Contract Closed

Music Education Platform for K-2 Students in Elementary Schools Without Music Programs

NCER

Program: Small Business Innovation Research

Award amount: $250,000

Project director: Jacob Zax

Awardee:

Edify Technologies, Inc

Year: 2024

Award period: 7 months (06/01/2024 - 01/02/2025)

Project type:

Phase I Development

Contract number: 91990024C0012

Purpose

In 2019, the Arts Education Data Project reported that more than 3.6 million students in the U.S. have no access to music education, with schools serving students from disadvantaged backgrounds the least likely to offer any arts education. In previous projects supported through ED/IES SBIR awards and other sources, the team developed a product to deliver music education to schools without dedicated music courses to students in grades 3 to 5. This project will develop a prototype of an application (app) based music course for kindergarten to grade 2 students, designed for schools to integrate music education into their existing practice.

Project Activities

The project team will develop a prototype component to be integrated into MusiQuest, including modules for students in kindergarten to grade 2 (K–2) with simple music making mechanisms, interactive instruction, and individual student supports. At the end of Phase I, the team will conduct a pilot with up to 6 educators and 120 students in grades (K–2). They will examine whether the prototype functions as intended, if students are engaged with the content in the modules and if perceptions of music improve while using the prototype, and if educators with no musical experience can successfully support students in engaging with the prototype.