Activity #9 - Virtual Boomwhackers

We have all used Boomwhackers before in class. Now you can try using Boomwhackers on your computer or tablet!

Click on the Virtual Boomwhackers link here. Experiment with the sounds by clicking on the various boomwhackers. This works best on a touchscreen. Boomwhacker sheet music is great for beginners because it is colour-coded!

Below are three beginner songs to start with. Have fun and Good luck! Feel free to share a video of yourself playing the virtual Boomwhackers!

Activity 8- Learn how to make electronic music using an amazing piece of software called SoundTrap

Activity 7- Learn about the history of Hip Hop while trying out some DJ 'turntables'!

For the anniversary of the birth of Hip-Hop a few years ago, Google created a fun DJ activity. It includes authentic records that were used to create beats in the early days of Hip Hop.

1) Put on headphones, as this activity can be annoying for other people in the room :)

2) Go to https://www.google.com/doodles/44th-anniversary-of-the-birth-of-hip-hop

3) Click on the fullscreen icon on the right side of the page.

4) Follow the tutorial.

The basics:

-use the slider in the middle to mix between the two records that are playing. If the slider is all the way to one side, you will only hear that record. If it is in the middle, you will hear both records equally. DJs slide away from a record before changing it.

-Slide the slider on the side of the record crate up and down to look through the records. Click on a record to pick it up. Then click on one of the turntables to put it down.

-In real life, the tempos of each song are different. This means that the DJ would have to speed up or slow down the rotation speeds of the record to make them match. Modern DJs can use technology to automatically make the tempos match. Click BPM (beats per minute) in the top right corner if you want to TURN OFF the auto tempo match and try to do it manually. It is not easy. Note that when you speed up or slow down a record, you also raise or lower the pitch

-Click on the centre of a record to stop it. Click on the black part of the record to 'scratch' it.

-Also, when mixing two records that have pitched instruments in them, they need to be IN THE SAME KEY to sound good together. So DJs would need to choose records that sound good together in terms of pitch. For each record, you can click on the 'i' to get information. Listen to the difference between two records in the SAME key and two records in DIFFERENT keys.

Have fun!

Activity 6- Create a song in Chrome MusicLab Songmaker

For this activity, you are going to create a song using a simple visual interface called Songmaker.

1) Put on headphones, as this activity can be annoying for other people in the room :)

2) Go to https://mixlab.withgoogle.com/jam

3) Make Music!

-Click in the squares to colour them in and create sounds. Click on a coloured square to erase it. The lower the square, the lower the pitch. Notice that the sounds correspond to a major scale and the colours match the colours of the Boomwhackers!

-You can change the instrument by clicking on the word 'Marimba'

-The bottom two rows with the dots in them are for percussion (drums). There are two sounds for each percussion instrument (high and low). You can change the percussion instrument by clicking on the word 'Electronic'

-Adjust the speed of the song using the 'Tempo' slider.

-Change the length of the song in the settings area

4) Experiment with your song until you find something you really like. When you have your ideal song, click 'Save' in the bottom right corner. Then copy the link. Email me the link and I will share your mix on this site!

Have fun!

Activity 5- Make your own music mix!

For this activity, you are going to use voice commands to create your own electronic music mix!

1) Put on headphones, as this activity can be annoying for other people in the room :)

2) Go to https://mixlab.withgoogle.com/jam

3) Click on the microphone and give voice commands to add an instrument to your mix.

For example "ADD ELECTRIC GUITAR" "ADD JAZZ PIANO" "ADD BANJO" etc.

Remove instruments by saying "REMOVE DRUMS", "REMOVE FLUTE" etc.

Change the volume of each instrument: "MAKE DRUMS LOUDER", "MAKE BANJO SOFTER"

Speed up or slow down the song: "GO FASTER", "GO SLOWER"

4) Experiment with your mix until you find something you really like. When you have your ideal mix, click 'Share This Mix' in the bottom right corner. Then click on the paperclip symbol to copy the link. Email me the link and I will share your mix on this site!

Have fun!