Your mission is to make a "sonic collage" inspired by an abstract painting. This is a great opportunity to get into the Learning Zone. Mistakes and accidents and things that you would normally consider to be bad or terrible are actually exactly what we're going for.
Step 1: Take a moment to ponder: What might this painting sound like? Describe the painting in a single word. Share that word with your group. This word can serve as your inspiration for the sonic collage that you’ll create. Option: Write this word in your band’s slides on the “Make Something” slide.
Step 2: Open the “Make Something” Soundtrap studio you share with your band.
Step 3: Create a rhythm in the “Rhythm” track within your assigned lane. Listen to another bandmate's rhythm track and share some KSHH feedback.
Step 4: Create anything on the “Keyboard” track within your assigned lane. Listen to another bandmate's keyboard track and share some KSHH feedback.
Step 5: Record anything with the microphone track within your assigned lane. You can record your voice, an instrument, even your dog barking. Listen to another bandmate's microphone track and share some KSHH feedback.
Step 6: Play your band’s completed sonic collages. Each player repeats their word from Step 1. Did your word inspire your creative process? Give KSSH feedback to each player for their collage.
Step 7: When all players have completed steps 3-6, someone in the band will share your work into your band’s slides.
Introduce the activity and confirm all players understand the steps.
In Step 1, the key is for each student to discover a word that will provide an aesthetic for the sonic collage, (e.g. “chaotic” or “colorful”). This word provides intentionality/direction, and will be a discussion point as the finished work is presented.
Nominate a player to share their word. Encourage them to explain their choice. Each player’s word can be captured in the band’s slides, on the “Make Something” slide.
Nominate the next person to give KSHH to the previous player, and then present their word, and repeat until everyone has a turn. This Step is a great opportunity to discuss aesthetics, individual’s tastes, creative license, and respect.
Step 2: Give students the invite/link to their band’s studio, and make sure students are in the correct Soundtrap studio and active, (able to interact and hear). Important: Remind players that the goal of this activity is to create a sonic collage. The weirder/stranger the better. Have fun learning what the Soundtrap studio tools can do, and don’t worry about making something that sounds good! (This is also a wonderful opportunity to discuss what is music, and why.) Review how to use player ‘lanes.’ Position and activate the looper over a lane. Now it's students’ turn to try it. Students give a thumbs up when ready to continue - and can post in the chat if they need any help.
Step 3: Create Rhythm. Share your screen with the class as you demonstrate how to create a rhythm using the Pattern Builder tool in the “Rhythm” track. We recommend you work with a band to demonstrate how to follow these steps.
Step 4: Create with the keyboard instrument in your “Melody” track. Note: There are three ways to play the keyboard instrument in Soundtrap: 1) use your mouse to click on the keys of virtual keyboard in the “Instrument” tab, 2) type on your computer keyboard (see the letter/number names on the virtual keyboard image), and 3) ‘write’ notes by using the pencil tool in the “Piano Roll” tab. Today we’ll demonstrate option #2.
Step 5: Record anything in your “Microphone” track. Share your screen with the class as you demonstrate how to record into a microphone. We recommend you work with a band to demonstrate how to follow these steps.
Students will listen to their bandmates’ collages and give KSHH feedback (verbally, in the Soundtrap chat window, or in the band's slides).
Invite each band to update their Google slides with their sonic collage piece and to give their bandmates KSHH feedback on the next slide. To export an mp3 from Soundtrap, select File>Export>Export as mp3.
Exemplary (5)
Proficient (4): 5 of 6complete
Progressing (3): 3 of 6 complete
Emerging (2): At least 1 complete
Beginning (1): 0 complete
Video: Soundtrap Patterns Beatmaker, by Michael Goldschmidt, YouTube.com, June 2019
Video: Using the Keyboard in Soundtrap, by Julia Edwards, YouTube.com, April 2020
Video: Recording with a Microphone in Soundtrap, by MusicEdTech, YouTube.com, March 2020