Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 28 minutes ago
In this chat with Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips, MusicEDU CEO Kate Hargreaves and Roland’s Tactical Marketing Manager (Asia Pacific) David Whitehead introduced Making Beats, a new curriculum-based program designed to bring electronic music production into secondary school classrooms.
Built for Years 7–10, Making Beats gives teachers a ready-to-deliver pathway into beatmaking and electronic music, aligning directly with curriculum requirements while keeping students engaged with the music they actually listen to—hip hop, electronic, and pop. Hargreaves explained that the program removes the heavy lifting for educators, who often don’t have the time or resources to create industry-relevant lesson plans from scratch.
Roland’s contribution centres on its long history in shaping electronic music culture, from the legendary 808 and 909 drum machines through to the current AIRA Compact series. Affordable, portable, and easy to use, these instruments allow students to create music quickly, levelling the playing field between experienced musicians and beginners.
The program emphasises experimentation and accessibility, enabling students to work together, build confidence, and succeed regardless of prior musical training. With integrated software options and continuous curriculum updates, Making Beats is designed to evolve with technology and education standards.
Launching at the ASME National Conference in Brisbane this September, the initiative has already generated strong interest from schools keen to roll it out in Term 4 and into 2026. As Hargreaves summed up, “Kids just want to make beats… this program gives them the tools and the pathway to do it.”
musicedusuite.com/programs/making-beats
#australianmusician #musicedu #roland #makingbeats
In this chat with Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips, MusicEDU CEO Kate Hargreaves and Roland’s Tactical Marketing Manager (Asia Pacific) David Whitehead introduced Making Beats, a new curriculum-based program designed to bring electronic music production into secondary school classrooms.
Built for Years 7–10, Making Beats gives teachers a ready-to-deliver pathway into beatmaking and electronic music, aligning directly with curriculum requirements while keeping students engaged with the music they actually listen to—hip hop, electronic, and pop. Hargreaves explained that the program removes the heavy lifting for educators, who often don’t have the time or resources to create industry-relevant lesson plans from scratch.
Roland’s contribution centres on its long history in shaping electronic music culture, from the legendary 808 and 909 drum machines through to the current AIRA Compact series. Affordable, portable, and easy to use, these instruments allow students to create music quickly, levelling the playing field between experienced musicians and beginners.
The program emphasises experimentation and accessibility, enabling students to work together, build confidence, and succeed regardless of prior musical training. With integrated software options and continuous curriculum updates, Making Beats is designed to evolve with technology and education standards.
Launching at the ASME National Conference in Brisbane this September, the initiative has already generated strong interest from schools keen to roll it out in Term 4 and into 2026. As Hargreaves summed up, “Kids just want to make beats… this program gives them the tools and the pathway to do it.”
musicedusuite.com/programs/making-beats
#australianmusician #musicedu #roland #makingbeats
