In this lesson, students created ‘Climate Change Chants’ including beats, voiceover and loops using GarageBand for iPad.
Learning Objectives for this lesson:
Rhythm is a foundational element of music making, but is often taught in isolation. But, this short learning experience encourages students to use GarageBand to focus on the rhythm of words to create a chant or song of protest about a key social and environmental issue.
Music can be a positive social force and can give voice. Learning about rhythm using the Beat Sequencer in GarageBand can be central to this.
Students demonstrated their learning by creating and recording a ‘Climate Change Chant’ with GarageBand for iPad.
First, they chose a short phrase and, after considering its rhythm, recorded the correct rhythm using the Beat Sequencer.
Then, they recorded their ‘chant’ on top of this.
Finally, they added drumbeats and loops to turn their chant into a song of peaceful protest.
This lesson formed part of my Apple Teacher Portfolio as an ‘Activate’ lesson, but could be easily adapted and used as an ‘Explore’ lesson depending on the age, skill level, positioning of the activity, and has lots of opportunities for extension activities.
I used this lesson with my 1st Year Music class (12-13 years old), but it could easily be used in different contexts with other age groups too!
Backbeat
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All Comments
Thanks, Cheryl!
It’s worked really well with Climate Change as the theme’, and I’ve been consciously working to try to integrate my two main subject content areas — music and geography — into more lessons in both subjects over the past couple of years.
But — Yes! — this could work so well in other subject areas and form part of a Challenge Based Learning lesson or project!
I love the idea of using it as part of a history lesson, and then connecting this to the UN Global Goals!
❤️ this project and all the connections it's making! What a great way to bring GarageBand AND music creation into any content area. And the possibilities for scaffolding for age, level and ability are countless. What a great share, Eoin! I can't wait to see and hear how others bring this into their classrooms. 🎙🎵🎛
Thanks a lot, Erika! 😊 This lesson has always been a hit with my students, regardless of their age and experience! They can really personalise their creation with their own chant, rhythm and the loops they use, in any context or subject area. 🌍 🎶
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Posted on October 13, 2022
So cool Eoin! This can connect so many things. I’m thinking it would be a wonderful activity to augment a Challenge Based Learning lesson as one of the implementation choices students might select.
It also could be used in a history class as students create (or put to rhythm) chants for historical movements such as Women’s Suffrage.