Creative Ideas for Free Music Tech Resources 2013

Notes
Creative Ideas for Free
Music Technology Resources
Katie Wardrobe
Midnight Music
2013
The Music Interactive
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Staff Wars 1
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Staff Wars 2
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Speed Note
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Jama Mambo (right)
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Rhythm Dictation
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Drawn to Keys
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Boomwhackers (right)
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More
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Tips
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Arranging and remixing with Incredibox
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Which musical concepts can Incredibox teach or reinforce?
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Project: to create and record a 30-second arrangement
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Assessment and feedback
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Extra tips
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Composition starter using iNudge
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Which musical concepts can iNudge teach or reinforce?
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Project: compose your name
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Extra tips
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Exploring and creating sound with Seaquence
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Which musical concepts can Seaquence teach or reinforce?
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Project: experiment with sound and patterns
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Extra tips
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Isle of Tune
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Quaver Music
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Triptico
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Word magnets
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Match Maker (Triptico Plus only)
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Text Spinner
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Image Spinner
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Order Sorter
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Find 10
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Classroom management tools: class lists, team scores and timers
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Explore music history and listening activities
Haunting music unit
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Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids
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New York Phil Kids
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San Francisco Symphony Kids
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Hansel and Gretel
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Scheherazade
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Brahms in 1890’s Vienna
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Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
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Dvorak Symphony No.9 (New World)
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Peter and the Wolf
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Finding resources
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Images: Clip Art by Phillip Martin
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Images: Pixabay (public domain images)
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Images: Creative Commons Photographs
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More links
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Tutorials, Support and Networking
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Contact Me
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The Music Interactive
The Music Interactive has a range of free games (and some paid ones - low cost) that you can download
from http://themusicinteractive.com/TMI/The_Music_Interactive_-_Welcome.html
You’ll need to sign up to their forum in order to access the download links.
Some favourite games and tools:
Staff Wars 1
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Identify notes on the staff. Star Wars theme.
Excellent with middle school students (and
adults!)
Staff Wars 2
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Identify notes by playing your instrument
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Staff Wars 2 not compatible with Windows 7
Speed Note
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Speed note reading on the staff, with key
signatures
Jama Mambo (right)
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Basic rhythm dictation for younger students
Rhythm Dictation
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Rhythm dictation for older students. Can choose rhythmic elements, length and speed. Limited to
4/4 time signature
Drawn to Keys
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Intervals and scales that are customisable
Boomwhackers (right)
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Use the coloured boomwhacker images to put together an
arrangement.
More
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Other games available too
Tips
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Games work really well as a warm-up activity
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Suitable to play in teams or as individual players
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Students can download for free and play at home
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Scores are not tracked in these programs, but you could ask students to take a screenshot (also
known as a screencapture image) to “record” their score
Arranging and remixing with Incredibox
Which musical concepts can Incredibox teach or reinforce?
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Arranging skills
Layering
Solo and tutti
Rhythm
Texture and timbre
A cappella part-singing and beat boxing
Project: to create and record a 30-second arrangement
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Spend some time experimenting with the sounds available - drag an icon to an empty (undressed!)
dude to start playback of a sound
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Choose up to 7 of the 20 sounds that you would like to include in your arrangement. Include a
variety of rhythmic and melodic patterns
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Fill up your Incredibox screen with your 7 chosen sounds
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Practice clicking on each dude at the right time
Play around with the mute and solo buttons to test out different combinations of dudes in varyingsized groups
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Plan your arrangement so that it has a beginning, a middle and an end
‣ Beginning - use layering to bring in all or some of the parts
‣ Middle - create some interest by using the solo and/or mute buttons to vary texture. Some
sectinos may have all dudes on, and others just one or two
‣ End - layer the parts out at the end
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Get ready to “perform” your mix: mute all of the dudes (quickest way is to solo one and then click
his mute button)
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Hit the record button (top left) and perform your arrangement!
When finished, email your arrangement to your teacher and/or copy and save link
Assessment and feedback
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Students will each play their arrangement for the class
Other students offer constructive feedback and comment on the choice of sounds, use of layering,
use of solo and tutti sections, the ending
Extra tips
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Double-click on a dude to delete him
Click once to mute
Long click to solo (solo occurs on release of mouse button)
Composition starter using iNudge
Which musical concepts can iNudge teach or reinforce?
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Pitch
Rhythm
Texture
Timbre and tone colour
Dynamics
Use of repetition in music
Tempo
Panning
Pentatonic scale
Project: compose your name
Hat-tip to Dr Scott Watson for this concept. Dr Watson is the author of an excellent book titled Using
Technology to Unlock Creativity (OUP).
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Draw your name (or initials) on the first layer. You don’t have to write all of the letters in a
horizontal line - be creative
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Using the bottom layer (drum set), add a rhythmic backing
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Click on the More button for extra options: experiment with altering volume, planning and tempo
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When finished, share it: email to teacher, or copy and save link
Add 2-3 melodic parts to complement your name layer. Make sure each part has contrasting
rhythmic and melodic elements. Remember that less is more!
Extension for quick students: make the pattern longer by clicking the + sign. Copy the original
pattern on one of the layers and then vary it. Vary the other layers as well
Example: http://inudge.net/#bjmr
Extra tips
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While you’re looking at one of your patterns, hover your mouse over another tab on the right to see
that pattern overlaid on the active layer (useful for checking contrast)
Exploring and creating sound with Seaquence Which musical concepts can Seaquence teach or reinforce?
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Tonality
Timbre/tone colour
High/low registers
Contrasting parts
Tempo & dynamics
Legato and staccato
Introduction to composition
Visual representation of sound
Project: experiment with sound and patterns
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Create your first creature (pink is rhythmic, others are
melodic)
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Add notes to the sequencer by clicking on squares (the playback line runs downwards, not across)
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Experiment with tonality by clicking the buttons just beneath the sequencer to add or subtract
pitches
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Add 3-4 other creatures to build up a composition
Experiment with adjusting the wave form by using the envelope (dots on the wave form): create a
staccato pattern or legato pattern
Make sure each part is a contrasting rhythmic or melodic pattern. Remember too, that less is more!
You can listen to all sea creatures simultaneously by clicking on dish picture
Extension: after a Seaquence has been saved and titled, it can be opened and adjusted by others
allowing for collaborative composing. Click on Recent link at top right to see the list of recent
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compositions. Students could open each other’s compositions and add or change them (the
original remains intact).
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When finished, click in the Share box (top right). Give your composition a name and then copy/
save the link
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Example: http://seaquence.org/lt1z
Extra tips
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The volume of each creature can be adjusted: hover your mouse over a creature and use the scroll
wheel to increase or decrease the volume
Isle of Tune
Link: http://isleoftune.com/ (click on the Play button at bottom
right of screen and wait for the game to load…)
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“Build” a musical city using trees, houses and other
items that all make different rhythms and melodies
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Drive a car along the musical street to play your
creation
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Also available as an iPad and iPhone app
Quaver Music
This is a relatively new site with an incredible amount of content and interactive activities. A large
amount of the content is freely accessible and there are additional resources once you’ve paid for Quaver
show episodes which are available on DVD.
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Within the free content, there are a large number of creativity tools that work really well. These include:
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QComposer
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QGrooves
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QStrum
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QDancer
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QBackbeat
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QSynth
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QSoundFX
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Ear IQ
In addition, there are some tools for teaching and learning about music history and styles:
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Metro
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Phone Box
Triptico
A set of fantastic, free resources that you download from www.triptico.co.uk. You can also (optionally)
pay a small fee for access to some extra tools and features. Note: you need to be able to use (or install)
Adobe Air for this app. Check with your IT person at school. You also need to be connected to the
internet for the tool to work.
Here are some suggested ways of using just a few of the tools:
Word magnets
How it works: add text, choose a background (or upload your own image) and your words will be
transformed into moveable “magnets”. Suggestions for use in the music classroom:
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Sorting instruments (right): create word
magnets for different orchestral instruments.
Choose a background that divides the screen
into four sections and ask students to sort
the instruments into their families (brass,
woodwind, strings, percussion)
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Matching: create word magnets for English and Italian tempo words. Choose a background that
divides the screen into two. Students sort the word magnets into the correct section and then
match up the English and Italian words
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Mystery dynamic words (right): set up a
board that has dynamic words and an arrow
background. Students will identify the
dynamics and then order them from softest
to loudest along the arrow. Change the
background colour of the word magnets to
black so that the text is not visible. Ask
students to choose a word magnet (they
select white and then tap on the magnet to
make the text visible). They can explain the
meaning of the dynamic and then move it
into position on the arrow
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Mystery composer timeline: set up a board that has a timeline consisting of years and composer
names - all placed correctly. Change the background colour of the word magnets to black so that
the text is not visible. Ask students to provide answers. Change the colour of the magnet to reveal
the answer and check whether the student was right
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Write lyrics: create magnets from the lyrics to an existing song. Students can reorder them to make
new lyrics, and then compose a melody to go with them (hat tip: http://www.kristianstill.co.uk/
wordpress/2012/03/20/triptico-magnet-poetry/ )
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Ordering: create word magnets for musical terms or items that can be placed in an order (ie. tempo
words: slowest to fastest; dynamics: softest to loudest; instruments: smallest to biggest). Create
word magnets and choose the arrow or steps background. Students place word magnets in order
from left to right along the arrow, or from bottom to top of stairs
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Classify tempo terms: create word magnets for lots of different tempo terms in multiple languages
and choose a background with 2 or 3 sections. Ask students to sort the tempo words into words
that mean fast, words that mean slow and words that are “in the middle”
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Reinforce form #1: create word magnets that each have a different section on them (A, B, A, C,
coda). Listen to a piece of music and ask students to identify the form and arrange the word
magnets in order
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Reinforce form #2: choose a piece that students have been playing/singing. Create word magnets
with different section labels (A, B, C etc) and ask students to rearrange them on the board. Perform
the piece in the new order
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Identify parts #1 (below): upload an instrument image. Students use word magnets to label the
parts of the instrument (ie. guitar - head, body, soundhole, fretboard, string)
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Identify parts #2: upload an image of an orchestra. Create word magnets for each instrumental
family. Students match the word magnets to the instrumental section on the image
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Identify parts #3: upload a music notation image (excerpt from a piece of music). Students use
word magnets to label different elements on the page (title, treble clef, time signature, key
signature and so on)
Match Maker (Triptico Plus only)
How it works: match two cards - one of each colour - Memory-style. Suggestions for use in the music
classroom:
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Put Italian tempo or dynamics words on one side and their matching English definition on the
other (below)
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Working in a key that you specify to the students, put solfa note names on one side and pitches on
the other side ie. in C major Doh = C, So = G and so on
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Working in a key that you specify to the students, put Roman numerals on one side and chord
symbols on the other side ie. in C major I = C, V = G and so on
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Put musical genres on one side and ask students to match them with an artist from the other side
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Put images of orchestral instruments on one side and their English (or German or French) name on
the other
Text Spinner
How it works: a spinner that randomly selects a word or group of words. Suggestions for use in the music
classroom:
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Tempo (below): add dynamics to the spinner. Students learn a given rhythm or melody. Use the
spinner to randomly select a dynamics - students must perform the rhythm/melody at that
dynamic. Can also use tempo words
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History #1: add historical periods to the spinner (Romantic, Baroque, Classical). Use the spinner to
randomly select one and ask students to name a musical characteristic of that period
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History #2: add historical periods to the spinner (Romantic, Baroque, Classical). Use the spinner to
randomly select one and ask students to name a composer from that period
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History #3: add genres of rock/pop music to the spinner (hip-hop, rock ‘n roll, big band, synthpop).
Use the spinner to randomly select a genre and ask students to name an artist from that period
Image Spinner
How it works: a spinner that randomly selects an image. Suggestions for use in the music classroom:
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Use to spark improvisation #1: upload images of icons that represent different body percussion
sounds (clap, stomp, patsch, click). Use the spinner to randomly select a sound upon which
students will improvise a rhythm
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Use to spark improvisation #2: upload images of short chord progressions. Use the spinner to
randomly select a chord progression upon which students will improvise a melody or bassline
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Rhythm reinforcement: upload images of short rhythms. Use the spinner to randomly select a
rhythm which is played by a student, or the entire class
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Sight-singing: upload images of short melodies. Use the spinner to randomly select a melody
which is played by a student, or the entire class
Order Sorter
How it works: allows students to place words or sentences in a specific order. Suggestions for use in the
music classroom:
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Song structure listening exercise: each line could be a separate part of a pop/rock song (intro,
chorus, verse, bridge, coda). Students listen to the song and place the parts in order.
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History #1: each line is a different musical period which students need to put in the correct
historical order
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History #2: each line is a different composer name which students need to put in the correct
historical order
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Program music: each line is a different part of story from a descriptive piece of music. Students
need to place the parts of the story in order (ie. Peter and the Wolf )
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Song words: reinforce lyrics that need to be learnt by heart. Each line is the beginning of a song
section (ie. the first line of the chorus or verse). Students place them in order
Find 10
How it works: students identify 10 items that fit a certain category out of 15 possible answers.
Suggestions for use in the music classroom:
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Find 10 tempo words
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Find 10 words to describe timbre
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Find 10 composers or 10 bands of the 1980s
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Find 10 orchestral instruments
Classroom management tools: class lists, team scores and timers
Triptico also includes an array of useful classroom management tools which are self-explanatory.
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Class timers and Team scores
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Class vote: allows you to input a two or more items (ie. the next song to sing) that students will vote
on
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Student selectors: randomly selects a student from the list that you upload. Has other uses: upload
a list of musical games the class could play, instruments they might play, body percussion sounds
to use for the next rhythm
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Student group: add student names and this tool will randomly group students together into
groups of a specified number (below)
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Explore music history and listening activities
Here are some great online listening and history guides which you might find useful:
Haunting music unit
http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/educators/lessons/grade-5/Haunting_Music.aspx#Overview
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids
Link: http://www.dsokids.com/
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Listen and Learn section contains simplified composer biographies and instrument listening guide
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Games section includes 4 music games for students
New York Phil Kids
Link: http://www.nyphilkids.org/
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Variety of bright, colourful games for students
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Website also includes instrument and composer information
San Francisco Symphony Kids
Link: http://www.sfskids.org/templates/home.asp?pageid=1
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Instruments of the orchestra and music lab sections
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Hansel and Gretel
Link: h(p://crea/vekidseduca/onfounda/on.org/html/handg.php •
Interactive visual story with music
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Also have Scheherazade & Brahms projects
Scheherazade
Link: http://creativekidseducationfoundation.org/html/scheherazade.php
Brahms in 1890’s Vienna
Link: http://creativekidseducationfoundation.org/html/brahms.php
Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
Link: h(p://listeningadventures.carnegiehall.org/ypgto/index.aspx •
Online game for students
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Register/login to save game progress
Dvorak Symphony No.9 (New World)
Link: h(p://listeningadventures.carnegiehall.org/nws/
splash.html •
Listening guide with images and sound. Includes suggested
activities
Tip: if the website area is small, you can zoom in to make it clearer
Peter and the Wolf
http://www.philtulga.com/Peter.html
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Finding resources
Images: Clip Art by Phillip Martin
Link: http://www.phillipmartin.info/clipart/homepage.htm
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Gorgeous array of cartoon images for use by schools
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Images cover all subject areas
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Includes Peter and the Wolf picture, instruments of the orchestra and other
Images: Pixabay (public domain images)
Link: www.pixabay.com
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My favourite place to find images!
Use the search bar at the top
Images: Creative Commons Photographs
Link: www.compfight.com
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Visit the website and type in a search term
Select the Creative Commons setting on the left of
the screen to search for photos that are legal to use
(with attribution to the creator)
More links
There are more links on the Mulitmedia Resources page on my website: Link: http://www.midnightmusic.com.au/multimedia-­‐
resources/
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Tutorials, Support and Networking
Pinterest - Midnight Music
Link: www.pinterest.com/katiewardrobe
visual collections of useful links
each category is known as a “board”. Each link is a “pin”
see my article Using Pinterest to Share Music
Technology Links http://
www.midnightmusic.com.au/2012/08/sharing-musictechnology-links-on-pinterest/
Youtube
Link: http://www.youtube.com/ •
Thousands of tutorials for music soFware and hardware
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Great source of live performances Midnight Music Facebook page
Link: http://www.facebook.com/midnightmusic •
Connect with me and 300+ other music teachers •
Updates on courses, links to ar/cles, music quotes and videos
Music Teachers Facebook page
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/
musicpln/ •
Connect with a large group of music teachers from around the world
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Get quick answers to your music educa/on ques/ons and issues
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Twitter (yes, Twitter)
Link: https://twitter.com/ •
Best form of music educa/on networking I’ve done
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Help from other teachers 24/7
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Great way to connect with others in your niche
Music Education Blogs
Link: h(p://musicednews.com/ •
Huge number of links to music educa/on blogs •
Blogs = online magazine, online newspaper or online journal
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Read about lesson plans, see samples of student work, learn how to use soFware, hear about conferences and much more
Contact Me
Contact me regarding •
Face-­‐to-­‐face training enquiries
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Presenta/ons for your school/network/event •
Online music technology courses
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Music technology-­‐related ques/ons
Email: ka/[email protected] Mobile: 0412 403 704 (Australia)
Website: www.midnightmusic.com.au Facebook: www.facebook.com/midnightmusic Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/ka/ewardrobe 19