Connecting music and Coding

Purpose & objective

The teachers who come to this session should learn:
-How coding and music are connected
-How to combine coding and music into their lessons in a way that works well.
-About tools that make it easier to put these ideas together.

I'll show examples of student-created examples from each activity and discuss how students created them, including how the lessons were structured and paced. The attendee resources include complete lesson plans and materials to supplement the lessons (songs, worksheets, and project examples). I'll also describe how to modify these lessons for various students' levels of musical and coding comprehension.

There are three technology tools we’ll use in this session.
- Song Maker
- The music extension codes in Scratch
-Mechanical music boxes

Both Song Maker and Scratch are freely available online.The music boxes must be purchased, and I explain how to do so in the resources for attendees. I will demonstrate how Song Maker works as well as the music extension in Scratch and I will have a mechanical music box available for demonstration.

Outline

Introduction (15 minutes): The session will start with a discussion of how coding and music are related. For example, sequencing is important in both music and programming. I will also explain how these lessons were developed and the importance of cross curricular lessons.

Song Maker activity (15 minutes): I will demonstrate two fun tasks that help students see how coding music in Song Maker is a lot like using binary code. In the first task, students use Song Maker to code different shapes and describe the sound they make. In the next task, students fill in the missing notes from simple melodies.

Create an orchestra using Scratch (15 minutes): This activity is a clear example of how coding can be used to make music. I'll show how to use Scratch's music application to make an orchestra. First, students use Scratch to learn how to code a simple tune. Then, they code the sprite to move to the ryhythm of the song. They complete the orchestra by creating additional sprites that play different instruments.

Music Box coding (15 minutes): Students can learn about the background of computers and how binary code works by coding music boxes. I'll explain how music boxes work and how to punch holes in a paper strip to make a simple tune that a music box can play.

During the talk, I will engage with questions from the audience and demonstrate how to effectively utilize the tools I've supplied in the attendee resources. Additionally, I will impart valuable tips and tricks accumulated from years of teaching these lessons.

Supporting research

Combining music with coding increases student engagement by making learning more enjoyable and relatable. Research also shows that it improves students' mathematical understanding mathematical elements like patterns and sequences that are in both music and coding. Additionally, this interdisciplinary approach enhances creative thinking and offers a broader understanding of both subjects, aligning with modern educational goals.

https://phys.org/news/2023-06-combining-math-music-higher-scores.html
https://serc.carleton.edu/econ/interdisciplinary/why.html
https://shorturl.at/btFQR