Riverside City College Students Help Shape New Global MIDI Certification Curriculum

Riverside City College Audio & Music Technology students are among a select group of students and educators participating in the beta testing of a new MIDI certification curriculum being developed by The MIDI Association.

Beginning this fall, approximately 40 RCC students will test the MIDI In Music Education (MiME) MIDI Certification curriculum, providing feedback that will help shape the curriculum before it is made available to educators and students worldwide.

The free curriculum is designed to introduce students to MIDI, music production, digital audio workstations (DAWs), digital composition and other foundational concepts in modern music technology. The curriculum is being developed for use in real classroom settings and is being produced in both English and Spanish through a partnership with SAE México.

RCC is one of a small number of institutions selected to participate in the beta testing phase, which includes students and instructors from universities, city colleges and manufacturer training programs. RCC is expected to have one of the largest student cohorts participating in the beta.

“This is a really exciting opportunity for our students because they aren't just learning the technology; they are helping shape how it will be taught to future students,” said Jennifer M. Amaya, associate professor of Audio & Music Technology at Riverside City College. “I have been involved with the MIDI In Music Education professional workgroup for several years and have watched this curriculum move from an idea through development and now to beta testing.  It is very rewarding to give our students the opportunity to be part of this next step.”

Through the beta testing process, RCC students will use the curriculum in their coursework and provide feedback on the content, instruction and classroom experience. Their input will be shared with the team developing the certification program and will help inform revisions before its public release.

The collaboration builds on RCC’s longstanding relationship with The MIDI Association and its involvement in music technology education and industry events. RCC Audio & Music Technology students participate annually with The MIDI Association at The NAMM Show, where they gain firsthand experience with the music industry while supporting activities at the Association’s booth.

The completed MIDI certification curriculum is expected to be publicly released at The NAMM Show in January 2027. RCC students are expected to once again work alongside The MIDI Association during the event, assisting with its booth and production activities.

For RCC students, the experience provides an opportunity to contribute to the development of an education resource while gaining valuable exposure to the music technology industry.

“This partnership gives our students a voice in the development of a curriculum that could ultimately reach classrooms around the world,” Amaya said. “It is a unique opportunity to connect what our students are learning in the classroom with the needs of the music technology industry.”

The MIDI Association is a global organization dedicated to advancing the MIDI standard and supporting the development and use of MIDI technology throughout the music industry.

For more information about Riverside City College's Audio & Music Technology program, visit rcc.edu.