New Orleans Music Students Learn Coding Through Innovative Partnership with Tech Giant

New Orleans Music Students Learn Coding Thanks to Apple Collaboration

The Ellis Marsalis Center for Music (EMCM) in New Orleans, a music school dedicated to providing world-class education to students, has partnered with Apple to incorporate coding into its curriculum. This collaboration, launched in 2019, aims to bridge the digital divide and offer students access to technology and diverse career opportunities.

Compulsory Courses

• Piano: Piano lessons are mandatory for all students, regardless of their primary instrument. The executive director, Lisa Dabney, explains that piano helps develop critical listening skills, connects students deeply with music, and builds a strong foundation in music theory.
• Coding: In addition to traditional music education, students learn coding using Apple’s Everyone Can Code and Swift Playgrounds frameworks in the center’s Mac lab. They also gain hands-on experience with apps like GarageBand and Logic Pro in the on-site music studio.

Equipment and Resources

Apple provides the necessary hardware and software for the program, including iPads that students can use at home to continue their learning outside of school hours.

Career Opportunities

By integrating coding into the curriculum, EMCM hopes to prepare students for a wide range of career paths in music technology and beyond. This initiative is particularly significant in a community where many homes lack access to technology.

Community Impact

The partnership also supports other local initiatives, such as the Young Artist Movement (YAM), which provides arts education and workforce development opportunities for youth, including those who have faced legal issues. YAM aims to divert these young individuals from a life of crime by offering them an alternative path through art and economic opportunity.