, frequency, understand basic harmonic principles, and compose/perform original compositions. Through the implementation of these seemingly simple instruments, they have been able to unlock an immense amount of scientific and artistic knowledge - and have a ton of fun in the process.
In the future we'll continue to use the Boomwhackers for composition, performance and analysis projects. We're also going to use them as part of a fundraising video to continue building our recording studio. All of this amazing learning was and is made possible by you. You had the gut instinct to fund this project and my students have benefited enormously from it. We can't thank you enough for your support and for making our classroom a much more fun, colorful, loud and educational place! Thank you!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Eisemann
GHS Music Lab: The First Five Workstations
Funded Aug 24, 2014This project has been a huge step for my classroom, my students, and the program we're trying to develop. When the box of keyboards and interfaces arrived the students were eager to learn how the equipment works and get started on projects. Since then we've been able to use the interfaces and keyboards to record countless projects, notate student compositions, test microphone capabilities, and even record the gib winter show.
The interfaces are being used in our studio, choir room and band room on almost a daily basis. And, since the interfaces are small and powered by USB my students are able to move them around the school with ease and plug them in to their own computers to work on projects. Once we find a way to fund computer workstations, the interfaces will be used even more frequently. The keyboards are also quite portable and the students as well as staff have been using them to make arrangements of tunes for performance and for rehearsal purposes.
I can't thank you enough for your generous support and faith in the program we're building. It's a slow process that requires a lot of time, equipment, and financial support. At times it can seem overwhelming, but you saw that your contributions can make a huge difference and keep things moving in the right direction. On behalf of my students (both current and future) and me, thank you so much for your support!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Eisemann
This classroom project was brought to life by Gates Foundation Back To School and 7 other donors.GHS Studio/Auditorium Updates 2.0 - Compression!
Funded Jul 29, 2014The day I got the shipping notice for this compression unit I let all of my music tech students know. They then proceeded to ask me about it's arrival everyday until it got here. On the way down to the office to pick up the box I ran into one my extremely devoted students and told him what I was up to. His eyes lit up and he changed course immediately to accompany me. I had never thought that a student would get so excited about a compressor but apparently I was wrong. This was proof that our new audio engineering program is expanding the educational opportunities in our school and reaching a whole new collective of students.
We've since installed the compression unit in the school auditorium and it's making a huge difference. One of the first projects we undertook this year in audio engineering was understanding signal flow within a sound system. The compressor is an essential tool in any live sound venue or recording studio. For now, my students are using the compressor in moderation with live sound reinforcement. It's used to eliminate unwanted spikes in signal and control the overall noise floor for our concerts.
As the year progresses and my students go deeper and deeper into audio engineering they will use the compressor in sound experiments and for recording purposes. So many of the compressors used today are built into a computer program rather than being a physical component. Having this unit is giving my students a more hands on approach to their learning experience. Thank you so much for your help with this project and believing in my students.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Eisemann
GHS Recording Studio: Microphones 2.0!
Funded Mar 11, 2014I have to say, my students are thrilled about the new microphones we've received. This project was a huge package that has made enormous improvements to the performing arts department in our school. The boom stands that we got are in constant use by the band, choir and theater department. The Vox Guards have been used for isolating vocals and even in tandem with other microphones for chorus vocals during the spring musical. And the microphones themselves have improved the quality of our recordings immensely.
The music stands and Vox Guards were used extensively by the sound design students for the spring musical. The microphones went immediately into use with one of our English classes, Voices, that records student songs/lyrics for production of a CD. The band has also been using all of the equipment these past two weeks to record a number of jazz combos.
One of the really beneficial aspects of implementing high quality equipment into teaching is that it authenticates the learning experience for the students involved. Students know that they aren't working with second rate stuff so they put more into it. In addition, because the students know how much you the donors have invested in them, they are more invested in protecting the quality/integrity of the materials. This outcome has been a drastic improvement for our department.
In the future we will be able to use all of these stands/mics to record concerts, albums, lessons and more. Next year we will be offering a class in music production/audio engineering where this equipment will be the centerpiece of student's focus. Mic placement, power input/output, acoustical treatment and more will all come into play. On behalf of all my students and myself, thank you for your generous support of this project and the performing arts at our school. You really do make a difference!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Eisemann
GHS Auditorium Sound System Updates
Funded Mar 21, 2014On the day our new graphic equalizer and feedback suppression unit arrived my students were excited but didn't quite know why. Mostly they were feeding off of my enthusiasm. In fact, I would wager that had I polled each one of them individually they wouldn't have been able to accurately tell me what either unit does and how it will be useful for them as performing arts students. Thus ensues what is known as a "teachable moment." Within the next 20 or so minutes we had delved into a discussion about how sound is reproduced electronically and what a signal is. At the end of the discussion they not only had a basic understanding of how electronic signal works, but they knew why we specifically needed the equalizer and feedback suppressor in our giant old auditorium.
Fortunately, this project was funded in time for both units to be implemented and used during our spring musical and spring vocal/instrumental concerts. Throughout all of the performances the students were incharge of the production as sound designers and engineers. Having the equalizer allowed them to start playing with different EQ's to match the natural frequencies of our auditorium. This process of discovery not only improved their knowledge of sound design, but allowed them to use experiential learning in a real world environment. The feedback suppressor also allowed them to stretch the limits of their experiments without causing any blistering and unpleasant outbursts from the speakers during the concerts.
Both of these units have vastly improved our sound capabilities at the school and opened up numerous possibilities for future applications. I can't thank all of you enough for making this project come to fruition. You are the best!”
With gratitude,
Mr. Eisemann
GHS Music Lab/Recording Studio: Microphones!
Funded Nov 18, 2013By supporting this project to purchase microphones you helped us to get our recording studio off the ground. Before this project was completed we only had a few old and battered microphones that were more for speaking that capturing music. Now we have the capability of recording instruments such as guitars, drums, horns and ambient sound for large ensembles. These microphones have also already been instrumental in providing quality sound during a live concert.
The day the microphones arrived my students and I had them out of the box and plugged in ready to go. We're still learning all of their capabilities and which applications they are best for but I can tell you they are already making a huge impact in my classroom and for the entire music department. Thank you again for your help and support with this project! It's been a dream come true for so many of my students and I know it will empower generations of future kids as well.”
With gratitude,
Mr. Eisemann
This classroom project was brought to life by an anonymous donor and 11 other donors.