A K-8 Nexus Between Music Creation, Sound Design, and Computer Programming
This interactive session explores an elementary nexus between music creation, sound design, and computer programming. The session begins with a brief presentation on some of the ways the kids I work with explore music creation, sound design, and computer programming, all within K-8 computer programming classes. Following this brief presentation, we will work together or independently to modify the music, sound, or code from a variety of example projects. The session will end with a discussion on what could be learned in a project like this and how we might implement similar projects in the settings we facilitate. A laptop is recommended for this session.
The link above is a .pdf file of the slideshow used for this presentation. All media (videos, audio clips, websites, etc.) that were included in the original are now images with active links; meaning, you can click on the image and it will send you to the original source material.
Three ways to explore this nexus:
Scratch
Scratch is a block-based programming language developed by MIT and used by elementary through professional programmers to create and share media arts programs. I, and the kids I work with, have developed a variety of music and sound programs in Scratch. All of these projects are geared toward an elementary and above level of understanding music && coding.
Click here to check out some of the music and sound projects (and more) I have developed.
Click here to check out some of the music and sound projects the kids I work with have developed.
Click here to check out a music and sound studio that Jesse Rathgeber and myself curate.
Sonic Pi
Sonic Pi is a platform that uses the programming language "Ruby" to create live music through code. All of these projects are geared toward an elementary and above level of understanding music && coding.
Click here for Sonic Pi resources and projects.
Swift
Swift is Apple's new(ish) programming language used to develop various apps and software for iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. In the K-8 coding classes I work with, I have developed a variety of apps and resources that guide kids through app making processes. Of the apps that focus on music and sound, these projects are geared toward an advanced elementary and above level of understanding music && coding.
Click here for Swift resources and projects.
Check out apps like "Beatbox Machine", "Shakey Shakey", and "Music Player" to explore the nexus between music && coding.
Additional Resources
The following lists provide a direct feed of users who discuss the various topics that pertain to this presentation:
The following links provide videos related to various topics that pertain to this presentation: