Polycom and Manhattan School of Music, Distance Learning and High Definition Telepresence

Harmonizing on innovative Distance Learning applications, Polycom and Manhattan School of Music are expanding opportunities and outreach for students and faculty.

Manhattan School of Music connects students and teachers
across the world with Polycom solutions.
Distance learning in music education, how is this possible? Skeptics wonder if video conferencing technology can capture superior sound quality or has the necessary clarity for tracking minute movements during performance.
The surprising answer: Yes.

The Manhattan School of Music, a preeminent international conservatory of music offers bachelor, master anddoctorate degrees in music performance. The school hails as the first conservatory in the country to incorporatevideo conferencing into its music performance education curriculum. Founded in 1918, the Manhattan School of Music is dedicated to the personal, artistic and intellectual developmentof each of its students who range from pre-college through postgraduate levels. In addition to approximately 850 students from over 40 countries in the College Division, the school serves about 450 New Yorkarea
students ages 5 to 18 in the Preparatory Division; almost 2,000 New York City school children through its arts-in-education program; and approximately 1,700 college and K-12 students worldwide through its distance learning program.

The school trains students in performance and composition, while providing a broad-based education in music theory, history and humanities. Under the leadership of Marta Istomin, president since 1992, the school employs a superb artist-teacher faculty of 250 professional musicians and presents over 400 public performances annually. Manhattan School of Music's more than 10,000 alumni remain active in every aspect of American musical life. Many are among the most distinguished artists performing in opera houses and concert halls, and on jazz stages throughout the world today.

“We initially explored video conferencing technology to accommodate the touring schedule of world renown violinist, conductor and MSM faculty member, Pinchas Zukerman, so that he could teach his students while concertizing around the globe,” said Christianne Orto, director of recording and distance learning for the school. “The program proved so successful that Istomin decided video conferencing presented great opportunities for the conservatory environment. We have since expanded our program to include master classes, workshops, clinics, one-on-one teaching, education and community outreach, professional development, coaching and the creation of a new elective class, 'Arts-in-Education & The Virtual Classroom,' designed to expose students to the virtual learning environment.”