Music Resources to Share
Life has changed since the onset of the pandemic of Covid-19. Education became an online experience for staff, students and parents. Teachers were scrambling to find quality online educational resources that would enhance the learning experience for their students. I have decided to include a few of the online resources for music that I have found and used with students over the past few months.
The first website that I discovered was www.typedrummer.com. This website plays a different percussion sound for each letter on the computer keyboard. You could spell your name, write a sentence or type in random letter to produce a rhythmic pattern. This pattern or “Beat” as stated in the website can then be shared with others.
The second website that I discovered was typatone.com. This website is much like typedrummer but instead of a percussion sound each letter is given a pitch or tone. Once again your melody can shared with others for their enjoyment.
http://typatone.com/m/PtsaMZXavO
The third website is Chrome Music Lab which utilizes use of your mouse or mouse pad. Within this website are many musical experiences or “experiments”. The first section is entitled Song Maker and allows individuals to create songs by choosing pitches, instruments, percussion accompaniment and tempo changes. The final edit of your song link can be preserved in a document and replayed when wanted.
https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Song-Maker/song/6587005858217984
When exploring Chrome Music Lab try out the other sections as they challenge students to expand their experiences regarding music and sound creation.
The fourth website is femurdesign.com. I have selected the section entitled “theremin” to share as it allow experimenting with a device patented in 1928 by Leon Theremin. The “theremin” is actually an electronic musical instrument controlled without physical contact by the performer. The sounds produced can be altered by moving the levels of delay, feedback and scuzz. Once on the theremin page click on to the circle above the yellow rectangle. Click the box about the Recorder/Looper closed and then place the mouse on the yellow rectangle. Click the mouse and move it around to create different sounds. Placing the mouse on the left of the yellow rectangle produces a lower pitch while placing it on the right side produces a higher pitch.
https://femurdesign.com/theremin/
The fifth and final website that I will share is Incredibox.com. This website allows for experimenting with electronic music mixing techniques. By selecting the web version demo you have a choice of four characters – Alpha, Little Miss, Sunrise and The Love. (The other characters are locked and only available with the app.) Choose a character and then drag icons to dress the each of the seven figures shown. You can change their icons and sounds that are played until you are satisfied. However do not, I repeat do not record, name it, or share it with others. If you save the mix created and share it with others it will only last for a few hours and the website will not let you explore without purchasing the app. (I found this out and now can not access the website properly on my work computer.) To preserve what I created and to share it with you I recorded it on my phone instead. If you keep playing and experimenting with this site you can unlock bonuses and have more unexpected and creative fun with the characters.
Alpha:
Little Miss:
Sunrise:
The Love:
No matter how you experience music this summer whether online through a website or listening to performances online, through streaming or a radio station just keep it an integral part of your life. Have fun with your musical experiences and explorations.