Recent Deal Part of Global Trend Among School Districts to Enrich Core Curriculum and More Deeply Engage Students
Stockholm, Sweden and Chesterfield, Virg. – February 28, 2018 – The Chesterfield County School District south of Richmond, Virginia, has licensed the Soundtrap online music and podcast recording studio, which will be rolled out to its 60,000 students. Initially, 33,000 middle and high school students will access Soundtrap’s recording studio as part of an innovative push to promote creativity and engagement, with the remaining students receiving the solution later in the year. Having won numerous awards of excellence from educators around the world since its 2016 introduction, Soundtrap has now begun transitioning from a favorite learning tool deployed by individual teachers to a school-wide software program becoming part of core curriculum.
Soundtrap is the first solution for kids that lets them make music or audio recordings online with fellow students within their invited and secured group, record a tune or podcast, then share the music with classmates in the cloud from a multitude of devices and operating systems. As part of the progressive approach to education in the Chesterfield County schools, students have Chromebooks and carefully chosen software to run on them, including creativity-promoting applications. Soundtrap is being rolled out to students on their Chromebooks this year.
During an earlier "test drive" with a small group of students, Soundtrap demonstrated overwhelming, immediate engagement according to Brian Jones, executive director of technology services in the district. "Anytime you can introduce something to the classroom that's both educational and that the students want to do on their own time, you've got a winner," he said. This is made easy by the fact that Soundtrap works across operating systems and devices, from computers and tablets to phones.
Jones worked with Soundtrap and reseller Electronic Systems Inc. (ESI), which provides technical solutions in the mid-Atlantic region. According to John Haynes, project manager, from ESI, “Partnering with Soundtrap and the Chesterfield County school district gives us the opportunity to provide technology solutions that make a difference in the lives of students and our communities. It’s important that kids can have time to sit with these different technologies that allow them to be creative and reach their potential.”
The Chesterfield County schools are one of the early adopters of district-wide licenses but this trend is increasing, according to Soundtrap CEO Per Emanuelson. "Our tool changes the way classrooms engage in music and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) education by giving youngsters of all music levels opportunities to collaborate on exciting and meaningful projects. Forward-looking educators are placing more value on creativity in the classroom because of its role in improving overall learning."
Soundtrap offers schools 30-day free trials of the software. A starter-pack license for up to 50 users costs $249 per year and custom licenses for 100 users are priced at $489 per year, with special deals available for district-wide licenses. Soundtrap was acquired by Spotify in December 2017.
About Soundtrap
Soundtrap is the first cloud-based audio recording platform to work across all operating systems, enabling users to co-create music anywhere in the world. Soundtrap was acquired by Spotify in December 2017. Soundtrap provides an easy-to-use music and audio creation platform for all levels of musical interest and abilities and is being used by the K-12 through higher-education markets. For more information, visit: http://www.soundtrap.com.
About Electronic Systems
Since 1980, Electronic Systems, Inc. (ESI) has grown into the region's largest provider of customized and scalable technology solutions. The company's services include information technology solutions, digital multifunction printers and copiers, service and supplies, and mailing systems. ESI employs nearly 500 people throughout offices in Virginia Beach, Hampton, Vienna, Richmond, Lynchburg, Roanoke, Columbia, MD, and Elizabeth City, NC
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PR for Soundtrap
Aoife Kimber
PR for Soundtrap
+ 1 650 773 7288
