The Vermont MIDI Project is committed to providing professional development for teachers so they can continue to learn about music composition and music technology. Offerings include face-to-face workshops several times during the year, interactive learning network sessions available in over 70 locations around the state, and the annual four-day residential Arts and Technology Summer Institute.

Recent workshop sessions are now open all as we welcome teachers and composers who are not current participants in the project. Noted presenters from beyond Vermont in the field of music and technology have been Steve Estrella, Mike Moniz, Robin Hodson, Allan Molnar, and Brian Moore. Vermont presenters include Erik Nielsen, Troy Peters, Anne Hamilton, Matt Podd, Peggy Madden, Steven Light, Kathy Light, Carolyn Keck, Jeff Perrin, Charlene Helman, Mary Elizabeth, and Sandi MacLeod.

Some workshop sessions are designed by our composer mentors for students and their teachers. Utilizing the technology available through the Interactive Learning Network,sessions have been held with visiting composers and performers on specific topics such as writing for brass or using lyrics. David Ludwig from the Curtis Institute was a recent guest on an ILN session.

Since 1996, the project has provided a four-day residential summer institute where educators focus on personal composition as they learn about software and hardware. They also share their work with peers in class and in the online discussion area. By asking teachers to compose and experience the same critique process they will expect of their students, teachers gain insight not only into teaching composition, but into music itself.