Rocky River Education Foundation grants have helped students make beautiful music throughout the halls of the Middle School.  Middle school music educators, Mary Fancher, choral director, and Ryan Hudec, band director, have both received RREF grants to purchase technology to assist in music education. 

Mrs.  Fancher’s grant , titled Visualizing Vowel Sounds, provided for the purchase of a professional stand for an Apple iPad.  The stand and iPad are used to record the students as they perform. Prior to the video tape analysis, the students have been instructed to recognize vertical and horizontal mouth shaping while singing vowel sounds.  The video is then analyzed by the students with Mrs. Fancher’s assistance to evaluate the annunciation of vowel shapes while singing.    The goal is to train the singers to focus on a vertical vowel shaping to produce the optimal sound, especially in choral performances. 

Mr. Hudec’s grant, In Tune with the RRMS Band, funded the purchase of electronic tuners for the Middle School band members.  The electronic tuners are used by band members each day to tune their respective instruments.  The tuners give the students visual and audio feedback noting whether the instrument is in tune.  Not only are the bands in tune, but the students have learned to hear when an instrument is properly tuned.  This technology has given the students more independence and confidence while performing.