Middle schoolers at Cyril B. Busbee Creative Arts Academy are using technology as a means to increase their music achievement and provide an objective means of self-assessment. With a $1,000 Colonial Life Strong Schools grant, band teacher Hunter Reese and orchestra teacher John Rogers use the versatile tool of SmartMusic to aid instruction in their classrooms.
This note/sound recognition software allows students to practice solo or with a full accompaniment and receive immediate performance feedback on pitch and rhythm. The use of SmartMusic transforms the learning experience from passive repetition to active engagement.
Other recent charitable investments in the Columbia community include:
• $25,000 grant to Liberty Fellowship at Wofford College in support of current participating Fellows to pursue creative solutions to the state’s greatest challenges
• $10,000 grant to Harvest Hope Food Bank to aid food distribution to individuals and families affected by the federal government shutdown
