
Remixing in EarSketch
EarSketch Remix Lab for the 2020 Ciara Remix Competition
Module 1 of 3
This 50-minute module will introduce students to the EarSketch Platform and provides an understanding of what it means to create a “remix” song using the EarSketch Platform.
By the end of this module, students should be able to navigate the EarSketch workspace, use basic functions to play sound clips in their songs, and learning some of the basic blocks of programming: numbers, constants, and variables.
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Objectives
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Engage Students in coding in EarSketch
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Explore connections between music technology and programming
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Navigate the EarSketch Digital Audio Workspace (DAW)
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Edit basic code with EarSketch specific function such as fitMedia() and setTempo()
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Learn three of the building blocks of a basic program: constants, numbers, and variables

Essential Questions
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How does coding connect to music composition/creation?
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How do you code in the EarSketch workspace?
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How can you use comments to document your code?
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How does changing the tempo of the song change the mood of the song?
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How can the use of variables increase efciency in your code?

Computer Science Standards
CSP Standards
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IT-CSP-2 Create digital artifacts that foster creative expression including programs, digital music, videos, images, documents, and combinations of these such as infographics, presentations, and web pages.​
AP CSP Essential Knowledge
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EK1.2.1A Creating digital effects , images, audio, video, animations has transformed industries
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EK1.3.1B Digital audio and music can be created by synthesizing sounds, sampling exisiting audio and music, and recording and manipulating sounds, including layering and looping.
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EK 5.2.1A Algorithms are implemented using program instructions that are processed during program execution.
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EK 5.3.1M Application program interfaces (APIs) and libraries simplify complex programming tasks.
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EK 5.3.1N Documentation for an API/library is an important aspect of programming.
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EK 5.3.1O APIs connect software components, allowing them to communicate

Lesson Flow
01 Teacher Preparation
See Curriculum Materials below
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Review EarSketch workspace
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Download and read Teacher Guide Module 01
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Review student curriculum
02 Engage
EarSketch Curriculum 39.1
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Introducing the EarSketch workspace and competition
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Creating an EarSketch account
03 Explore
EarSketch Curriculum 39.1, 39.2
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Importing a sample remix script
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Exploring the EarSketch DAW
04 Explain
EarSketch Curriculum 39.3
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Learning the purpose of commenting and documenting your code
05 Explore
EarSketch Curriculum 39.4, 39.5
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Changing tempo of your sample code
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Exploring the fitMedia() function
06 Explain
EarSketch Curriculum 39.6​
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Adding sound clips to your script
07 Elaborate
EarSketch Curriculum 39.7
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Create variables for efficient code
08 Evaluate
EarSketch Curriculum 39.7
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Editing your sample script to remix your song and apply new knowledge of EarSketch and coding