The Marysville-Pilchuck High School Chamber Choir made history Monday, Nov. 20, when they performed for the Indiana University School of Music over Internet2, said choir director Jeff Tillinghast.
This exclusive ultrahigh-speed Internet platform traditionally reserved solely for universities and research groups is provided to public K-12 institutions in Washington state through the K20 initiative,?Tillinghast said.
Washingtons participation is sponsored through the University of Washington, but Tillinghast had another connection.
I am writing my masters thesis through Indiana University on the use of Internet2 and videoconferencing in the music classroom. As part of my research, one of the professors suggested that I should try and put together a live performance for the Graduate Student recital on Music Technology,?Tillinghast said noting he was planning on having a jazz trio perform from the Seattle area.
That was before he started teaching at M-PHS.
The next week I was hired here as choir director and I figured it would be much more interesting to try and have one of the school choirs perform.
Among the advantages of Internet2 is the ability for real-time videoconferencing over a computer network, instead of relying on costly phone-line connections. While universities have begun to use this new technology to conduct master classes, broadcast concerts and allow students access to private lessons with college faculty, this is believed to be the first time that a high school ensemble will use the technology to transmit a full-scale performance.
The 28-voice choir, consisting of M-PHS students of all grade levels, performed Down to the River to Pray, a traditional American folk song arranged by Sheldon Curry.
They performed in the board room of the Marysville School District Service Center, utilizing the districts resources for videoconferencing.
Students spent the afternoon
preparing the broadcast prior to a 4:30 pm. performance.
The performance was displayed in real-time during a Graduate Students Recital at the Indiana University School of Music at IUPUI (Indianapolis, Indiana). The Indiana University School of Music is one of the most prestigious music schools in the nation, recognized annually for excellence in performance and research.
The recital featured a variety of applications of music technology, and is produced by students as part of their research toward the M.S. Music Technology degree.
Other performances during the concert included original compositions, video art and demonstrations of a variety of recording techniques.
Tillinghast said he has seen a few instances of colleges and universities using Internet2 to broadcast to high schools, or students in small groups receiving lessons via videoconference.
But I havent found any evidence of a high school ensemble performing for a remote audience.