Projects
This list contains multiple beginning ideas on how to utilize tinkering with music through technology within the classroom (some using the technology highlighted under Tech Tools and some using other technologies), and corresponding Virginia SOLs and National Core Art Standards potentially addressed through these activities.
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Pick a piece of music where students can work in small chamber groups. The teacher will set guidelines and students will explore as a chamber group different styles and interpretations of the music on their own, which is a form of tinkering. Then they will come together as a band to fully assemble the piece.
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Potential Virginia SOLs addressed: 1.15, 5.14, MIB. 16
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Potential Illinois SOLs addressed: MU:Cn10.1.4, MU:Cn10.1.11
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Potential Core Arts Standards addressed: #10, #11
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Eric Rosenbaum, the co-inventor of Makey Makey says “The world is your construction kit.” Encourage students to create their own instruments in a variety of ways using Scratch and Makey Makey. Have them perform using their creations, and then comment on pros and cons of each others’ performances.
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Potential Virginia SOLs addressed: 5.6, 7.6, 3.13
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Potential Illinois SOLs addressed: MU:Pr5.1.7, MU:Pr5.1.1
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Potential Core Arts Standards addressed: #5, #6
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Ask students to tinker with rhythms and different noises on traditional instruments. They can create different beats and experiment with timbres that different instruments make (ex. Tapping on the cello creates a hollow backbeat).
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Ask students to create grooves and backbeats for instruments to play along to; they can use loops and different apps to do this (ex. Garage Band).
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Warm up and play scales/songs to backbeats the students have made.
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Potential Virginia SOLs addressed: E1.6, HII.5
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Potential Illinois SOLs addressed: MU:Re7.1, MU:Pr4.1.4
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Potential Core Arts Standards addressed: #4, #7
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Improvise over backbeats using guidelines set by teacher.
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Potential Virginia SOLs addressed: HG.4, HGII.13, EI.16
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Potential Illinois SOLs addressed: MU:Cr1.1, MU:Cr2.1
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Potential Core Arts Standards addressed: #1, #2
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These projects are geared for instrumental and instrumentally-mediated music learning.
These projects are geared for vocal and vocally-mediated music learning.
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Build chords by holding hands with one another in “Makey Makey circles”.
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Use dance and movement to make music; examples include clapping hands with other people to create different sounds using programs they developed on Scratch and Makey Makey.
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Ask students to convey their own stories through music that they create.
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Potential Virginia SOLs addressed: 1.8, 1.9, HG.2
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Potential Illinois SOLs addressed: MU:Cr1.1, MU:Cn10.1
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Potential Core Arts Standards addressed: #1, #10
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Create songs that convey emotions based on simple ideas like pictures; these pictures could be famous events in history that they are learning about in school.
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Potential Virginia SOLs addressed: E1.20, 6.10, 8.10
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Potential Illinois SOLs addressed: MU:Cn10.1.K, MU:Cn11.1.7,
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Potential Core Arts Standards addressed: #10, #11
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Create a virtual choir using Bandhub. This would involve creating music with others in the class and contributing to the projects of others.
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Create remixes of songs using Garage Band.
These projects are geared for general music settings
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Create music using unconventional items like salt shakers, pans, and other miscellaneous items.
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Potential Virginia SOLs addressed: K.8, 1.9, 2.6
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Potential Core Arts Standards addressed: #1, #5
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Ask students to generate their own music making experiences to share and present to the community.
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Ask students to share music they have developed with their peers and allow them to ask questions and add input to help stretch their abilities.
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Use popular songs to begin discussions and lessons. Teachers can use these as introductions or to help develop basic music skills like rhythm and repeating back melodies and bass lines.