Lesson 2: Understanding sound and rhythm
Objective: Students will learn about sound waves, rhythm, and tempo in Soundation. Materials: Computers with internet access, Soundation accounts, speakers, and a metronome (Soundation’s built-in or a physical one).
Activities:
- 1Sound basics (15 mins):
- Briefly explain sound waves, frequency, amplitude, and how these relate to pitch and volume.
- Demonstration using a synth oscillator in Soundation.
- 2Rhythm and tempo (20 mins):
- Explain rhythm and tempo with a metronome.
- Demonstrate how to change the tempo in Soundation.
- Create a simple drum pattern using the Beatmaker.
- 3Hands-on practice (20 mins):
- Students create their own drum patterns and experiment with different tempos.
- 4Discussion (5 mins):
- Share student creations and discuss how tempo affects the feel of a track.
Assignment:
Develop a 16-bar loop that includes at least one rhythmic element created with the Beatmaker, and one melodic element created with an audio loop.
Tips:
- Sound: Use Audio loops from the sound library to demonstrate audio waveforms.
- Rhythm: Use the pre-made Beatmaker beats from the “Beats” section of the sound library as a starting point.
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