Sonic Pi Composition Lesson Plan #5: Debugging, optimisation, and efficiency

“Writing a tune is like sculpting. You get four or five notes, you take one out and move one around, and you do a bit more and eventually, as the sculptor says ‘In that rock there is a statue, we have to go find it.” –John Williams

Lesson Overview:

The aim of this lesson is to (1) reflect on the sounds each student has chosen (individually and as a group) and their projects fitness for purpose for their chosen film(s), (2) hand in individual and group projects.

Contents:

Introduction: What did we cover in the last lesson?

5 minutes

Activity 1: Class discussion on examples of film music about topical issues

10 minutes

Activity 2: Recap of Sonic Pi commands and student time for group compositions

30 minutes

Activity 3: Student time for the development of individual soundscape compositions and final hand in

30 minutes

Wrap-up Activity: Quiz and reflection

15 minutes

Learning Outcomes:

Key concepts

Sonic Pi syntax to be taught this lesson

Learning Outcomes

Music:

-using 6 music elements (pitch, texture etc) to give feedback on each other’s composition

Programming:

-recap of any gaps

(none)

Music:

-All students will develop and finalise musical ideas for both individual and group projects

-All students will adhere to the projects length constraints of under 2 minutes

Programming:

-Lessons 1-4

-All students will adhere to the projects length constraints of under 2 minutes

Introduction: What did we cover in the last lesson (5 minutes)

Activity Overview: Every lesson in this unit of work starts with refreshing knowledge and identifying gaps in understanding from the previous lesson.

Student Activity:

  1. For three minutes, students are to reflect on the code they saved at the end of the previous lesson

Activity 1: Class discussion on examples of film music about topical issues (10 minutes)

Activity Overview: Students are to discuss and reflect on the selected video’s music and its fitness for purpose.

Suggested links and resources to facilitate activities:



Student Activity (20 minutes):

  1. Play each video above
  2. Discuss the music used in groups
  3. Discuss as a class making notes on the board of the common characteristics of good music
  4. All students to spend 2 minutes listening and reflecting on how their projects fit with their chosen film

Notes to the Student:

  • Everyone’s ideas are valid on what music is a good fit

  • Students might have to take out sounds rather than put more in → notice the example videos are very simple and repetitive

Activity 2: Recap of Sonic Pi commands and student time for individual compositions (30 minutes)

Activity Overview: Extended time to complete and hand in individual compositions.

Student Activity (25 minutes):

  1. Students to spend 25 minutes on their individual composition
  2. Leave 5 minutes to ensure you’ve saved your final project properly

Notes to the Student:

  • Students can work on their group project after 10 minutes if they feel they’ve finished their individual composition

Activity 3: Student time for the development of individual projects and final hand in (30 minutes)

Activity Overview: Extended time to complete and hand in individual compositions.

Student Activity (15 minutes):

  1. Students to spend 25 minutes on their group project
  2. Leave 5 minutes to ensure you’ve saved your final group project properly

Notes to the Student:

  • Students can go back to group work after 20 minutes if they feel they’ve finished their individual composition

Wrap-up activity: Quiz and reflection (15 minutes)

Activity Overview: All students to complete a quiz containing 10 questions on music and programming -  as well as a few reflective questions on this lesson (all students will complete this each lesson).

Student Activity (10 minutes):

  • Students individually complete the quiz and reflection on the key concepts in this lesson within 10 minutes linked here.

Administrative Details

Contact info

petriechris@gmail.com 

Credits

Developed by Chris Petrie.

Last updated on

27/06/2018

Copyright info

The content of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License, and code samples are licensed under the Apache 2.0 License.