9/2 Scratch Experience and Art Classroom Connections
Scratch Experience:
Part of my scratch experience was fun but after a while a bit mundane because of my lack of knowledge and aversiveness towards coding. First, I noticed that I could create music by placing code for individual notes on top of each other, making a sequence. This part of the project was fun. I enjoyed listening to each mini sequence of four notes at a time, trying to put a particular tune from my head into the code- first Angel of Music from Phantom of the Opera, and then Ten Minutes Ago from Rogers and Hammerstein's 1997 Cinderella. I figured out these tunes years ago on the violin when I 'd get bored practicing sheet music. They're songs that I love and know by heart. I had to listen to each sequence and replay the individual notes multiple times in order to get the right sound. I also played with the numerical beat length in order to gain a similar rhythm to the real songs. It's not quite right but I got it to a point where the songs are recognizable.
I then had to try and figure out what I should do visually, and how to activate the music. I decided I wanted to have my sprite activate the music by touching different colors. I had no clue how to do this in scratch so I looked it up on youtube and mimicked the coding sequences. If I hadn't looked up the coding sequence, I would not have achieved my result...it seems the best way to learn this coding language is by watching many demos, copying them, and eventually feeling comfortable enough to experiment.
I chose my own colors and composition, and picked a ballerina sprite to engage with the colors. A dancer seemed appropriate. The video I watched had their sprite moving in rapid circular motions bouncing across the screen to hit random singular notes. I preferred having my sprite touching melodies that would create a cacophony when played together. I found that if I had viewers use activation keys, like the space bar or arrow, it wasn't intuitive and became quite boring. When the sprite moves on its own, it triggers a much more interesting combination of melodies because of its random nature. I included the scratch program I made in class to show contrast between the act of having to operate a program oneself vs watching a program move in funky ways on its own.
I then had to try and figure out what I should do visually, and how to activate the music. I decided I wanted to have my sprite activate the music by touching different colors. I had no clue how to do this in scratch so I looked it up on youtube and mimicked the coding sequences. If I hadn't looked up the coding sequence, I would not have achieved my result...it seems the best way to learn this coding language is by watching many demos, copying them, and eventually feeling comfortable enough to experiment.
I chose my own colors and composition, and picked a ballerina sprite to engage with the colors. A dancer seemed appropriate. The video I watched had their sprite moving in rapid circular motions bouncing across the screen to hit random singular notes. I preferred having my sprite touching melodies that would create a cacophony when played together. I found that if I had viewers use activation keys, like the space bar or arrow, it wasn't intuitive and became quite boring. When the sprite moves on its own, it triggers a much more interesting combination of melodies because of its random nature. I included the scratch program I made in class to show contrast between the act of having to operate a program oneself vs watching a program move in funky ways on its own.
Art Classroom Connections:
1. Creating Musical Games and Compositions
I think Scratch is a great tool for kids to play around with musical compositions on a variety of instruments. It's not a fast process by any means. This forces kids to listen carefully to each note and its juxtaposition to the previous and proceeding notes (their tunes and beat lengths). I find that when kids try to create compositions with actual instruments or music composition software, they get caught up in the difficulty of the instruments or the cool effects of software. It's important for them to remember how to listen and make thoughtful choices. Once they have created enticing note sequences, they can add visuals, and sprites that trigger those visuals. It's a long process but a rewarding and educational one. Unless desired, the child must be careful of creating cacophonies of sound. This would require that the sprite they use to activate the music works its way across the screen in an orderly fashion, rather than a random one. Kids can also create interactive musical games through coding, ones where the user makes compositions by placing objects or sprites in particular positions by touching letters, numbers, or signs on the key board.
2. Narrative Presentations: Video Games and Animation
Scratch is a great way for kids to make presentations on topics they've learned in school through interactive animated storytelling. They can code characters to interact with each other through conversations or visual movements. They can also code their programs to make games so that their classmates will learn about a topic, acquiring knowledge by collecting objects or moving through logic levels. In this way, kids who have trouble with public speaking can share their ideas without worrying about anyone judging their delivery- tone of voice, eye contact, use of ums, trouble with reading note cards, memorization techniques, pacing, or sweating. This is particularly great for pre teens and teens who are already extremely self conscious and critical of each other. Teachers can also create interactive presentations or games to teach kids about math, science, art, literature and music, in a way that kids find enticing. Often, kids grow bored with lectures and school exercises. If a video game or interactive animation was involved in their learning process, they might be more excited to pay attention and participate.
1. Creating Musical Games and Compositions
I think Scratch is a great tool for kids to play around with musical compositions on a variety of instruments. It's not a fast process by any means. This forces kids to listen carefully to each note and its juxtaposition to the previous and proceeding notes (their tunes and beat lengths). I find that when kids try to create compositions with actual instruments or music composition software, they get caught up in the difficulty of the instruments or the cool effects of software. It's important for them to remember how to listen and make thoughtful choices. Once they have created enticing note sequences, they can add visuals, and sprites that trigger those visuals. It's a long process but a rewarding and educational one. Unless desired, the child must be careful of creating cacophonies of sound. This would require that the sprite they use to activate the music works its way across the screen in an orderly fashion, rather than a random one. Kids can also create interactive musical games through coding, ones where the user makes compositions by placing objects or sprites in particular positions by touching letters, numbers, or signs on the key board.
2. Narrative Presentations: Video Games and Animation
Scratch is a great way for kids to make presentations on topics they've learned in school through interactive animated storytelling. They can code characters to interact with each other through conversations or visual movements. They can also code their programs to make games so that their classmates will learn about a topic, acquiring knowledge by collecting objects or moving through logic levels. In this way, kids who have trouble with public speaking can share their ideas without worrying about anyone judging their delivery- tone of voice, eye contact, use of ums, trouble with reading note cards, memorization techniques, pacing, or sweating. This is particularly great for pre teens and teens who are already extremely self conscious and critical of each other. Teachers can also create interactive presentations or games to teach kids about math, science, art, literature and music, in a way that kids find enticing. Often, kids grow bored with lectures and school exercises. If a video game or interactive animation was involved in their learning process, they might be more excited to pay attention and participate.
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