GlenOak High School (Canton, OH)
Instructor: Dr. David Thompson
School: GlenOak High School
School Profile: GlenOak is a public 9-12th grades high school. The total enrollment is approximately 1800 students.
Class Title(s):
- Introduction to Music Production/Guitar Ensemble
- Junior Career Technology Class: Music Concept, Business of Arts & Communication
- Senior Career Technology Class: Musical Engineering, and Music Ensemble and Composition
Structure of Your NTM Class(es): Class size on average is 20 students per class. The classes are a semester long. Contact time for juniors is 90 min and seniors are 130 min.
Describe Class Activities:
- Music Concept: Covers introduction to music theory, and basic DAW skills and keyboarding
- Business of Arts & Communication: Addresses legal and ethical issues in the music and entertainment industry
- Music Engineering: Advanced DAW Concepts and recording techniques
- Music Ensemble and Composition: Performance-based class using traditional instrumentation and technology for community and school performances
Software Used: Logic, Abelton Live, Native Instruments Komplete 13, Audacity, Musescore, Garage Band
Hardware Used: Mac mini, M-Audio Oxygen 49 Key, Privia 88 Key digital pianos, Electric Guitars, Electric Basses, Audio Interfaces, X-32 Producer, Lab wide sound system for student sharing of music from computers.
History: The class started as a proposal while Dr. Thompson was teaching general elementary music. An administrator suggested the technology career route; going from music technology electives to a career technology program. Initially, an introductory course was offered focusing mainly on music composition in GarageBand. In 2018 they added a guitar ensemble for students with no instrumental experience to learn how to play an instrument in a short amount of time. This was paired with introduction to music class for a basic understanding of music theory. In the career technology class, students go into the field to get hands-on learning experience. Students from Jackson High School , North Canton Hoover High School, and Lake High School also participate in the GlenOak classes offered.
Key Success Stories to Share: At least a half-dozen student bands have formed in the classes and have bands that still perform. Every year there are graduates that go on to enroll in university programs for all facets of music (production, education, performance, etc.). The school program was also the recipient of an Ableton Education Grant.
Advice to Others Starting NTM Project: Don't underestimate the amount of time it will take to develop curricular materials/instructional materials. Put the time in to develop that material. Don't be afraid to run the class like a traditional school class so the students have structure.
Key Metrics/Data % of Students in Music Tech Classes: Some 10% of the student population participates in the music technology classes.
Additional Comments: Noah shared the following comments from his interview with Dr. Thompson: We have to continue to reckon with the moniker of music technology both as a course titling scheme and as a way we describe ourselves. I would like to see the term fade away and refer to us as ensemble teachers or composition teachers. Technology is the tool, but it is not the target. Creating a lifelong musician is the goal.
Date Submitted: February 2026 by Noah Runninger (2026 MTLA Intern) from an interview with Dr. David Thompson.