BandLab Student Assignments Part 1

Happy Saturday, Anomalies!

Halloween is next weekend, and I have no plans and no outfit, even though I've been wanting to be Kylo Ren for years. Perhaps next year.

I've been teaching music tech to 5th-8th graders on Tuesdays for a nonprofit organization for the past three years, and it dawned on me last week that I wanted to share a couple of assignments I've given them with you. My music tech class focuses on making beats using an online platform called BandLab. It's super easy to learn and allows them to create their own beats, soundscapes, and even use YouTube samples occasionally. After the assignments are finished, we sit around campfire-style with my speaker and listen to each other's work. They're sometimes really nervous to share, which is why I sometimes do the assignments myself so I can share my work as well and hopefully make them feel more comfortable.

Of Earth (Shared above ↑. This is a soundscape assignment where they have to include at least three nature-like sounds. They can include a beat if they want, but it isn't required. My composition has one.)

Shhh Halloween (This is usually their first assignment when school begins in late September, in which they compose a beat containing a few Halloween elements. Here's mine.)

Turkey Oven Wake (Score-A-Story is an assignment where the students write a story and score it with a composition. When they read it to the class, they play their music. I've never done this theme, and since we're in between Halloween and Thanksgiving, I thought it'd be fun for them to write a Horror Thanksgiving story. I haven't written my story out yet, but I composed my music first and already know what it's about. Yes, it's morbid. It is about a turkey named Helios who wakes up in the oven and realizes he's currently baking, and there's nothing he can do about it but sit there and bake. I know, I know. I'm crazy. The voices towards the end represent the people checking on how Helios is cooking. LMFAO. (Photo Cred: operationunderwear)

Aera, The Space Princess (Character Theme Songs is an assignment where the students work in groups to create a character and compose the theme song for that character. My character is Aera, a space princess who rules the Milky Way, has red hair and wears space boots.

—Storm Phoenix

PS I haven't forgot about the Citadel characters Steph🖤