COMPOSE MUSIC
The music composition programs listed here are just a few of the many available music composition programs on the market that are designed to help you write, record, edit and publish music.
Software |
Description |
License |
Platform |
| GarageBand | Perform, record & create music | Commercial | Mac |
| Cubase SX | Music creation & production studio | Commercial | Mac, PC |
| Finale 2006b | Music notation & score writing software | Commercial | Mac, PC |
| Sibelius | Write, edit, playback & publish music | Commercial | Mac, PC |
| FruityLoops | Music, DJ and loop software | Commercial | PC |
| Band in a Box | Perform, record & create music | Commercial | Mac, PC |
The varied capabilities of music composition software include, but are not limited to the following: multi-track recording, post-production editing tools, playing software instruments using a USB keyboard, onscreen keyboard or computer keyboard, create loops of music or select already made music loops, mixing, online sharing, edit and repair tracks, music notation, create podcasts, make sound effects and jingles, add an original music score to your movies. These music composition tools can be used across the curriculum and in varied grade levels.
- Applied Technology: Music composition tools in applied technology can help students communicate community and environmental issues through original music that can emotionally impact the community and workplace when shared.
- Art: Music composition tools in the arts can help students learn about music notation, software instruments, and production. They can express their knowledge of music concepts through writing and recording of their own original compositions. Students learn post-production skills as they use the features of editing, repairing and adding special effects to their music compositions. They can publish their own musical scores to a wide audience.
- Foreign Language: Music composition tools in foreign language can help students improve their speaking and writing skills in the target language as they create their own original music and voice recordings that reflect their study of a foreign language and culture.
- Health and Physical Education: Music composition software in health and physical education can help students inform and motivate an audience through their writing and performing of a song about health and fitness issues.
- Language Arts: Music composition tools in language arts can help students put music to lyrics and poems that they wrote. By creating their own original music score to accompany a reading of a story or record a voiceover for a story they can better understand the theme and power of the words.
- Mathematics: Music composition software in math can help students understand fractions through music notation.
- Science: Music composition tools in science can help students to create a song that will demonstrate or enhance their understanding of a scientific concept.
- Social Studies: Music composition software in social studies can help students understand the powerful influence of music in history and how the lyrics of songs reflect the perspectives of that time period. Students can compose their own songs that reflect their understanding of current issues.
Sample Lesson Plans
The following sample lesson plans provide a general idea on how the music composition tool can be integrated in a content area and grade level. Although there may not be an example for every content area or at every grade level, the lessons from one content area or grade level can often be adapted to another due to its open-ended approach.
GRADE LEVELS 3-5
Arts: Visual
- Gettysburg Movie: Students will know the causes and important events of the Civil War by reading and depicting the Gettysburg Address.
- Poem Movies: Students will develop a sense of imagery by choosing appropriate pictures to go with the poem.
- Procedure Movies: Students will use details to describe classroom procedures.
GRADE LEVELS 9-12
Arts: Music
- GarageBand Orientation: Students will use GarageBand to create a one-minute song consisting of percussion instruments.
Arts: Theatre
- Creating an Animated Film: Students will develop an understanding of the animation process by working collaboratively to create an animated film.
Arts: Visual
- Creating An Animated Film: Students will develop an understanding of the animation process by working collaboratively to create an animated film.
Language Arts
- GarageBand Orientation: Students will use GarageBand to create a one-minute song consisting of percussion instruments.