Photo by Shaun Flynn.
Standing in front of their “Inside the Industry” website are MBE sixth-graders Caroline Allen, Lauren Grubbs and Tatom Hoffmann. They signed the album cover themselves.
For the past three years, MBE sixth-graders have participated in the highly anticipated “Inside the Industry” project. Teachers Shannon Millhouse and Rachel Phillips work together to develop rigorous assignments and a culminating project that meet grade-level technology, math and English language arts standards, and help students understand the mysterious music industry.
The students each have a role within a small group — artist, recording company executive, or manager. They meet with their groups, complete relevant and innovative mini-lessons, analyze and negotiate a contract, create financial spreadsheets and graphs, interpret music industry graphs, create a music video and develop a website. Throughout the project, students are exposed to concepts that are applicable to not just music, but industries across the board, such as using digital tools to research, using multimedia features of presentation software, filming and editing videos, and using technology to produce and publish writing.
At the end of the project, groups dress up as their part in the group, and share the website with the class. They also attend a video “premiere” where they vote on the best music videos. Mrs. Phillips commented on the students pictured here and stated, “This group wrote a very detailed bio for their music group, designed realistic merchandise, and planned a fabulous tour for their ‘band.’ They used their ingenuity to create a functional and professional website.”
– Submitted by Shaun Flynn.
