Week 2
Objectives
-Continure to get on the same page fundamentally, with music and Garageband - Review: Notation of Frequency - Intro to Rhythmic Notation -Instrumentation Homework Review - GarageBand Example |
Assignments
- DUE TODAY: Signed Syllabus - DUE TODAY: Instrumentation Home - DUE next class: Instrumentation GarageBand Homework |
Review : Frequency Notation
Characteristics of Sound
Frequency Duration Amplitude
Musical Notation Grand Staff/Staff
Trumpet Music
Bass Music
Keep in mind that we will be learning the the notes according the their lines and spaces on the staff!
A couple useful resources for this:
Music Staff Games
Staff Instruction
Lines/Spaces
Frequency Duration Amplitude
Musical Notation Grand Staff/Staff
Trumpet Music
Bass Music
Keep in mind that we will be learning the the notes according the their lines and spaces on the staff!
A couple useful resources for this:
Music Staff Games
Staff Instruction
Lines/Spaces
Intro : Duration / Rhythmic Notation
- Most Music is divided into a series of beats or pulses, in simplest terms this is what you bob your head or tap your foot to.
- So we know with notation of Frequency / Range / Pitch, we are concerned with specifying how High or Low a note is
- With notation of Duration / Rhythm, we are specifying how many Beats a note gets.
Long Notes = Many Beats
Short notes = few beats (or less than a beat)
- In any given song, we see a variety of different rhythms (see trumpet solo above) - Just like with instrumentation where we see many different instruments, not a band of all one instrument - Furthermore, Generally we will not see the different instruments playing the same rhythm, they are playing different rhythms that are agreeable and meet up at certain points
- With Frequency, the pitch (high/low) is specified by a certain line or space on the staff
- With Duration, the Length/Rhythm (long/short) of a notes is specified by two parts of the note itself : The note Head, and the Stem
Garage Band - "So Fresh So Clean" - Example
1. Drum Beat/Groove:
***think about your instrumentation homework and what instrument was providing it*** 2. Timbre
3. Octave:
Low Range/Register Instruments Lower Half of Piano Treble Clef High Range/Register Instruments Upper Half of Piano |
Example 1: Trumpet (high) / Tuba (Low) Example 2: Violin (high) / Bass (Low) Example 3: Synth Lead (high) / Synth Bass Pad (Low)
|
Terms to Remember Here:
Drum Beat/Groove, Timbre, Octave
Drum Beat/Groove, Timbre, Octave

so_fresh_so_clean_tester.band.zip | |
File Size: | 1647 kb |
File Type: | zip |
Instrumentation Homework
Questions:
1. Why Do we see different instruments in each song?
-i.e why aren't there songs with just 10 guitars?
2. Is there anything the different styles have in common in terms of instrumentation? (is there something they all have?)
3. Is there a way that they differ?
4. What are some of the most common instruments?
5. What are the most unique instruments?
6. Can you think of real examples (songs) where they use instrumentation that is not standard?
1. Why Do we see different instruments in each song?
-i.e why aren't there songs with just 10 guitars?
2. Is there anything the different styles have in common in terms of instrumentation? (is there something they all have?)
3. Is there a way that they differ?
4. What are some of the most common instruments?
5. What are the most unique instruments?
6. Can you think of real examples (songs) where they use instrumentation that is not standard?
Instrumentation:
Definition: the particular instruments used in a piece of music; the manner in which a piece is arranged for instruments. (wiki)
-One song could be arranged for different instrumentations
Funk/Soul Acoustic/Soul String Section Harmonica
Like most characteristics of a song the selection of instruments (instrumentation) is not random, it is a conscious decision made the the composer
Musical Style / Genre
Definition:A music genre is a conventional category that identifies some pieces of music as belonging to a shared tradition or set of conventions. It is to be distinguished from musical form and musical style, although in practice these terms are sometimes used interchangeably. (wiki)
Garage Band - Instrumentation Assignment
Objectives of Assignment:
We will start this in class, and you will finish for homework. |
Description:
The point of this assignment is to properly identify the instrumentation, and start a project as if you were going to work on a song like this. Like we have discussed in class, the modern engineer must be proficient in a number of different styles, and thus a number of different instrumentations. for this assignment, you will be Starting (just starting, not doing anything in!) a number of projects for different styles and their instrumentations. For each different style, you will have a template for which you COULD do work on . |
Instructions
Use the song list provided. Start a project for each of the songs, plus 5 songs of your choice.
For each song, go through the following steps.
Step 1
Listen to the song, making a list of all the instruments you hear. This may take a couple different listens. You may also use research for this step if you have having trouble, or hear an instrument you are not familiar with. Another useful strategy is to look up a live performance so you can visually see the instruments. It should be a goal however to identify these timbres just by ear.
*** You may want to listen to the whole song, or skip ahead (sometimes instruments are added throughout the song ***
Step 2
Open a GarageBand Project. Refer to the instructions from last class if you are not familiar with this. Add the instruments you hear in the song. This may take a little searching through the library. Ask questions about this in class if you are not familiar! (For Vocal tracks, don't add anything!! Although to voice IS and instruments, we are just concerned with the accompanying instruments)
Hint: The more timbres you hear in a song, the harder this assignment will be! Keep this in mind for your own selections.
Step 3
When you are done adding the instrumentation and have all the timbres, take a screenshot of your project. This is don't by pushing (Command/Shift/3) simultaneously. It should save a screenshot on your desktop. This is what you will turn in . Rename the file to the name of the song with your name in it.
Use the song list provided. Start a project for each of the songs, plus 5 songs of your choice.
For each song, go through the following steps.
Step 1
Listen to the song, making a list of all the instruments you hear. This may take a couple different listens. You may also use research for this step if you have having trouble, or hear an instrument you are not familiar with. Another useful strategy is to look up a live performance so you can visually see the instruments. It should be a goal however to identify these timbres just by ear.
*** You may want to listen to the whole song, or skip ahead (sometimes instruments are added throughout the song ***
Step 2
Open a GarageBand Project. Refer to the instructions from last class if you are not familiar with this. Add the instruments you hear in the song. This may take a little searching through the library. Ask questions about this in class if you are not familiar! (For Vocal tracks, don't add anything!! Although to voice IS and instruments, we are just concerned with the accompanying instruments)
Hint: The more timbres you hear in a song, the harder this assignment will be! Keep this in mind for your own selections.
Step 3
When you are done adding the instrumentation and have all the timbres, take a screenshot of your project. This is don't by pushing (Command/Shift/3) simultaneously. It should save a screenshot on your desktop. This is what you will turn in . Rename the file to the name of the song with your name in it.
Song List
Complete these selections, plus 5 of your own selections.
Goal: Complete these in class today, and your own selections for Homework
Between the Bars - Elliot Smith
The Old Apartment -The Bare Naked Ladies
Eleanor Rigby - The Beatles
Close to You - The Carpenters
Lovely Day - Bill Withers
Complete these selections, plus 5 of your own selections.
Goal: Complete these in class today, and your own selections for Homework
Between the Bars - Elliot Smith
The Old Apartment -The Bare Naked Ladies
Eleanor Rigby - The Beatles
Close to You - The Carpenters
Lovely Day - Bill Withers
Examples...