Genius hour 2.3

Producing Music-Week Three

Week three of producing my own music was the best one so far.  My action plan for this week was to learn how the individual components of music work, that way I had a better understanding of which components best fit a particular type of music.  The components I researched were bass, tempo, hi-hats, bells, and mallets, and leads.  

Last week, I made a goal for my third genius hour. It was to not only learn more about the components of music but also add to my current song.  I am proud to say that I was able to add on both a bell pad tone and hi-hats to my song.  This is what I have created so far:

Next week, my plan is to finish my current project and copy a YouTube video for a song that I listen to.  I want to do this to not only so I have multiple projects to show, but I will have more experience navigating and using new components and sounds.  Tune in next week to hear my recreation of a hit song.

Genius Hour 2.2

Producing Music-Week Two

For week two of my music production, I put myself in a tough position.  My plan for this week was to learn about the individual components of music that I'd be using to make music, such as bass, tempo, rhythm, hi-hats, and cords.  I came to the conclusion that I could no longer continue with my first project until I developed a sense of music theory.  A theory that not only sets standards for how music functions, but creates a sense of communication in which all people can relate to.  

I took the time to sit down this Genius Hour to learn about how music functions. I also learned more about the piano, as just about all instruments on Garageband can be played through the form of a piano.  To educate myself on this process, I watched a couple of YouTube videos to explain the components of the piano.  I also did some more research to find out that Garageband also has piano lessons on the program as well.  My new plan is to complete one of two tutorials a week to further my knowledge.  In addition, I will continue to work on my first project in the next few weeks until I feel it is complete. 

Now, I don't necessarily need all the skills I will be learning, but they may help me if I decide to do something creative down the line.  Thus far, in my first song, I have created a few piano chords, as well as adding in some additional pads for effect.  My plans for next week are to learn more about the components I talked about early, and how they function.  I would also like to add another element to my song.     

Genius Hour 2.1

Producing Music-Week One

For my second Genius Hour, I wanted to create my own music.  Music is a topic that I am very passionate about, which made creating my own music an obvious choice for my project.  Over Christmas break, I decided to get started on my Genius Hour, I did this by choosing the program I would use.  Because I do not have any music producing of my own such as keyboards, controllers, or microphones, I knew I would have to find a good DAW to use.  DAW stands for Digital Audio Workstation.

Just like the majority of readily-available goods on this planet, there are hundreds of DAWs out there.    I spent some time researching the different types and was reasonably impressed with the results I found.  Some programs can do things to your music that I have never even heard of.  Some of the DAWs I research also got a little pricey in the hundred dollar ranges.  After thinking over break, I decided the best route to take would be to find a free program that is easily accessible and has an easy interface any beginner could use.

After all the research I did, I ended up choosing Garageband created by Apple.  Garageband seemed to fit all three of those necessities for me, but there were a few reasons I chose it over other like programs.  The number one reason I chose Garageband was how available it is for me.  The program appears on both my phone and computer, making it easy to work on the go, at school, and at home.  For the first week, my plan was to get a feel for the program and where to find tools.  I felt so comfortable I started to create my first melody.  Next week, I will learn more about the individual components of music and continue on my first project.