Lesson 2: Understanding sound and rhythm

Objective: Students will learn about sound waves, rhythm, and tempo in Soundation. Materials: Computers with internet access, Soundation accounts, speakers, and a metronome (Soundation’s built-in or a physical one).

Activities:

1. 1
   Sound basics (15 mins):

   • Briefly explain sound waves, frequency, amplitude, and how these relate to pitch and volume.
   • Demonstration using a synth oscillator in Soundation.
2. 2
   Rhythm and tempo (20 mins):

   • Explain rhythm and tempo with a metronome.
   • Demonstrate how to change the tempo in Soundation.
   • Create a simple drum pattern using the Beatmaker.
3. 3
   Hands-on practice (20 mins):

   • Students create their own drum patterns and experiment with different tempos.
4. 4
   Discussion (5 mins):

   • Share student creations and discuss how tempo affects the feel of a track.

Assignment:

Develop a 16-bar loop that includes at least one rhythmic element created with the Beatmaker, and one melodic element created with an audio loop.

Tips:

• Sound: Use Audio loops from the sound library to demonstrate audio waveforms.
• Rhythm: Use the pre-made Beatmaker beats from the “Beats” section of the sound library as a starting point.