In the workshop this week we learned bout the music programme Garageband.  It is ready equipped with a sound library full of bass lines, melodies and mounter melodies, meaning that all the user has to do is piece the parts they want together to create the sound they want.

Here is a clip of the short 8 bar phrase I created, first by starting of with a basic dance beat, then adding synths and a trumpet melody.

“There are some simple and amazing programmes that allow children to compose exciting music with little or no instruction” (Page, 1995 p.26)

I thought this was a great tool as it allows anyone, no matter how in depth or how little music knowledge they have, to create a piece of music. It also allows children who may not play an instrument but still have an interest in music, to express their musical creativity through technology. It also developed children’s independent learning, as once they have been shown how to work the programme, the rest is up too them. There are endless possibilities for the type of music they can create.

I personally feel that the current music curriculum should be updated. Although there are many children who have an interest in learning classical music and traditional composition, there will be some pupils who have more of an interest in dance and electronic music, or who want to learn more about the production of music rather than learning to play an instrument. Therefore I think it is important that teachers vary how they teach music, and it would be beneficial to introduce programmes like Garageband into the curriculum.

References

Page, N. (1995) Music as a way of knowing. Maine: Stenhouse Publishers