The GarageBand Jam Lab Band with KYDD Lab
The GarageBand Jam Lab Band is a modern approach to musical composition and ensemble playing that also inspires student’s creativity and digital device prowess.
Pennsylvania Curriculum Standards
(A=Assembly; W=Workshop; R=Residency)
9.1 Production, Performance and Exhibition of Dance, Music, Theatre and Visual Arts A, W, R
9.2 Historical and Cultural Contexts A, W, R
9.4 Aesthetic response A, W, R
13.1 Career Awareness and Aptitudes W, R
15.3 Communication: Identify diversity within groups and its effect on communication A, W, R
15.4 Learning Through Experience A, W, R
25.3 Pro-Social Relationships with Adult W, R
25.4 Pro-Social Relationships with Peer W, R
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Art Form(s): Music
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Genre: Technology
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Instrument(s): iPads, GarageBand
Assembly, Workshop, and Residency Offerings
GarageBand Assembly
Bill and Bruce, The GarageBand Jam Lab Band instructors, will open the initial assembly by performing live compositions that will be created using the Garage Band app. After a description of the technical aspects of both The Lab and the GarageBand app, pre-selected students will be invited to grab their iPads, plug in and “Jam”! Pre-selected students will have been chosen ahead of time to work with coordinating teachers and the teaching artists who will help them develop music on their iPads which they will play at the assembly. The assembly will also showcase what will be done in workshop residencies. Every student will want to be involved!
Best for: Grades 3-12 • After-School/Community
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Also available as a Workshop or Residency!
Featuring: KYDD Lab
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Bruce Kaminsky is an electric and acoustic bassist, instrument designer and educator. He began studying bass at the age of 14 and has performed and recorded with various rock and jazz groups, classical orchestras and Middle Eastern ensembles. He is the designer of the KYDD bass, used by the bassists who play with Katy Perry and John Legend. He also developed the KYDD Labthat utilizes headphones and two-way talk-back to communicate with students. Bruce has an M.M. and is on the music faculty of Drexel University and Montgomery County Community College. In 2018, Bruce was the recipient our INSPIRE Award - given each year to someone who inspires learning through music. Read a special feature on Bruce here.
Bill Koutsourosis an astounding multi-instrumentalist and technology wizard. His musical journey began at age 15 with his first red electric guitar. He plays the Bouzouki, a Greek Lute, the Oud, an Arabic lute, the Doumbek/Tabli (a goblet shaped Egyptian drum) and the Riq (a Middle Eastern tambourine). In 1995, Bill created the music group Animus, an original World Fusion ensemble. Heis a technician and consultant with Apple, and is well versed in computer technology and digital music, with a focus on how they relate social media. Bill’s abilities in both traditional and digital instrumentation make him uniquely qualified to bridge the gap between the two mediums.
Instruments: The KYDD Bass Lab, The GarageBand app. The GarageBand app includes a large selection of realistic, sampled instruments and software modeled synthesizers. These can be used to create original compositions or play music live through the use of a USB MIDI connected to the computer. An on-screen virtual keyboard, as well as a standard QWERTY keyboard with the "musical typing" feature, is also available. The synthesizers were broken into two groups: [virtual] analog and digital. Each synthesizer has a wide variety of adjustable parameters, including richness, glide, cut off, standard attack, decay, sustain, and release which allow for a wide array of sound creation. Many students with iPads already have the GarageBand app.
Joined Musicopia: 2001