Music and Computer Science Teaching Example

by Melissa Arnold
Teaching Example for Teaching Music in the Elementary Classroom – M323 – Spring 2018

Title: Teaching Collaboration and Creativity through Soundtrap

Subjects: Music and Computer Science
Grade Level: 3rd Grade
Estimated time: 4 class periods, 35 minutes each

Learning Theory: Throughout this lesson, students are engaging with two of Bloom’s cognitive domains,
“Comprehension” and “Application.” By the end of the project, student will be able to describe
(Comprehension) how to use the online resource and produce (Application) a product.

Standards:
• 3-5.NC.1 Use online resources (e.g., email, online discussions, collaborative web environments) to
participate in collaborative problem-solving activities for the purpose of developing solutions or
products.
• 3.4.1 Compose rhythmic and melodic phrases according to teacher guidelines utilizing classroom
instruments and available electronic resources. Notate/record using traditional or available electronic
means.

Objectives:
• Students will describe the process for recording a track using Soundtrap
• Students will create rhythmic and/or melodic phrases using classroom instruments
• Students will produce a product using an online resource (Soundtrap)

Materials:
• www.soundtrap.com and/or Soundtrap in the app store (available on iOS and Google Play)
• Student email addresses
• Earphones (enough for every student)
• Projector
• Powerpoint presentation OR projected website
• Instruments (any variety)

Procedure:
Note: Before starting this project, make sure all students have created Soundtrap accounts (with either
their smart phones or computers). If students do not have email accounts, the teacher may need to
reach out to IT in their school. IT should be able to help students create temporary email accounts for
this project.

Day 1: Estimated time - 30 min.

1. Assign students to groups and let them know that they will be working on group composition
projects!
2. Step the students through setting up a Soundtrap project, and explain basic necessary concepts
that they will need for this class activity. During the introduction, the teacher should project either a
powerpoint with this information or the website, so that students can work through the steps
together. Be aware that the layout is slightly different between the app and the website, but most of
the icons are the same.
• Templet:
• Pick “blank
 • Collaboration:
• From ONE device, click on the people picture
• Invite all the people in your group to collaborate
• Go to the messages (everyone on their own device) and click “Let’s get started”
• Loops:
• Click on the eight notes to see the available loops
• In your groups, on ONE device, pick which loop you would like to use in your project (you can
change this later, if you want)
• Drag chosen loop not “Add new Track”
• Push save!
• Live Recording: (Note for teacher: some devices may ask students to calibrate their
microphones here. Help them individually, as needed. At this time, Safari does not allow
recording)
• On INDIVIDUAL devices, click on “Add New Track”
• Select “Voice & microphones”
• Click on “Start Recording”
• Choose “I’m using headphones”
• Record yourself speaking or singing! (Anything will do! This is just a test!)
• Push save!
• Once you push save, everyone in your group should be able to see your voice track! You may
need to refresh your browser page to see everyone’s tracks.
• A few hints: (Note for teacher: as you move through these, let the kids try them out)
• If you don’t want to hear yourself while you are recording (recommended), click on the
“speaker” so it turns purple. Just make sure to click on it again to turn it grey when you want
to hear your recording in the playback.
• You can loop your recording by clicking and dragging on the upper right of your recording.
Note: you can also do this with your preexisting loop, if you want it to last longer!
• The buttons at the bottom of the screen let you: record, stop, back, play, forward
• If you start playing the recording and then push “stop,” the buttons become: record, to start,
back play forward.
3. Let the students know that next class they will be creating their own melodic/rhythmic recordings!
Make sure all students save their work before cleaning up!

Day 2: estimated time - 5 min. for #1, 20 min. for #2, 10 min. for #3
1. Help students log back into their collaborative compositions projects and help each group pick out
instruments to use for their recordings, making sure each group has access to different sounds.
2. Group work! Give the students the following guidelines for group work:
• “Group work today will be a little unconventional. You will be collaborating ‘distantly’.”
• The rules:
• Everyone in the group must record AT LEAST one track
• You many not change or delete someone else’s track!
• You must use at least one instrument in one of your tracks. If you do more than one track, you
do not need to use an instrument in that one (unless you want to!)
• You many move anywhere in the classroom to record your tracks
• You have 20 minutes to complete this portion of the activity, and then you will have some
“group time” to talk through any changes you want to make
• Don’t forget to hit save!!!
3. At the end of the 20 minutes, have students return to their groups to talk through the changes they
made.
Day 3: estimated time - 20 min. to make changes/edits; 15 min. to prepare for presentation
1. Group work continued. Have them sit together in their groups to work through the following:
• Take some time to work through any changes you might want to make to your recording.
• Prepare to present your creation to the class!
• During your presentation, each person should be ready to:
• Discuss which track(s) you recorded and what instrument(s)/sounds you used
• Explain how you recorded your tracks (just talk through the steps)
• During your presentation, the group should be ready to:
• Play the full recording for the class
• Discuss what you liked best about your recording
• Share what you might want to change for next time
Day 4: Presentations! estimated time 10 min. to prepare; 25 min. for presentations
1. In groups, students should log into their collaborative compositions on ONE device and practice
their presentations.
2. Presentation time! Help students connect their devices to the projector and speakers, so the class
can both see and hear their product.

Assessments:
Students will be assessed by the teacher during their presentations. During the presentations, students
should demonstrate that they 1.) understand how to use the online resource (Soundtrap) (Computer
Science 3-5.NC.1 and Music 3.4.1), 2.) made use of classroom instruments to create rhythmic and/or
melodic phrases in their recording, (Music 3.4.1) 3.) produced a product (Computer Science 3-5.NC.1).
A this time, students are not being assessed for structural elements (such as form or melody/rhythmic
organization).