“First
Composition” is the title of my first creation on Soundation. I did not
intentionally write it with an idea in mind, but listening to the finished
product reminds me of summer shenanigans; random dance parties to break up
housework, fun weekends with friends, and returning to school rejuvenated in
the fall. When creating this piece, I wanted to start small and build toward a
climax before returning to original idea. To keep it as simple as possible, I
stayed within the key of C to ensure clarity in sound, and I used several of
the same clips in different octaves and voices.
Soundation
was an overwhelming program at first, for I had never experimented with one
like it before. The plethora of lists, types of sounds clips, and various ways
to overlap and create sounds was brand new to me. It was tough to find a good
starting point when I first opened the program. However, this program turned
out to be fun to use! The lists of free MIDI and electronic clips helped me to
start a foundation for my piece. As I began to form an ideal sound in my head,
I was able to create the bass and melody lines using the instrument channel. It
was exciting to hear the song in my head be performed on Soundation!
My
students would love this program! Though some of them may have trouble finding
a good starting point (like I did), I believe they would be able to find a
starting idea in the free files. I imagine them creating new beats and mixes
using the various tools, and I know that they would share their masterpieces
with each other. My favorite tool to use in this program, so far, is the
instrument channel, for it allows me to I create new melodies and bass lines
for various instruments. My students may also enjoy this tool, because it would
allow them to be creative and mix their own ideas with those included in the program
(through the free files). I am positive that my students, especially my middle
school students, would experiment with the extra features in Soundation, like
the filters, and would create lengthy, unique compositions.
If
I were to use Soundation in my classroom, I think I would use it as a tool to
teach balance in a band. When creating lines of music in this program, whether
they use MIDI, electronic, or brand new lines, the composer can change the volume
of individual lines to bring out some more than others. This could be a great
way to teach overall balance. I could create a short piece to demonstrate,
changing the volume of individual lines as the piece plays to show students how
one exaggerated volume can change the sound of the entire piece. Students could
then create their own short piece, focusing on the overall balance of the
composition.
I enjoyed your piece so much! You had so many different elements but the entire piece fit together so nicely when all together. Thank you for an excellent post.
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