The MIDI Association welcomes the launch of the Interactive Audio Special Interest Group’s new Audio Education Working Group and encourages educators, students, and industry professionals to participate in the growing conversation around music technology, game audio, and interactive sound education.
The IASIG Audio Education Working Group is a new initiative designed to connect educators, students, curriculum designers, and industry professionals who are committed to advancing teaching and learning in game audio and interactive sound. According to IASIG, the group plans to host monthly virtual meetings, support curriculum and resource sharing, organize conference panels and workshops, develop mentorship programs and student-focused initiatives, and create a Wiki as a free resource for students, educators, and institutions.
The MIDI Association strongly supports these goals because The MIDI Association began its own MIDI In Music Education initiative three years ago with the goal of making MIDI and music technology education more accessible to teachers, students, schools, universities, manufacturers, dealers, and the broader music products industry. That initiative is now well underway and is planned for completion by NAMM 2027.
A major focus of the MIDI In Music Education initiative is The MIDI Association’s collaboration with SAE Mexico to develop a structured MIDI curriculum in both English and Spanish. Through SAE Mexico’s relationship with Coursera, the curriculum and certification pathway are planned to be available at no charge, helping expand access to MIDI education for learners around the world.
The project also reflects The MIDI Association’s commitment to open, shareable education. Curriculum materials are intended to be made available under a Creative Commons license, allowing schools, universities, educators, dealers, and manufacturers to incorporate the materials into their own programs with proper attribution.
The new IASIG Audio Education Working Group has an opportunity to build on this foundation, particularly in areas where MIDI, interactive audio, game audio, and education intersect.
The MIDI Association believes the most productive path forward is collaboration. By aligning the new IASIG effort with the existing MIDI In Music Education initiative, we can work together to reduce duplication, share resources, and create stronger pathways for students and educators interested in music technology, interactive audio, and game audio careers.
“The future of interactive audio depends on strong, connected, and forward-thinking education,” said Gina Zdanowicz, Co-Chair of the new IASIG Audio Education Working Group. “This working group brings together the people shaping that future — in classrooms, studios, and communities around the world.”
The MIDI Association looks forward to working with IASIG, educators, students, and industry partners to connect MIDI education with interactive audio education and help build a more accessible, practical, and globally useful learning ecosystem.
Educators, students, and industry professionals interested in the IASIG Audio Education Working Group can join the IASIG Discord server at: https://discord.com/invite/eCwsDmKV3K and then the EDU-WG channel at: http://bit.ly/4ayqnqO
The IASIG is an organization in partnership with the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) and the MIDI Association (TMA) that brings together experts to share their knowledge and help improve the state of the art in audio for games, websites, VR content, and other interactive mediums.
Our members share tips and techniques, study trends, and create reports and recommendations that game developers, tool makers, and platform owners use to create better products.
Join at https://igda.org/sigs/audio/