Pittsfield & Pattengill Elementary Schools (Berkley MI)
Instructor: John Churchville
School Name: Pittsfield & Pattengill Elementary's
School Profile: Pattengill Elementary School (Grades 3-5) - 229 Students Enrolled; Pittsfield Elementary (K-5) - 230 Students Enrolled; Both are Title 1 schools
Class Title(s): Vocal Music Class - The class is designed to help students find their creative voice and the Sonic Workshop (after-school program)
Structure of Your NTM Class(es): Duration: Two 30 Minute Music classes a week (1 hour total) for approximately 18 weeks per semester; Classes: Grades 3-5; Students Per Class: ~ 24 Students
Describe Class Activities: The class is centered around helping students find their creative voice. Many class activities are built around using the technologies available in the classroom. For example, Mr. Churchville regularly utilizes his looping station for everything from welcome activities, to live performances, classroom management, and student rapping projects. The students have access to a Digital Audio Workstation (Soundtrap) for which they create projects. These activities are amplified through the use of a classroom set of wireless headphones allowing students to work independently and in groups. From his desk he can use his microphone and transmitter set up to talk with students individually without disrupting the working class. Students have access to listening and recording their projects in their classroom recording studio. This allows the students to listen to their projects with quality speakers and record additional tracks. Mr. Churchville brings in professional musicians to record student compositions which provides insight and a space to practice this process of recording and producing. Students have built in "share days" where they play/perform their compositions for the class and practice listening and collaborating. These are among many avenues the students explore in Mr. Churchville's class.
Software Used: Soundtrap, Groove Pizza, Note Flight, aQWERTYon, Web Drum Sequencer, Generative Composing, Pattern Sketch, Shape Your Music, Citizen DJ.gov, Calm Tones Looper, West. Music Theory, Voice Mechanics, Guitar Chord Finder, Music With Ableton, Hein Music Tech Assign., Scale Visualizer, Chord Progressions, Hook Theory, AI Art to Music, Instrument Playground, AI Music Generation, Audio,Text,Video to Music, Scribble Audio, Immersive Studio, Music Lab Experiments, Hand Piano
Hardware Used:
- Recording & Audio: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 audio interfaces (stacked for multiple inputs), MXL condenser microphones, USB microphones, JBL powered speakers, PA system, Mixing board (in process of being added)
- Creative Tools: MIDI controllers, Synthesizers (grant-funded, incoming), Vocoders, Theremin, Kaoss Pad, Boss/Roland loop pedal
- Headphone System: Wireless “silent disco” headphones (non-Bluetooth, no latency), Multiple channels allow simultaneous small-group instruction
- Studio Spaces: Partial in-classroom studio setup, small recording room with sign-out system for 5th Graders
History: Program developed over 6+ years. Growth depends on building a culture of sharing without judgment, and “wiring the creative circuitry” of the student body and community. Students learn from: past student work and archived projects from previous years. It takes ~5 years to fully embed creative culture into school identity. Community recognition (competitions, performances) reinforces buy-in.
Key Success Stories to Share: Three students selected for Young Composers of Michigan this year (out of 10 statewide elementary students). A former student: completed a full-length album by 8th grade, later gave a TED Talk crediting the creativity explored in music class leading to a career in journalism. Long-term student-teacher relationships persist into adulthood.
Advice to Others Starting NTM Project:
- Treat students as creative colleagues
- Embrace risk-taking and uncertainty
- Be willing to learn alongside students, fail publicly, and push against traditional norms
- Expect resistance when doing non-traditional work
- Stay committed to your personal and pedagogical vision
Key Metrics/Data % of Students in Music Tech Classes: 100% of the schools 3rd - 5th graders participate in his course.
Date Submitted: February 2026 by Bo Chenoweth (2026 MTLA Intern) from an interview with John Churchville