Blog (11.11.17): Back to Makey Makey as a way to be able to play multiple sounds in an easy way. I'm programming my loops from my composition and developed 18 motif "loops" into Apple loops, then downloaded these as individual MP3s to program into Scratch. I have to now consider how many I can actually use on the Makey Makey board, and how to program them in so in geek fashion, started an excel sheet to manage my program loops. It does say you can use 18 sounds, playing up to about 6 at a time pending the computer functionality, however the space and arrow "click actions" are duplicated on the back and Scratch can't differentiate between which "space" key it is - which really limits only to 11 sound click options.

Musically I now have to consider, the length of my loops, will they all fit together when played, which combinations of the 18 would be best if I have to limit to 11. These are now musical choices blending with technology! The more experiments the more problem solving skills I'm tapping into (Otondo, 2016). As Blikstein & Worsle note, mirroring work in makerspaces should be enjoyable but not "devoid of frustration and difficulty" (2016, p. 89). What would be the learning in that!

Blikstein, P. & Worsle, M. (2016). Children Are Not Hackers: Building a Culture of

Powerful Ideas, Deep Learning, and Equity in the Maker Movement. In K. Peppler, E. Halverson, Y. B. & Kafai (Eds.) Makeology: Makerspaces as Learning Environments (Volume 1). Abingdon, UK: Taylor and Francis.

Otondo, F. (2016). Music technology, composition teaching and employability skills.

Journal of Music, Technology & Education, 9(3), 229-240.