Music Department Tour - Bromsgrove International School w/ Jeremy Meddows-Taylor

Summary

Jeremy Meadows Taylor, Head of Performing and Creative Arts at Broms Grove International School in Thailand, takes viewers on a comprehensive tour of the school's music department. The tour showcases various rooms, including a keys stage 3 room, electronic and acoustic band practice spaces, a music tech suite with iMacs, and a primary music room transformed into a performance space. The facilities are equipped with Yamaha keyboards, guitars, and a range of instruments, along with a full-time technician to support performances. The school's focus on organization and practical use of space enhances the learning experience for students.

Takeaways

• 🏫 The video is a tour of the music department at Broms Grove International School in Thailand, led by Jeremy Meadows Taylor, the head of Performing and Creative Arts.
• 🎹 The keystage 3 room is a versatile space used for primary students and features Yamaha keyboards, guitars, and educational aids like chord charts on the walls.
• 🔊 Breakout rooms are equipped with Roland HS5s for electronic rock band setups, eliminating issues with broken amps and ensuring consistent sound quality.
• 🎸 The school uses electronic kits and pianos set up for easy student access, along with microphones and guitar leads, fostering hands-on learning experiences.
• 🎧 There is an emphasis on teaching students about sound mixing, including balance and reverb, using the HS5 system.
• 🏛 The top floor houses an auditorium with a capacity of 500 seats, featuring a stage for musical performances with a professional sound and lighting system.
• 🎵 The school has a music tech suite with 15 iMacs, MIDI keyboards, and headphones, running software like Logic and GarageBand, alongside online music tools.
• 🔍 Organization is key in the music tech suite, with labeled drawers and equipment to help students and staff know where everything is.
• 🎼 The school has a teacher's workstation designed to mimic a recording studio environment, even without a traditional recording studio space.
• 🎤 An interactive flat panel screen is used for teaching, allowing for demonstrations of online music tools and interactive whiteboarding.
• 🎷 The ground floor room, initially a rehearsal space, has been repurposed into a classroom and music tech space, with acoustic treatment and a variety of instruments.
• 🛠️ The school maintains a music storeroom for instrument storage, including a primary orchestral program's instruments, and spare parts for repairs.

Q & A

Who is Jeremy Meadows Taylor and what is his role at Broms Grove International School Thailand?

Jeremy Meadows Taylor is the head of Performing and Creative Arts at Broms Grove International School Thailand. He has been with the school for nine years.

What is the primary purpose of the keystage 3 room in the music department?

The keystage 3 room is used for various musical activities, including playing musical features and ECP (Extended Curriculum Program). It is also used occasionally with primary students.

What types of instruments are available in the keystage 3 room?

The keystage 3 room has standard Yamaha keyboards, guitars, ukuleles, and other chord instruments displayed on the walls to assist students during lessons.

What are the breakout rooms in the music department used for?

The breakout rooms are set up for electronic rock bands, featuring Roland HS5s and other equipment like amps, monitors, electric kits, electric pianos, and microphones.

How does the use of Roland HS5s in the breakout rooms benefit the students?

The Roland HS5s, along with amps and monitors, help eliminate issues with broken amps and ensure that the equipment works consistently, allowing students to focus on learning and practicing.

What is the purpose of the practice rooms on the top floor for music?

The practice rooms on the top floor provide access to a variety of musical instruments and equipment, allowing students to practice and perform in a dedicated space.

What features does the auditorium at Broms Grove International School Thailand have?

The auditorium has a capacity of about 500 seats, a great stage for musical performances, a fantastic sound and lighting system, and stage pianos and amps.

What is the role of the full-time technician in the music department?

The full-time technician assists with all performances, ensuring that the sound and lighting systems are set up correctly and that the stage is ready for performances.

What is the music tech suite and what does it contain?

The music tech suite is a music production suite equipped with 15 iMacs, MIDI keyboards, headphones, and software like Logic and GarageBand. It also uses online tools like Soundtrap and BandLab.

How does the music tech suite help students learn about music production?

The music tech suite provides a hands-on environment where students can use iMacs, MIDI keyboards, and headphones to learn music production software and online tools, fostering creativity and technical skills.

What changes were made to the music tech space to improve its functionality?

The music tech space was reconfigured with a local-made studio desk, a second monitor for music tech, a TV screen, and a Yamaha speaker system to enhance the learning environment and facilitate better teaching.

What is the purpose of the music store room and how is it utilized?

The music store room serves as a storage space for instruments, particularly for the primary orchestral program. It stores instruments like cellos, violins, and brass instruments, as well as spare parts and accessories.