Why is it important to learn to read and write music in the age of computer software programs such as GarageBand?
This is the essential question this week. A program like GarageBand is pretty slick, but it can take a virtual musician only so far. At some point, young composers get tired of the existing loops and want to personalize their music. This requires some knowledge of the mechanics of music writing. This week, Music Technology students will study the basics of music theory, beginning with several exercises on rhythm. We’ll create four beat rhythms, then four measure rhythms, and finish with an eight measure musical example that I will perform on the piano using a variety of chords of my choosing. Beginning on Thursday, students will start to compose a piece in AABA form.
For a detailed plan of this week’s lessons and projects, click on the “Lesson PLans” tab, above.