Students To Self-Produce Music 'Like Billie Eilish' At Ramapo Indian Hills Schools

WYCKOFF, NJ — A new interdisciplinary offering at Ramapo Indian Hills Regional School District will give students the skills to write and record their own music, as contemporary artists such as pop star Billie Eilish often do — the recent graduate who came up with the idea noted.

In "That's a WRAP," an elective worth five credits that joins the school district's English and music departments, will combine the technical skills of music production with the ability to analyze and create new music, Music Supervisor Joseph DelBuono said at Monday's Board of Education meeting.

Standing for "writing, recording, arranging and producing," the That's a WRAP course focuses on the fundamentals of good songwriting and recording one's own music using audio tools in "innovative and creative ways," Ramapo High School's Supervisor of English and Media Center Nancy Blomquist said at the meeting.

Students will learn about lyrics, rhythm, melody, harmony and song structure; and how to record music using sound techniques, and audio hardware and software.

As such, they will develop a "solid background in the art and craft of songwriting and music production" to earn two and a half credits toward requirements in Visual and Performing Arts, and 21st Century Life and Career skills.

"This new course was created to provide options for students also impacted by Covid-19, and engage them back into music by creating that love of music again," DelBuono said.