This is the Graphical Representation of my song clip "Light the Light"
Let's manipulate, change, play with this (test) model.
Modeling allows people to play, manipulate, explore, discover and learn. Our brains have recently been supplemented even further by computer simulation. This extends our abilities to understand the present and predict the future accurately. Using the free recording software program Audacity, I explored 3 main dimensions of music: tempo, pitch and dynamics. The audacity recording was created by adding several tracks. This recording is the perfect tool for a classroom discussion of changing tempos, pitch and dynamics. Students can hear as well as see these concepts.
This type of sound manipulation and visual recording of sound did not exist when I was an elementary student back in the 1960’s. Audacity software was created in 2000 and has been constantly improved. Today students love to use the computer to easily create their own quality music and sound and have immediate feed-back
Students learn that changing one thing in a musical composition often affects another. Many changes are interdependent upon each other. For example, if you increase tempo, your composition will proportionally be shorter in length of time. If you slow down the speed of your track, your pitch will drop. This creative software allows for the user to try ideas out. If it does not work, they can choose undo and try something else. This easily allows one to explore until you get it to work the way you want.
Audacity is fun, free, and user-friendly. Students can manipulate their own musical composition quickly using both audio and visual cues. Audacity has the capability to create, change music digitally into many formats. This test model allows people to play, manipulate, explore, discover and learn.
Many of the concepts taught with the use of Audacity will be helpful when or if you move into video production and other software. Music teachers can use this software to make practice CDs with accompaniment, emphasizing different parts for each student. Students can then practice independently. The many tools available in this software encourage creative compositions without the fear of failure.