The Chrome Music Lab is a collection of experiments to help
anyone understand how music works. There is an experiment about rhythm, one
about arpeggios, one about melodies- 12 in total. These experiments are
interactive, pleasing to the eye, and fun. They are free to anyone with access
to an Internet browser.
The rhythm experiment is very cute: it involves two
interactive monkeys playing percussion. Users create rhythms using dots and the
monkeys play the rhythms. You can add dots at any time, and it beautifully
introduces how different rhythms promote different feelings.
I love the idea of using Chrome Lab as an introduction to a
topic, maybe linking it to a Padlet. For example, the “Melody Maker” allows
students to add pitches as color blocks, where blocks in the same row have the
same pitch. I would love to have students play around with creating their own
melodies before teaching a lesson on reading music, because they then would be
excited to understand how pitches come together effectively since they have
already done some creation.
Using the Chrome Music Lab requires that all students have
access to a computer outside of class, and that students take the time to play
around with it. Because of this limitation, I could consider spending a class
period allowing students to use school computers, if available, to play around
in the Lab. I could then spend the next class period introducing music reading.
A music classmate in told me about this, and I’m so pleased
that he did! I personally got excited about using it, and I feel that it would
be a helpful learning tool for students to promote the learning, creation, and
love of and music.
https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Experiments
Wow! How Cool!!! I am a firm believer in including the creative process of music making into the music education curriculum. To me - music is a language and its one thing to be able to understand it, but it is a whole different ballgame to be able to take that understanding and use it to communicate affectively. It's no different than ELA, creative writing, or any learning any other language for that matter. I actually spent a few years working at an awesome music school called The Original Music School. Students would take lessons on their instrument, but also join bands and learn how to write and record their own songs. They would then take these songs and perform them at venues - how cool? It's so good to teach a skill, but to learn it on a creative level and to reinforce that is essential for the continual growth and advancement of future generations in our society.
ReplyDeleteNina! This is so awesome. Thank you for commenting.
DeleteI just checked out the website of OMS. I agree so much with what they (including you) said in the "Guaranteed Musician" video. I love what you said about communication with music--I totally think music is all about communication and expression, but I think we miss that point when we focus on a brand of teaching instead of individualized teaching.
I know for myself, I underestimated how creative I was and how much I understood about music until I started writing my own music. I love when I see students lighting up when they really get it and "own it" for themselves, their talent that is. I think apps like the Music Lab and schools like OMS are headed in the right direction- teaching and cultivating creative young people.
Kayla,
ReplyDeleteStudents in my school have "messed around" with Music Lab--and they love it. The playful nature of the app allows all students (regardless of expertise) an opportunity to experiment and try things out. Great post!