Students at EJ Martinez Elementary are exploring the world of music by creating, recording, arranging and performing music for a variety of purposes. We are using technology to help us in every aspect of our projects. We are also using the Big6 Problem Solving Skills to guide us through the challenges we find along the way. This means we are learning how technology contributes to developing Contemporary Literacy Skills, as well as learning how technology can help us to create better musical performances. (To learn more about that, visit the Big6 and Music page)
Starting in April, we began working with a multitrack digital recorder, which is basically an entire portable recording studio. We discovered that by placing two microphones on either side of the room, we could create the illusion that the sound was moving from one side of the room to the other. Here are two examples: Pan Clap and Pan Pledge. |
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We also discovered that by recording music in layers, one musician can sound like several. I built an example from Miles Davis' All Blues. First, I played the bass part. Next, I added one of the harmony lines on alto flute, using a reverb effect called "Far Away". Finally, I added a second harmony part, which resulted in the illusion that a trio was playing. |
During the course of the first two days of music classes, every fifth and sixth grader had the chance to record an original group composition, which ended up with the name "Wait-Go-Go" We named the song after a chant that I taught the students to help them get the timing of the rhythmn. Early on, we discovered that it is not a simple matter to keep 24 percussionists from sounding more like noise than music. By recording our efforts, and listening back, we were able to learn how we could improve our performance. The Bass melody is played on bass metalophone and bass guitar, and follows a pattern: C-A-A, C-A-A, etc. When we chant this to the words "wait, go go" everyone improved at playing together, and we were able to assign different instruments to different sets of words. We discovered the meaning of "less is more" in terms of effective composing and arranging.
You are welcome to help us decide which of the five versions we recorded is the best. Please send me an email with your vote for version 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 and say why you like the one you chose the best. My email is ferdi@oii.org.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Ferdi Serim
Music Teacher, EJ Martinez Elementary
School
Santa Fe, NM
Webweaver: Ferdi Serim - last update 6/2/03