Digital @ The Arts Unit Creative Classes
Electronic sounds
Lesson 1: Discover and listen
Experiment and compose music with technology
Student music resource developed by The Arts Unit
Years 5 to 8 music
What will I learn?
You will:
classify instruments into families
discover electronic instruments and sounds
listen to electronic instruments
research an electronic instrument.
Before you begin
You will need:
access to the internet and a device to watch the videos on.
- Classify
How do you categorise and classify instruments?
Watch the video, then answer the following questions:
How do you categorise instruments?
What are the different categories or 'families'?
What are some examples of instruments in the electronic (or 'electrophone') family?
How musical instruments are classified
Duration: 03:092. Discover
Electronic music can include:
Musical instruments which use electricity to create and control sound. For example, the theremin and synthesizer.
Instruments which are made louder using electronics. For example, an electric guitar or an electronic drum kit.
Music or sounds which are made using technology. For example, using computer software and apps.
Scroll through the photo carousel to discover examples of electronic music instruments and technology.
3. Listen
Watch the following 6 videos to listen to different electronic instruments and answer the following questions:
Which electronic instrument did you like the best? Why?
Which electronic instrument did you think is the most unique and interesting? Explain your answer.
Are there similarities between any of the instruments?
1. Theremin
How to Play the Air on a Theremin with Carolina Eyck
Duration: 4:292. Drum machine
Korg DDM-110 Drum Machine Sound Demo
Duration: 1:263. Synthesizer
Jurassic Park - performed by Marco Cerbella - J. Williams (D-Deck)
Duration: 4:044. Launchpad
Star Wars Imperial March Launchpad Remix
Duration: 2:065. Maschine audio station
ASADI - Harry Potter Remix
Duration: 2:086. GarageBand software
Wonder Woman theme cover on iOS (GarageBand)
Duration: 1:484. Electronic instrument study
Independently or in groups, complete an instrument study.
Select 1 electronic instrument that you find interesting and would like to learn more about.
You could research:
when, where and who invented it
how the instrument makes sound
what it looks and sounds like
famous musicians who use this instrument
other interesting facts.
You could share your information:
in a speech
by preparing a visual presentation
in a performance
by writing an information report
by creating an informative picture book.
