Bridging the Gap Between Classical and Electronic

Thanks to the generous support from donors through the Up Tempo! campaign, MacPhail Center for Music is enhancing the landscape of music education with advanced technology like the Ekwe app, which is now available for free to our students (Promo code: EKWEMACPHAIL). This powerful tool allows students to explore diverse musical traditions while developing compositional and technological skills.

Recently, a dedicated Suzuki Cello teacher at MacPhail, Joe Kaiser launched an innovative composition project using Ekwe. Engaging students in group Suzuki classes from 3rd/4th and 6th/7th grades, Kaiser challenged them to create original pieces. He provided a structured model based on the Suzuki repertoire, specifically “Rigadoon.” From there, he paired students and assigned each pair a song section. One student was asked to create a four-measure “question” and the other to create a four-measure “response” to the musical question posed. This allowed students to develop their pieces collaboratively while navigating the complexities of group composition.

The Ekwe app was instrumental in this process, giving students access to a wide range of percussion samples from around the globe. “Ekwe supports teaching music as a language. For most, the joy of music is developing sufficient skills to play with others. Ekwe is a digital platform to make practicing and learning more fun. It’s not just you and your instrument alone for hours. This is where acoustic and digital music can live together very happily,” Kaiser noted. As students explored percussion samples, discussions about the instrument’s origins and cultural significance of instruments, such as African djembes and Tibetan gongs, sparked. Students took pride in sharing their cultural connections, enriching the music-making experience. The project concluded with a performance at the year-end Suzuki concert, where students showcased their compositions with Ekwe as the backing track.

Michael Cain, EMRA director at MacPhail and cofounder of Ekwe, echoed these sentiments, noting the app’s multifaceted role in music education. “The fact that the app can help point to types of music and instruments worldwide is really exciting,” he stated. Cain has identified three primary uses for Ekwe: as an introduction to world music, a gateway to electronic music and production tools, and a platform for creating original compositions. He attended the concert and was thrilled to see the app being used in a combination of all three ways.

With initiatives like these, supported by the Up Tempo! campaign, MacPhail is embracing a holistic approach to music education that prioritizes cultural diversity and technological proficiency. “Music is bigger than what’s in a classical repertoire; it’s about creating something of our own,” Kaiser emphasized. This modern approach empowers students to leverage technology, broadening their musical horizons and unlocking their creative potential.

Michael Cain

Michael Cain is a graduate of CalArts with both a BFA and a MFA. He is the Founder and Director of MacPhail’s EMRA (Electronic Music Recording Arts) program and the Co-Founder & CEO of EKWE™, a mobile platform designed for user-friendly and intuitive digital music creation. (Visit EKWE™ at MacPhail for the promo code for a free year-long trial.)

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Joe Kaiser

Joe Kaiser has been teaching at MacPhail since 2002. He teaches cello and chamber music in the Individual Instruction, Group Instruction, Suzuki and School Partnerships programs. In every setting, be it a group class or a one on one lesson, Joe uses a highly engaging, fun, student-centered approach to his teaching. Additionally, he is an active chamber musician and freelance performer whose work has taken him from recording studios, to nightclubs to the many concert venues in the Twin Cities.

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