Learning to Compose
with Apple’s
GarageBand
Ken Smith, Asst. Prof.
Music Education and Technology
At Western Michigan Univ.
Email: kenneth.smith@wmich.edu
Why Use Garage Band?
It’s economical, and comes bundled
with new Macintosh computers.
„ It’s easy to use.
„ It’s flexible. You can use it for
composing, recording and many other
tasks.
„ It’s got some promise for longevity.
„
What is Garage Band?
„
„
„
„
„
GB is a track based sequencer.
GB uses software instruments for MIDI
information.
GB uses Real Instruments for recording live
sound.
GB has many tools to edit and manipulate
sound.
GB compositions can be exported to iTunes
and distrubuted by CD or on the Web.
How can GB be used in
the classroom?
„
Composition (Standard 3&4 – Improvising and Creating music).
– Recycled composition using loops.
– Original composition using MIDI and
digital audio.
„
Analysis (Standard 6 – Listening, analyzing and describing music).
– Mark formal sections of a piece.
– Recreate a composition.
How can GB be used in
the classroom (cont.)?
„
Recording – (Standard 7–Evaluating music and performances).
– Mixing multiple audio tracks.
– Editing recorded sound and MIDI
performances.
„
Distribution – (Standard 8 – Relationship of music to other
arts).
– Save as MP3 using iTunes.
– Burn to CDs or publish to a website.
Resources
„
Learning Garage Band
– GB Tutorials:
http://comtechlab.iupui.edu/tutorialsfolde
r/garageband.html
– Apple’s GarageBand support page:
http://www.apple.com/support/garageband/
– Converting GB projects to MP3s:
http://homepages.wmich.edu/~khsmith/garag
eband.html
Resources
„
Teaching with Garage Band
– Apple’s GarageBand in the classroom:
http://www.apple.com/education/garageband/
– Apple’s GarageBand Lesson Plans
http://www.apple.com/education/garageband/lesso
n_plans/
– Dan Smith (2004). GarageBand Mechanics.
Intelligenic.
(http://www.intelligenic.com/index2.html)
– Reese, McCord and Walls (2001). Strategies
for Teaching: Technology. MENC: Reston, VA.
Resources
„
Expanding Garage Band
– Jam Packs
http://www.apple.com/ilife/garageband/jampacks/
„
Instruments, Remix tools, Rhythm sections, Symphony
Orchestra
– Accessories (Digital audio, Keyboards, Microphones).
http://www.apple.com/ilife/garageband/accessories.h
tml
„
Ken Smith’s resources for this presentation.
http://homepages.wmich.edu/~khsmith/garageband.html