Creating a practice audio file for home

Jamie Moyer
moyerj@lafayette.edu
Lafayette College

TI:ME Technology Areas Addressed:

Electronic Musical Instruments
Music Production
Instructional Software

Level:

High School

Class:

Instrumental

Equipment:

Macs running OSX (Jaguar or above), GarageBand, iTunes, keyboard controller

Duration:

30 Minutes

Prior Knowledge and Skills:

Familiar with basic chord reading and keyboard skills for playing melody of reensleeves.ä

NAfME Standard of 1994 Addressed:

NAfME Standard of 1994: Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.

NAfME 2014: Performing 

NAfME Standard of 1994: Composing and Arranging Music within specified guidelines.
NAfME Standard of 1994: Reading and notating music.

NAfME 2014: Creating 

Materials:

Printed score of your practice document. I am using a very simple arrangement of the A section of “Greensleeves” for this lesson.

Objectives:

Students are creating a short arrangement with predetermined parameters
Students will be able to export file and convert in iTunes
Students will be able to burn CD for practice in iTunes

Procedures:

Have students open program (GarageBand / DP)
Enter basic drum track (in layers) in 4/4 choosing specified drum set instrument
Record chords in string/keyboard track of their choice
Record melody in flute, trumpet or violin
Mute solo track
Leave other 2 tracks
Open iTunes and set preferences to aiff (or wav)
Export to iTunes as aiff or wav
Repeat step 7 again but DO NOT mute solo track
Burn both tracks to CD in iTunes
When practicing at home, track 1 will have no solo, track 2 will have solo

Evaluation:

Assess appropriate styles for drum part
Assess combination of instruments
Check student audio files in iTunes prior to burning
Check correct file type (aiff or wav) in iTunes before burning.

Follow Up:

Have students expand by adding instruments and B section of Greensleeves
Continue with finer adjustments on balance and panning as desired

Items to Purchase:

Small Mac lab with iLife 05 installed, must have Combo or Superdrives installed.
$749-$899 per station
Keyboard Controllers (M Audio Keystation 49e or similar)
$99-$149 per station
Headphones
$49-89 per station

When budget should be submitted:

budget submitted 1-2 years in advance or per school guidelines