GarageBand Music

Video 1

Points: 20

 

Objective: Students will create a 45 second piece of music in GarageBand using both loops and MIDI instruments. Students can enter their music in the class “GarageBand Hero Contest.” 

 

Assignment length: Approx. one day.

 

Procedure:

Watch these tutorials:

 

Tutorial on using loops (25 minutes)

 

Izzy and Roman Makin’ Hip Hop (2:50)

 

Website with GarageBand tutorials. 

 

Open GarageBand and create a new project titled with your last name hyphen music.  Example: Jones_music

 

Click on the “Clock” icon to see the timeline in minutes and seconds, instead of bars.

 

Create a MIDI instrument and select an instrument sound from either Synth Pads or Synth Textures.  Use Musical Typing to create the sounds.    

 

Next browse the loops (click the picture of the eye).  Drag a loop into the timeline below your MIDI track. 

 

Build a series of loops into something that sounds musical.

 

Open the disclose triangle to adjust the audio levels.  Fade music out at end.

 

 

When complete, save your work.  Then go to Upper pull-down menus and select Share.  The select “Export Song to Disk…” Select pull-down Compress Using and select MP3 Encoder.  Audio Settings: High.  Then select the location where you want the file, probably the top level of the Music folder.   

 

Copy that file and put it into the appropriate folder on the Video server. 

 

Grading Criteria:

  1. Music begins with a with a MIDI instrument from either Synth Pads or Synth Textures (4 points)
  2. Uses at least five loops. (4 points)
  3. Music does not sound repetitious. (3 points)
  4. The overall effect is musical. (3 Points)
  5. Music is exactly 45 seconds. (2 points)
  6. Music fades out at end (1 point)
  7. Export file as lastname_music.aif (2 points)
  8. Music submitted  in the proper folder as .aif file on Video server as lastname_music.aif (1 points)

 

Contest:

To enter your music in the GarageBand Hero Contest, you need to sign up with your teacher. Entered work will be played during class and all students will vote on their top three.  1st Place gets 10 extra credit points and 2nd and 3rd get 5 extra credit points.  Points will be added to the grade for this assignment.  Winners may also receive free audio production software (for Windows).