"Ally's professionalism, musicianship, sense of humor, and work ethic make her a joy to be around in the studio. Now, no other intern can measure up. I had to promote her to Producer to keep her around next summer."

I often think about what would have happened if my high school hadn’t offered a Music Production class… or if I hadn’t attended an all-girls middle school focused on STEAM & social justice that taught me I could do anything I wanted in my life & career.  

That is why I am so excited about Music Technology for Girls, which specifically focuses on teaching Music Production to female-identifying students in grades 6-8.  

I believe this program will help develop each girl’s confidence in their computer skills, open the door to STEAM fields, & maybe even plant a seed that later grows into a career in music production! 

The Program 

As I was developing my idea for this program, I wanted to test it out, so I proposed to teach "Music Production Basics 4 Girl Bosses" at Interlochen. I have taught 2, 1-hour classes each week, throughout fall semester, to 8 singer-songwriter majors. I have designed & delivered lessons on ADSR basics, EQ, compression, synth sound design, Arpeggiator, stereo v. mono/leveling, DAWs shortcuts, Pro Tools, Logic, audio interface set up, Midieditor, piano roll, creating busses, the basics of recording instruments, creating vocal chain, basic/advanced vocal editing, & creating doubles & parallel tracks.  

I think the most fulfilling part of this class has been learning how to help people understand something that I am passionate about & the feedback my students have given. One stated, "I am learning more easily in a supportive environment." She had tried music production in a summer camp, but said it was harder to learn in that setting, because she was afraid of making mistakes. Another student said, "I feel like I can really open up, & that girls in this class help each other... it's more how can we lift each other's ideas." These comments made me think that I could incorporate lessons on collaboration & how to be a supportive listener in the MTG classes in the future. 

It is all about Inclusivity 

Music Production has helped me grow in so many ways. I think that, especially during middle school, girls need help to learn how to be inclusive. This class will  teach not only music production, but also, help girls who, like I was, are struggling to find their people. 

I hope that MTG can be a safe place, where middle school girls can celebrate each other's unique qualities, while they are learning to produce music. As a "weird" kid, sitting alone at lunch & pretending I was ok when I wasn't, I want to create a space where all girls feel accepted & valued for who they are.

Music Technology for Girls will empower girls to make friends. I plan to offer it as a free class for in the summer of 2024 at my former middle school.