ArtFusion at ESD 105 has provided training in the Sibelius music notation software supporting our efforts to assist teachers in instructing students in standards-based music composition and to integrate music technology into regional classrooms. Involvement in these activities will help students meet the state standards in music.

The ArtFusion Opus project provides students access to support and instructon from regional composers. Students (via their teachers) post their compositions online and allow assigned professional composers to provide feedback on their piece. Completed student compositions will be featured on the ArtFusion website. Click here to visit the Student Composition page.

About the Sibelius training:
Equipment and software provided by ArtFusion through a U.S. Department of Education grant is helping 18 regional music teachers bring computer-assisted music composition capabilities into 9 of our region's school districts. Each of the teachers received an M-Audio keyboard, Sibelius 6 and Pro Tools software (for writing, playing, and printing music).

All the participating teachers have attended Sibelius and Pro Tools trainings at ESD 105 taught by Mike Klinger of the Synthesis MIDI Workshop. Teachers learned how to input simple sheet music with chords and lyrics, a four-part instrumental score, music transposing, percussion composition, and advanced sheet music layout techniques. Funding for each teacher's  keyboard and software package plus the training came from the three-year $1 million arts grant that ESD 105 received in 2005 from the U.S. Department of Education.

The Opus project will expand its work with a 2009 grant awarded by the U. S. Department of Education. The project will provide regional K-12 students with mentorships utilizing professional composers from around the state. Students, via their teachers, will post their compositons online using the Sibelius Scorch technology.  Mentors will then provide feedback to students on their compositions and assist them through various iterations of their work to a completed composition.

One or two of the completed student compositions will be featured and played at local musical events.

For more information on this project contact Aurelio Garcia, Regional Arts Education Coordinator at ESD 105 via phone at 509.454.3133 or via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .