10 Music Tech Ideas for the Middle

School

Question: What type of music technology activities can I do

with my middle school students?

This is a question that I've seen pop up a bit lately on Facebook and in my emails. ​
Here are a few
engaging, fun and creative music tech projects that are perfect for middle school students in years 5-9.

1. Funny Voices
Students record themselves telling a story (part of a fairytale or Dr Seuss story works well) in software
such as GarageBand, Mixcraft, Soundation or Audacity and then edit their recorded narration to create
“funny voices” appropriate to the story. Select a section of the recorded narration (the WAV form) and
apply preset effects in the software. Try creating a scary ogre, a high-pitched chipmunk voice, robots,
aliens or a Darth Vader effect.

2. Guess My SFX Story

Students can work in groups to plan a short story - 3 sentences will do - and work out how they can tell
the story with sound effects only. Record the sound effects and piece them together in the right order
in your favourite audio recording/editing software. Other students try to guess the story by listening to
the sequence of sound effects.

3. Rap My Name
Students write a 4-measure rap about themselves, based on a provided structure and then record a
rhythmic backing to go with the rap. They can record their rap and the backing on laptop or iPad. Full
instructions for this lesson​
can be found here​
​ .
4. Transform The Blues
If you’ve been teaching your students the 12 bar blues, get them to record the blues chord sequence in
a different style in your favourite recording/sequencing software. This can be as simple as recording
the basic 12-bar pattern on a guitar or keyboard software instrument and then adding an existing drum
loop in an unexpected, non-blues style - like dubstep, trap, or a latin style. They can then improvise a
blues melody over the top of their blues accompaniment. I have​
iPad instructions for a project like this
​
here​
,​
but they could also be adapted for desktop software.

5. Movie Soundtracks
Find a short video (one minute or less is ideal) and ask students to synchronise sound to visuals. They
can add sound effects to match action on-screen and then create mood music to match the scene.
Software like GarageBand or Mixcraft is ideal since it allows you to import a video and create the
soundtrack while watching the video. Tip: if you’re short on class time, students can choose pre-made
loops instead of creating the music from scratch.

6. Video Game Composer

Along the lines of creating a movie soundtrack, students can compose music that matches different
styles or mood or video games. Give students a choice of game styles and ask them to compose
music that will evoke an atmosphere for the player. Style examples might include happy and light
music for a light-hearted platform game, battle music for a war game, fast-paced music for a car-chase
game and so on.

7. Introducing Remixing - A Quick Start

Incredibox​
is a free interactive website. It’s lots of fun and great to use as an introduction to arranging
​
or remixing. Students can plan a “performance” of the Incredibox dudes which demonstrates a variety
of arranging decisions. They can then record their remix using by clicking the record button at top left.
This blog post​
walks you through the basics.
​

8. The Mystery Remix

Choose a well-known pop song with a simple chord progression (but don’t tell the students what it is!).
Songs with cyclical chord progressions work well - I have some​
listed on my Pinterest account​
​ .
Students record the chord progression (in any style, at any speed and with any time signature they like)
and add a drum pattern. Ask them to guess the song and to sing it over the backing they’ve created.
This activity is an excellent way to discuss the way arrangers can transform a piece of music by
changing musical parameters of tempo, style, or time signature (amongst other things!).

9. Rockstar Drummers
Teach students how to perform the basic rock beat using body percussion and on percussion
instruments (and on a real kit if you have access to one). If they find it difficult to perform all 3 parts of
the basic pattern (bass drum, snare and hi-hat), they can work in pairs or groups of three. Reinforce
what they’ve learnt by recording the pattern in sequencing software like GarageBand, Mixcraft or
Soundation, or on iPads using the GarageBand app. They can record each of the three parts separately
and learn how to use the quantise feature to adjust the parts.

10. Game-Style Quizzes

Use the awesome (free) quiz tool​
Kahoot​
​ to test students on a topic you’ve been covering in class.
​
Students submit their answers using any type of device that connects to the internet - laptop, iPad,
smartphone or other tablet and they are awarded points for correct answers AND for speed (!). Before
you create your own quiz from scratch, search the library of existing quizzes that have been created by
teachers all around the world. You might find the perfect quiz already set up and ready to go.

How to get these projects going in your classroom?

If you’re keen for instructions on exactly how to run these activities using the software you have at your
school, there will be details in the courses and other resources in the ​
Midnight Music Community. ​
I’ll
look forward to seeing you there when it opens.

About
Hello! I’m Katie Wardrobe – a music technology trainer and consultant with a
passion for helping music teachers. I’m a qualified teacher (but no, I don’t
currently teach in a school) and I run hands-on professional development
workshops in Australia and overseas. I have a series of online courses and digital
products that help support music teachers and I have presented at more than 50
conferences and other music education events.

My workshops, courses and presentations focus on easy ways to incorporate technology through a
range of creative projects into what you are already doing in your music curriculum. I write regularly on
my blog and focus on practical ideas and resources that can be used in the classroom or teaching
studio.

You can find out more about what I do on the ​

Midnight Music website​
.

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