California High School adds Sibelius Site Licenses to Music Program

Software has direct impact on choral performances

Woodbridge High School in Irvine, CA has discovered the benefits of Sibelius notation software since the installation of a 35-seat site license used by various music programs within the school, including AP Theory.

Since the students began using Sibelius, the impact on the choral programs has been significant.

"Sibelius has become invaluable to the students in a number of areas of learning," states Ron Soderwall, Director of Choirs, Woodbridge High School. "The choir uses Sibelius to learn how to read music while producing scales, melodies and harmonic underpinnings in a directed study program. Once per week, one section of the choir is pulled out of rehearsal and sent over to the library computers. The direct connection between seeing the notes and hearing the notes as they are entered, all the time following a directed methodology, makes music learning a fun process even for the non-musician."

Soderwall notes that by having printed examples of the student's Sibelius work, he is able to offer a more objective grade to each singer and is no longer relying on just their vocal work for assessment. The school's program also uses Sibelius in the music theory class, where prior to its installation, teachers received completed handwritten scores, tests and assignments—some readable others not. "The work being turned in now is in beautiful copy," continues Soderwall, who requires students to turn in some of their assignments on a floppy disk which makes correction and return to students more efficient, has lessened the paperwork flow, and reduces the risk of losing a student's assignment.

The Woodbridge High School music theory class is tasked with a final project to compose a melody, arrange, orchestrate and direct the school orchestra in the composition. "The beautiful scores and parts produced by the students via Sibelius are now a pleasure to correct and read by music teachers, and provide a smooth rehearsal and performance experience for students as well," adds Soderwall.

Many students outside the music program are being introduced to the "fun" aspect of Sibelius by the choir and music theory students as they work in the library. After seeing and experimenting with the software, these new Sibelius users often enroll in the music classes. The school has found that the increase in enrollment is directly related to the powerful, yet easy-to-use Sibelius program.

"My students cannot wait for the weekly appointed time when they can log onto the library computers and launch Sibelius," Soderwall says. "It has become an indispensable teaching tool at Woodbridge High School. Each year we are learning additional uses for the program, many of these discoveries coming from the students themselves!"

Notes to editors

About Sibelius Software Ltd (Sibelius):

Sibelius Software Ltd. is based in London, England. Its U.S. subsidiary, Sibelius USA, Inc., is located at 1407 Oakland Blvd., Suite 103, Walnut Creek, California, 94596 and has offices in Baltimore, Cleveland, Dallas and Nashville. Sibelius products are available worldwide in more than 100 countries. For more information, contact Sibelius USA at phone (925) 280-0600; fax (925) 280-0008; on the Web at www.sibelius.com; or via e-mail at infoUSA@sibelius.com.