Computer Music
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| Composing Music on Computer with Midi Keyboard |
Imagine being able to play a thousand different instruments yourself all in one song that you composed, performed, mixed and recorded. Now you have an idea of what is so exciting about Music Composition Class.
Composing music on a virtual instrument is somewhat different from doing so on a physical or “real” instrument. Our students don’t have to buy an expensive instrument and take years of lessons and music theory to be able to compose competently with virtual instruments. The computer program we use is FL Studio. With this music program, you can quickly develop a rhythm section for a song and choose a lead instrument and use your computer keyboard to play and record notes. Or the student might use the mouse to paint in notes on a piano roll interface to record on their virtual instrument.
Click to listen to student compositions
The students also learn music theory and piano skills so that they can use a midi keyboard to compose their songs. In addition, students learn how to record vocals and “real” instruments to incorporate other students’ contributions into their compositions.
Student compositions in the past have included classical, rock, blues, jazz, rap, hip hop, house, dance, techno and world music. Students compose music for special events at the school and each student publishes a CD of their music. Each year the music composition class puts out a CD of the students’ favorite compositions.