Samuel Wright
C RE AT IN G AN ANI MAT E D GR AP HI C S CO R E Using Apple’s Keynote ‘09 Much current music technology is focused on traditional notation. But graphic notation is still an excellent way to convey musical ideas and it can be easily utilized within Keynote or PowerPoint for your lessons. It can also animate your scores in a few simple steps. This session will be useful for junior and high school teachers as well as tertiary level educators. This activity can be taken to the extreme according to your understanding of the six concepts of music, harmonic analysis & imagination. It is also incredibly powerful on an Interactive W hiteboard (IW B).
1. WHAT IS POSSIBLE? • Wirrkul Girl example • Starting with Background Work at my Blog • Student Examples on YouTube • Djapana example • Finding Nemo advanced
Whether you have PowerPoint, or Keynote, both work in this process. There is no need for expensive complicated software, but there are a few steps that need solid instruction and modeling. That is the key to this unit of project-based learning. Students learn, and are inspired, by viewing their teacher model how simple and fun this task can be. You just need the following: a) A computer with slide software (I am using Keynote 09)
b) An audio track (without DRM protection, 30s to 1min), use free Audacity to edit track c) A bank of images (sourced) that can be emailed as a .zip or placed on a thumb-drive for each student (Creative Commons via Compfight) or sources provided below each YouTube clip
MUSIC T ECHN OL OGY IN EDU CAT ION CONFERENC E
mte c2011
Creating an Animated Graphic Score in Keynote
Samuel Wright
d) A plan for instructing and modeling, how to create an animated graphic score
MUSIC T ECHN OL OGY IN EDU CAT ION CONFERENC E
mte c2011
Creating an Animated Graphic Score in Keynote
Samuel Wright
2. LESSON PLAN As part of the mandatory topic in the NSW Syllabus, Australian Music, I decided to approach it in a less formal manner. Rather than focusing on traditionally notated works I investigated Aboriginal Music making, methods of performance and composition. My year 7 class had watched a DVD by David Hudson (permission granted to upload to YouTube ) and it struck me that Graphic Notation was the perfect approach for this topic. Especially when exploring a tradition dependent that aurally passes on their music and performance techniques. • This unit of work covers the outcomes found in the NSW Syllabus of 4.5/5.5, 4.6/5.6 & 4.7/5.7 • This unit of work covers the standards stated by the Institute of Teachers, including all key stages, 1.1.2, 1.1.3, 1.1.4, 2.1.3, 2.1.5,2.1.6, 3’s (be selective), 4.1.4, 4.1.5, 5.1.4, • You can get a free lesson plan template here and worksheets downloadable here > Approach • Students need background work in listening. There is no point expecting a fantastic graphic score without them learning to listen for layers (onions) and notating images for them • Students need to work in groups to complete an imaginative graphic score on paper • Students need to see the teacher create their own animated score and be excited about it • Students need time to experiment with Keynote • Students need time to be creative with their graphic scores (be the guide on the side and by the IWB) Look at this task as the culmination to a unit on graphic scoring. It is designed to assimilate multiple skills and creativity levels into a single task as well as allowing all types of students to create ‘correct’ projects no mater how limited, or advanced their musical experience may be. > Steps (condensed) 1. Introduce students to Aboriginal music, traditional and contemporary with some listening worksheets and class discussion (some sites listed below) 2. Have students identify layers of sound common to both traditional and contemporary Aboriginal music 3. Students then undertake a graphic score task in reverse via an IWB with the teacher a) Teacher explains that symbols and images can represent sound b) Using Sketch Book Express (or other IWB drawing tools) plus student input, symbols are designed and drawn for each identified sound (texture). Depending on the class, rhythm and pitch can also be addressed by levels or shortness/thickness of the images drawn c) Screen Shot each image for future reference (Grab or IWB software or bought apps like Voila) d) Have students arrange the symbols in-order of the selected music track – to represent graphically the ‘sounds’ (students themselves could come over to the IWB and do this) * This could take several lessons so be patient, make it fun, have the students arrange the images and gradually reveal more elements in the music as you discuss it with them (Copy & Paste) e) As a finished product the class copies onto their own page, a version of what they collectively collaborated on, with you for artistic direction (I had a student draw her score around a didgeridoo)
MUSIC T ECHN OL OGY IN EDU CAT ION CONFERENC E
mte c2011
Creating an Animated Graphic Score in Keynote
Samuel Wright
3. MAKING THE SCORE 1. Materials a) Folder of images to be animated (and source links) b) Keynote Project Folder containing a Keynote File with pre-embedded audio c) A PPT version is also included for Windows users * Please purchase the whole album on iTunes here as well as the tracks needed for previous activities
2. Create folder for materials a) On the desktop have students create a folder >Graphic.Score.Task_Name_Class b) Store all images, files and links etc. in this folder c) If they need to save it to their spot on a server, once all the materials are in, get them to drag’n’drop it to the necessary directory d) This will also help with submission later 3. Open Keynote template file (or included PowerPoint template) a) Explore controls b) Listen to track by playing slideshow c) As a class identify three main sections via IWB and get them to manually change slides as sections appear on their screens – repeat process drawing attention to what you did in your score 4. Import images for each slide a) Emphasize the need for a Key – do this to start off (but not a necessity) b) Drag images to ‘Key’ slide and create own graphic symbols/icons using instructions (or video) c) Copy and Paste on main slide windows 5. Animate images a) Animations can be made for each image or symbol as well as from slide to slide (transitions) b) Experiment with making images change, travel or burst onto the screen by advancing in the slideshow (see video) c) Do not do too many as it is important to keep an outline of the score with ‘colours’ of animation 6. Record slideshow in real-time a) Practice playing your slideshow and advancing the slides, or animations, in real-time b) When you are confident you have the timing down, record your slideshow (make sure you use headphones and turn the built-in mic off in system preferences first) c) If you make a mistake, >File >Clear Recording and start again
MUSIC T ECHN OL OGY IN EDU CAT ION CONFERENC E
mte c2011
Creating an Animated Graphic Score in Keynote
Samuel Wright
7. Export Movie a) >File >Export Movie b) >Full Quality and Save to the project folder
MUSIC T ECHN OL OGY IN EDU CAT ION CONFERENC E
mte c2011
Creating an Animated Graphic Score in Keynote
Samuel Wright
4. RESOURCES FOR GRAPHIC SCORES ONLINE The following links are sources for more graphic score projects or inspiration online: > Aboriginal Music & Images • http://www.aboriginalartstore.com.au/aboriginal-art-culture/aboriginal-symbols-glossary/ © 2007 Central Art – Aboriginal Art Store • http://www.didgeswedoo.com.au/aboriginals.html © 2000-2007 Didgeswedoo – Authentic Australian Aboriginal Art • http://www.manikay.com/albums/songsofarnhemland.shtml • http://www.davidhudson.com.au/ > Videos of Graphic Score Examples • http://www.youtube.com/user/Wrightstuffmusic • Animated Graphic Score for Cello • 3 for Four Animated Score • Show Reel animated • Bach’s Toccata & Fugue in D Minor • Beethoven’s 5th Symphony > Lessons on Graphic Scoring • http://musiclessons.nl/l'elephant.html • http://musiclessons.nl/aquarium.html • http://www.mtrs.co.uk/graphic.htm • http://www.seechord.co.uk/ Draw Audio – making sound from drawing http://drawdio.com/
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Contact: Samuel Wright http://wrightstuffmusic.com/
MTEC 2011 Resources & Links Spaaze Page
MUSIC T ECHN OL OGY IN EDU CAT ION CONFERENC E
mte c2011
Creating an Animated Graphic Score in Keynote
Samuel Wright
Upcoming Events: AIS Music PD Day 30th June
MUSIC T ECHN OL OGY IN EDU CAT ION CONFERENC E
mte c2011