Lesson 5.04: EarSketch User-Defined Functions
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to...
- Define and identify: abstraction, section, A-B-A form
- Create and apply user-defined functions to create songs with complicated form
Materials/Preparation
- Do Now
- Lab
- 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
| Duration | Description |
|---|---|
| 5 Minutes | Do Now |
| 10 Minutes | Lesson |
| 35 Minutes | Lab |
| 5 Minutes | Debrief |
Instructor's Notes
- Do Now
- Students should be given time to read unit 4 of the EarSketch documentation.
- Students should answer the questions included in the do now and be prepared to discuss them as a class.
- Lesson
- Call on students to discuss the answers to the questions from the Do Now.
- Recap the following key concepts from the reading:
- Section: generally refers to several measures of music (often 2, 4, 8, or 16 measures) that sound like a single musical unit.
- A-B-A Form: a song divided into three sections:
- Section A: measures 1-4.
- Section B: measures 5-7. Features contrasting sounds to Section A.
- Section A (repeated): measures 7-10.
- Ask students about returning the measure number. Go over the concept of passing around the measure number and make sure students understand how it would be helpful. (Since it allows you to change how long/short sections are without updating every function)
- Lab
- Demo a song with A-B-A Form: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSZxmZmBfnU
- Students create their own song with the form ABABAB.
- Debrief
- Talk about any of the phrases or issues the students had.
- If time allows, give students the opportunity to demo their songs for the class.
Accommodation/Differentiation
Students that are moving quickly could explore and create alternative song forms (ex. AABA).