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Upper Darby SD committee reviews four proposed digital resources for art and music; annual cost ~ $10,000
Summary
District curriculum leaders presented four recommended digital and subscription resources for art and music instruction and outlined a professional-development plan and estimated annual cost if the Board adopts the materials.
District curriculum leaders presented four recommended digital and subscription resources for art and music instruction and outlined a professional-development plan and estimated annual cost if the Board adopts the materials.
Dr. Kelly and Mr. Cinto, the district’s supervisor of art, music and theater, told the Education & Pupil Services Committee the recommended resources are: a Lehi curriculum from The Art of Education University (elementary art), Essential Elements Music Classroom (elementary music), Sibelius music-notation software (instrumental notation) and SmartMusic by MakeMusic (interactive practice and accompaniment). The presenters said the district would begin implementation in the 2025–26 school year if the Board adopts the materials.
The presenters described intended classroom uses: the elementary resources provide standards-aligned lesson materials, anchor charts, worksheets, videos and searchable planning tools; Sibelius would let teachers create custom notation and parts for ensembles; and SmartMusic permits students to play along with accompaniments, slow or isolate sections and access a library that includes existing lesson books the district uses. The presenters noted these resources can integrate with classroom display systems such as Clear Touch boards.
For professional development, the district proposed district-level summer training, building- and department-level Schoology courses and shared Google Workspace collaboration, and resource-provided online tutorials and communities. The presenters said the four resources together represent a total recurring cost of about $10,000 per year when the Art of Education subscription is amortized over five years.
Board members asked whether classroom-level recording or student composition would be supported; presenters said SmartMusic and Essential Elements provide composition and notation tools (NoteFlight subscription included with Essential Elements) and the district already offers electives at secondary levels that use GarageBand and other recording tools. The committee signaled consensus to move the adoption item to the March 11 board meeting for formal action.
