Lesson 5.02: EarSketch Music

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to...

• Define and identify: rhythm, beat, tempo, measures, setEffect(), makeBeat()
• Play beats using the functions
• Loop through items in a list
• Be aware of the scope of variables during iteration

Materials/Preparation

• Do Now
• Lab - EarSketch Music
• EarSketch Editor
• Associated Reading in EarSketch
• Read through the do now, lesson, and lab so that you are familiar with the requirements and can assist students

Pacing Guide

Instructor's Notes

1. Do Now
   • Students should be given time to read unit 2 of the EarSketch documentation.
   • Students should answer the questions included in the do now and be prepared to discuss them as a class.
2. Lesson
   • Call on students to discuss the answers to the questions from the Do Now.
   • Recap the following key concepts from the reading:
     • Rhythm: describing how the music moves through time.
     • A beat is the basic unit of time in music. If you have ever clapped along to a song, you were probably clapping on each beat. So how long does a beat last? The length depends on the overall speed of the song, called the tempo.
     • Tempo is measured in beats per minute (bpm). If we are clapping at 60 bpm, then each beat lasts one second. At 120 bpm, each beat takes half a second. The higher the bpm, the faster the song, the shorter the duration of each beat.
     • Beats are grouped into measures. In EarSketch, measures always have four beats.
     • setEffect(): add an effect to a track. Takes parameters: track number, effect name, effect parameter, effect value
     • makeBeat(): instead of composing at the measure-level, we can work at the note-level. Takes parameters: clip name, track number, measure number, beat string

3. Lab

   • Follow the EarSketch instructions in the lab to use the makeBeat() function
   • Create a simple song with 2 uses of fitMedia(), 2 uses of makeBeat() and 1 use of an effect.

4. Debrief

   • Talk about the new functions learned today, and go over any questions about data types and using strings.

Accommodation/Differentiation

Students can use looping and if statements to their song as an extension activity to make their songs more complex.

Students will likely bring a wide range of background knowledge around music and the related terminology. Offer additional support to those students that are less familiar with the terms being introduced in this lesson.