Music Technology Teacher Network was created out of a desire to provide advocacy for Music Technology programs for students in grades 6-12 and to support educators who are providing the instruction in this rapidly expanding and relatively new field of music education.
Despite the widely available resources for learning the technical aspects of working with DAWs and the software and hardware in the field of music technology, finding practical resources for developing lesson plans, understanding the National Music Standards and applying them in the Music Technology lab, the ability to collaborate with other music technology teachers and find engaging and relevant activities required much effort and time that most educators do not have. Music Technology Teacher Network seeks to provide an easy to navigate resource that puts answers and activities within a few clicks for teachers in the music technology classroom/lab.
Heath Jones, Executive Editor & Founder
Heath currently teaches Music Technology at McConnell Middle School in the Gwinnett County Public Schools system in Lawrenceville, GA. He began his career as a high school band director and after 15 years in high school, he transitioned to the middle school band room for 5 years while going through an unexpected, yet fulfilling transition to becoming a music technology teacher. After much trial and error, extensive time sifting through tutorials and user manuals, reaching out to find the elusive few existing and experienced music technology teachers, and following his growing curiosity and enthusiasm for music technology, he created this website to help others new to teaching music technology to avoid many of the headaches he experienced in developing a curriculum for his music technology classroom.
Heath was named the TI:ME Mike Kovins Teacher of the Year in 2023. He has been a part of working committees for the Gwinnett County Public Schools and the Georgia Department of Education in developing and revising performance standards and assessments both statewide and at the local level. He has served as the Lead Teacher for Music Technology and General Music for Middle Grades in the Gwinnett County Public Schools. He is in demand as a presenter and consultant for music technology curricula and program development across the country. Heath has presented sessions at the NAfME National Conference, The Midwest Clinic (twice), and at numerous state-level conferences including Texas, Ohio, Georgia, South Carolina, and others.
Hal Leonard published his first book Music Technology 101 in the spring of 2021. The book provides practical, actionable, and easy-to-understand information, resources, and advice to anyone interested in teaching a music technology course or learning how to become a do-it-yourself music producer. Reviewer comments:
“I highly recommend this book for EVERY music teacher, new and seasoned, regardless of whether you teach or think you may ever teach a music technology course. There is much to be learned from Heath about recording, production, and encouraging creativity in every music classroom!” - Shawna Longo
“one of the finest introductory volumes currently available for Music Technology teachers.” - Richard McCready
Heath continues to be a passionate advocate for Music Technology as a vital part of a student's music education options and continues to search out new resources and tools to improve instruction and create relevant and engaging activities for the Music Tech classroom.
Wayne Langford, Contributing Editor
Wayne is currently the local school technology coordinator at McConnell Middle School. HIs first career was as a touring musician with various bands around the US between 1982 and 1993. Even way back then computers were often heavily involved in shows. Therefore, when the time came to settle down in the Atlanta area, a transition to another field involving computers just seemed to make sense.
Wayne is actively involved in several committees where he acts as an advocate for technology and change. He also holds a host of geeky and not-so-geeky certifications. He has presented at several digital learning events around the state as well as GaETC. Wayne also holds a couple of graduate degrees in instructional technology. At the end of the day, however, his most important trait is an immutable enthusiasm and optimism in technology as a change agent and public education’s capacity for change.
Two of the primary challenges for a technology coordinator are adoption and access. To address the first you must provide the second. There is no substitute for teachers and students getting the required hours under their belts before a new technology begins to feel normal. This game would change significantly about seven years ago when Wayne oversaw the school’s migration to an integrated, cloud-based solution.
David Dover, Contributing Editor
Mr. David Dover is excited to begin his second year at Gwinnett County Public Schools as the Music Technology Instructor at North Gwinnett Middle School. Mr. Dover completed his undergraduate studies from the University of Georgia where he graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Music degree with a concentration in Music Education and a minor in Trumpet performance. Following graduation, Mr. Dover accepted an Assistant Director of Bands position for T.C. Roberson High School in Asheville, NC where he served for one year before returning to the University of Georgia to pursue a Masters of Music Education degree. While working on his post graduate degree, Mr. Dover managed the University of Georgia School of Music computer lab and studied Electronic Music with Leonard Ball.
After receiving his degree, Mr. Dover accepted a position as the Director of Bands at Monroe County Middle School where he served for 8 years. During his tenure at MCMS, the program tripled in size and garnered success in both the concert and jazz band idioms. Mr. Dover then accepted a vertical promotion to the Director of Bands at Mary Persons High School in Monroe County. After serving for one year at Mary Persons High School, Mr. Dover and his family moved to the Atlanta area where he served ten years as Assistant Band Director at Marietta High School and later as the band director of the Marietta Sixth Grade Academy. Mr. Dover has spent his tenure as an educator instructing concert bands, jazz bands, percussion ensembles, music appreciation, and American popular music history as well as composing and arranging music for various music programs in the area.
Mr. Dover lives in Peachtree Corners with his wife, Megan, and three children, Owen, Olivia, and Charlotte.