Week 7 #SCMTME
noun noun: coding
1.
the process of assigning a code to something for classification or identification.
2.
BIOCHEMISTRY
the process of coding genetically for an amino acid, protein, or characteristic.
Oh, we want the 'verb'...
verb: coding
3. write code for (a computer program).
"most developers code C + + like C"
Like most people, I've heard of the term coding in a computing context however I've never actually engaged in it or seen anyone code before week 7's seminar. We were lucky enough to be taught by a special guest, Rowena Stewart was a familiar face to me as we met at James Humberstone's About Music Education presentation on musical cryptography. Rowena had introduced herself as a software developer and briefly showed some friends and I how a program, called Sonic Pi, is used for live coding designed to support both computing/IT and music lessons in schools.
SONIC PI (Designed for programming and music)
Sonic Pi Cheat Sheet:
Sonic Pi, which uses Ruby programming language, is a great program for teachers to familiarise themselves with as students from k-8 are required to learn some programming language.
bit.ly/RowSonic
Techy Terms covered by James this week:
Battery – from the battery the voltage goes up and down
Oscillate – move back and forth/vibrates in the air
Pitch = frequency (high frequency – faster movement AND lower frequency – lower pitch)
Amplitude - Volume (height of the wave form)
Attack = Note from off to on (sudden attack)
In synthesis, can change the attack of the note
Decay = Immediate drop off after the attack (e.g sfz)
Release = how the note ends
Delay = Echo (change change rate of delay which sounds like a change in pitch)
Filter = Shapes timbre of the sound
Envelope = Enclose or surround the sound (shapes the evolution of the sound)
Synthesiser Basics: Amplitude, Oscillators, Timbre
Power --> Oscillator --> speaker
Pictured above: LittleBits Synth kit (analog synthesiser)
Why use synthesisers in Music Education?
1. It's customisable, meaning students can choose to manipulate the sounds as they wish, using a combination of filters, oscillators, sequencers, envelopes and delays.
Check out this video which uses a combination of the above ways of changing the 'attack' of the note:
Korg Little Bits Synth Kit I Reverb Demo Video
2. Learning with synthesisers in year 11 helps students in music 1 (popular music in the aural paper often includes synthesisers in the music) identify and explain in greater detail, the affects of various filters in synthesised sounds.
3. It's fun and supports the learning of kinaesthetic learners as well as auditory and visual learners!!
Reference List:
Dictionary.com. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.dictionary.com/
(2016, October 28). Retrieved November 26, 2019, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTJCW8thTQk.
(2018, July 5). Retrieved November 26, 2019, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3udLCvoCC0.