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.”
WATCH: MusicEDU CEO Kate Hargreaves and Roland’s Tactical Marketing Manager (Asia Pacific) David Whitehead chat about Making Beats with Australian Musician’s Greg Phillips
MORE ABOUT MAKING BEATS FROM MusicEDU
MusicEDU believes music education should be accessible, relevant, and inclusive. The MusicEDU Suite is designed to support diverse student populations, offering flexible, online learning formats that empower teachers to confidently introduce emerging music genres and technologies into their classrooms with ease.
Our e-learning music curriculum is used by educators across Australia and internationally, providing teachers with structured, accessible training while upskilling both teachers and students in contemporary music practices.
MusicEDU is a leader in transforming music education. Since 2011, we have pioneered the integration of DJing, beatmaking, recording & production, and immersive technologies into secondary school music education, ensuring that teachers are equipped to deliver industry-relevant content with confidence.
This groundbreaking collaboration between Roland and MusicEDU was born from a shared vision: to bridge the gap between iconic electronic music hardware and future-ready music education. Recognising the growing demand from schools for structured, classroom-specific resources—not just product demos—Roland commissioned MusicEDU to develop a comprehensive beatmaking course that would honour their legacy while meeting the needs of modern educators. Roland’s influence on the history of electronic music is undeniable—its instruments shaped the sound of house, techno, hip-hop, and pop—so it was essential that this course empowered teachers to go beyond showcasing gear and instead confidently teach the creative and cultural foundations of contemporary music using real tools.
Unlike home-studio tutorials, Making Beats is purpose-built for the music classroom. This four-part program guides students through the process of creating, arranging, remixing, and performing their own music using industry-relevant tools. Every participating school receives access to Roland-50 Studio, an intuitive online software suite supported by step-by-step instructional videos. For schools looking to enhance the hands-on experience, we’ve also produced dedicated tutorials for the AIRA Compact TR-8, allowing for the integration of affordable, classroom-friendly hardware.
In addition to beatmaking and performance, the course explores genre history, signature sound design, arrangement techniques, and the role of music technology in contemporary production. Fully mapped to curriculum standards, Making Beats supports outcomes across composition, analysis, listening, and performance, making it a comprehensive and future-focused addition to any secondary music program.
Making Beats is now housed on our new, next-generation learning platform—built to deliver a seamless and immersive experience for both teachers and students. With intuitive navigation, enhanced functionality, and integrated tools like single sign-on, the platform streamlines lesson delivery while supporting flexible, engaging, and tech-forward music education. It gives educators the power to teach contemporary music content with confidence and ease. Plus – it ticks all the boxes schools and departments now expect with regards to online safety, security and system integrations.