Garage Band can be used in two ways
- to record real music (and voice) with instruments (blue)
- to record software instruments using a visual key board or a MIDI compatible keyboard (green)
This then can be arranged and mixed at the professional level if you use the application to its full potential. Its also super accessible and can work on a more topical level for students or novices.
Once you have some music recorded you can
- add Apple Loops: drum tracks, rhythms, pre-recorded music files, which can then be edited. This is a library with over a 1000 royalty free loops. (eye icon)
- add Tracks and Regions which are “the building blocks of a Garage band song.” You can copy or loop regions, change the length, transpose them to different keys, split and join them. (scissor icon)
- mix the tracks and regions with the pan position dials to adjust and balance instruments using effects like re-verb, echo, and equalizer. (music note will translate your music into a score, teach to read music)
- you can add up to 99 (or a whole lot) of tracks
Then you can SHARE it!
- you can export to itunes to make a playlist
- download it to an ipod
- or burn to a cd
- export it to make a podcast
Note: it does use a fair amount of processing memory, as does any program with sound or moving picture.
Audacity is a PC alternative to Macs (free) Garageband.
Glossary
Play Head: shows where the music is and is used to cut, copy, and paste music in the time line
Beat Ruler: shows musical time in beats and measures
Tracks: contain real instruments or software instruments
Regions part of the tracks that are color coded, can be moved, copied, cut, pasted, extended or looped
Amazing Uses!
1. Visual Story Telling
http://raventate.blogspot.com/
http://paul-a-scratch.blogspot.com/
2. Interviews or to record a critique
This idea works both for the student’s benefit and/or the teachers. Critique your own teaching.
3. Record music to correspond with any art style
http://www.classroom20.com/forum/topic/show?id=649749%3ATopic%3A120881
<Play claymation video>
Like a slide show, imovie, or any animation project. Also, a digital-actual hybrid piece, ex. music to support a visual piece.
4. Podcast it!
5. Record your own cd of KNOWLEDGE. This example is math oriented, but we could do a rap with colors, lines, and other art concepts.
<Listen to cd recording created in GarageBand>
