Music Comp

Music-COMP, Music Composition Online Mentoring Program (formerly known as The Vermont Midi Project ) a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization has been in existence since 1995. Music-COMP was formed for the express purpose of using new technology in the teaching of music composition in the classroom, with an emphasis on K-12 schools. Approximately 7000 students in grades 3-12 from 59 schools and individual home study students in Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York, Indiana and, Virginia, currently participate in the program, with more schools & students from around the country being added every year. Students work individually or in groups to compose music using the latest technology. Teachers in participating schools are trained in teaching music composition in the classroom through a Summer Institute, workshop opportunities, and ongoing support by the Executive Director. Students upload compositions to a Music-COMP password-protected website for mentoring by professional composers. A dialogue is established online between mentors and students, continuing until the work is finished. Twice a year Music-COMP selects 18-24 student pieces to be performed live in concert by professional musicians from New England, including members of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. This series of concerts, called OPUS concerts, began in 2000. To date 25 live Opus concerts have showcased over 300 original compositions of program students. Website: (www.vtmidi.org ).