Baraboo High School (Baraboo WI): Matt Schluntz
Instructor: Katie James
School Profile: Public school located in Baraboo Wisconsin, grades 9-12 with total enrollment of 885: 76.9% White, 11.6% Hispanic or Latino, 4.7 % two or more races, 3.6% American Indian or Alaskan Native, 1.6% Black or African American, 12% Student with Disabilities, 47.3% Economically Disadvantaged, 2.7% ELL.
Class Title(s): Beginning Songwriting
Structure of Your NTM Class(es): Semester-long Class, taught every other day
Describe Class Activities: Class activities in this unit are structured and student-centered, organized around the “Songwriting Pentagon”: Lyrics, Melody, Harmony, Song Structure, and Arrangement. The unit begins with a “What Kind of Songwriter Are You?” flowchart to help students identify their strengths and guide their learning. Each section focuses on one songwriting element through analysis and creation, including lyric writing, melody building, chord progressions on keyboards, and mapping song structures using popular music examples. Students engage through guided listening, worksheets, collaboration, and hands-on composition. The unit culminates in an arrangement project where students combine all five elements into a complete original song. They make creative choices about instrumentation, layering, and dynamics, and present either a live performance or recorded demo. The framework provides clear structure, while students maintain creative control over style, theme, and presentation.
Software Used: DAW (Soundtrap), Music Notation Software (Currently Noteflight, but district is switching to Dorico)
Hardware Used: Keyboards, Guitars, Ukuleles, Drumset, Sound Equipment, Laptops for DAW
History: Katie James created this class at Wisconsin Dells HS because she believed students needed a music option beyond traditional band or choir. As music continues to change—with more students learning through YouTube, less emphasis on reading notation, and digital creation becoming the norm—she wanted students to experience music in ways that reflect the real world. Her first class was mostly music students, but the second included about one-third non-traditional music(NTM) students. Students learned the Songwriting Pentagon (lyrics, melody, harmony, structure, arrangement), along with collaboration and performance preparation. The unit ended with a “real-world” concert at a local venue. Seeing parents of non-music students excited to watch their children perform and share original lyrics was a powerful moment. She later brought the same class to Baraboo HS for the same reasons, and the final venue performance again gave students a rare opportunity to meet a high standard and feel proud of their work.
Key Success Stories to Share: At the final performance, a parent of an NTM student filmed their child, then panned across the audience with a huge smile—like they were at a rock concert capturing their favorite band. For families whose students haven’t been in band or choir, seeing their child on stage was powerful, reinforcing how invaluable these opportunities are. One student who was once extremely nervous to perform later signed up for a musical theatre solo at Solo and Ensemble contest. Another student, a marching band percussionist and devoted drummer, finally performed music in his wheelhouse and had a large group of family come to support him.
Advice to Others Starting NTM Project: She encourages others to “just start.” She is not a songwriter by nature and comes from a traditional background as a music notation reader and large ensemble teacher. She did not know everything before starting the class—and still doesn’t. She began with a general plan, then allowed students to guide the direction of learning. Each class became a completely different experience based on the group of students. Along the way, students taught her new things, and she remained open to admitting she didn’t have all the answers. They explored and learned together.
Key Metrics/Data % of Students in Music Tech Classes: Within the songwriting class, there are 20 students. This accounts for a small percentage of the general school population, but it is currently in its second year of being offered.
Date Submitted: February 2026 by Matt Schluntz (2026 MTLA Intern) from an interview with Katie James