Maura+Foley+-+Garage+Band


 * What: ** Garage Band


 * Web address: **https://ssl.apple.com/apps/garageband/


 * Student’s Name: ** Maura Foley


 * Grade level(s): ** 2(with assistance)-University


 * Content area(s): ** Music, Technology


 * Abstract: ** Garage Band has been around for a long time as software available on MacBooks. Now, it is available as an app for iPad/iPhone/iPod. The app includes some touch instruments, which the user can play if they have some musical knowledge. However, the app also includes "smart" instruments, which limit the player to a specific key. This makes it easy to create a song that makes sense even if you don't have musical theory knowledge of key signatures, harmonic progressions, etc. Though it costs $4.99, the app is easy to use by older students and with teacher help.

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 * Personal Experience: ** I've started to play around with this app over the last couple of days and think it would be easy for my students to use. Though I do not have enough iPads for each student to have their own, this would be a great center for a group of students to work on together. I made sample songs in ABA form that students could listen to and model theirs after. Students can then share their song with me and the rest of the class by e-mailing their song directly from the app. I included a short video recording of a song I made using the app. For this song, I only used the smart instruments available on the app, and it only took about 10 minutes to put it together. You'll notice I'm playing it though my iTunes, which it did automatically. I look forward to using this for composition and improvisation in the classroom.