The Dixon Unit School District 170 Board of Education voted Oct. 15 to adopt Music First Classroom as the district’s music curriculum platform for Reagan Middle School after music staff presented results from a pilot trial.

Chris Hanson, a district band teacher who led the pilot, told the board Music First combines four integrated software programs to support ear training, music theory, sight-reading and practice. "Individualized instruction was a huge one," Hanson said, describing how the platform allowed assignments to be adapted by instrument and by student. "My eighth grade band that I piloted this way was able to use it with the sub last Monday." He added the program gives students instant feedback and allows teachers to assign differentiated tasks.

Hanson presented short-term assessment data from beginner band classes. On a written pretest the classes averaged 22% correct; after two days of targeted activities on the platform the cohort’s written post-test score rose to about 81% correct, he said. Hanson also showed sight-reading and practice tools that mark pitch and timing errors and provide color-coded feedback for students.

Ashley, identified as the district choir teacher, described how the platform’s Practice First module lets students hear model performances and practice with backing tracks. The district presented a per-seat licensing figure in its materials; the basic package was listed in the presentation materials at about $14 per user per year.

Board members asked implementation questions; the district said it expects to finalize seat counts and purchase licenses and to provide teacher training. The board approved the Music First curriculum by unanimous roll-call vote.

The district will report back on license counts and the first-term implementation to the board as scheduled.