1.

Time Needed: 50 minutes

2. Materials Needed:
a. Computer with DAW (GarageBand)
b. Projector
c. Individual computers/tablets with DAW for students
d. Instruction sheet for independent practice
e. MIDI keyboard (if available)
3. Learning Objectives:
a. Using a computer or a tablet (C), the student (A) will be able to input at least 5
different notes (D) into a DAW (B).
i. MU.Cr2.1.I b.: Use standard and/or iconic notation and/or audio/video
recording to document personal rhythmic phrases, melodic phrases, and
harmonic sequences.
4. Assessment: Successful completion of independent practice
5. Personal Objectives:
a. Outline steps clearly for students at a pace that is comfortable for them
6. Procedures:
a. Start GarageBand before lecture begins
i. Double-click program
ii. Select “Empty Project” and click “Choose”
iii. Select “Software Instrument” and click “Create”
iv. Click on loops icon at top right (center of three icons, looks like a loop)
and allow time for the program to index the loops library
b. Collect last night’s assignment if not already turned in.
c. Announce that instead of putting loops together, students will be able to create
their own music, melodies, rhythms, etc.
d. Anticipatory set
i. Keyboard worksheet
1. 2-3 minutes to complete
2. Discuss answers with worksheet on projector
e. Lecture with DAW on projector
i. DAW is not just for organizing preset loops, but you can also put in your
own notes
ii. Methods of inputting notes
1. Piano Roll (on GarageBand)
a. Explain that it’s like playing a piano, but you can stretch
the length of notes and move them around
b. Model over projector
i. Select track (Classic Electric Piano track should
already be selected)
ii. Either click the “Editor’s” button at the top-left of
the screen (scissors icon) or press E on the keyboard
iii. Right-click in the piano roll field (black and gray
stripes) and select “Create Note”
iv. Click and hold the note around the piano roll field
to change its pitch and time
 1. Up = higher pitch; down = lower pitch
2. Left = earlier in time; right= later in time
v. Explain that vertical lines indicate where the beats
are
vi. Repeat, adding a few more notes
vii. Click “Play” button at top (triangle pointing to the
right)
viii. Once the notes have played, click “Stop” button at
top (square)
2. MIDI Keyboard (keyboard connected to computer)
a. Explain that MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital
Interface
i. Basically a universal computer language for musical
data
1. Instructions that store the pitch, velocity
(loudness or softness), duration of notes
among other data
b. Explain that you can play notes on the keyboard to input
them
c. Model over projector
i. Click “Undo” (ctrl + z) until all actions have been
undone
ii. Click “Go To Beginning” button at top (triangle
pointing left touching a vertical line)
iii. Click “Record” button at top (red circle)
iv. Play notes on keyboard
v. Click “Stop” when done
vi. Click “Go to Beginning”
vii. Click “Play”
viii. Click “Stop” when notes have finished playing
ix. Point out that you can see the notes that you played
on the piano roll and on the track (green area)
x. Explain that you can edit these on the piano roll just
like before
iii. Guided Practice
1. Click “Undo” until all actions have been undone
2. While modeling, instruct students to follow along on their own
computers/tablets as you:
a. Place a preset drum track
i. Open Loops menu
ii. Select (All Drums)
iii. Drag and drop any loop into the track field (will say
“Drop Apple Loops Here”)
1. Place at very far left of track
2. Extend loop by grabbing the right side of the
track and dragging it to the right
 b. Create and place a bass track
i. Click “New Tracks” (Plus sign above picture of
“Classic Electric Piano)
ii. Select “Software Instrument” and click “Create”
iii. At left, select “Bass” menu from instrument library,
then double-click “Fingerstyle Bass”
iv. Click “Record”
v. Play notes on keyboard to record bass track
vi. Click “Stop” when finished recording
c. Play a melody
i. Click “Go To Beginning”
ii. Select “Classic Electric Piano”
iii. Click “Record”
iv. Play notes on keyboard to record melody
v. Click “Stop” when finished
d. Playback
i. Click “Go To Beginning”
ii. Click “Play”
iii. Click “Stop” when notes are finished
iv. Independent Practice
1. Pass out independent practice sheet/Display instructions from sheet
on board/projector
2. Use remaining class time to allow students to work on independent
practice on their own and provide assistance if requested
7. Closure:
a. Tell students that tomorrow they will learn how to edit their compositions even
further to give them their own unique touch.

Note Input – Independent Practice Name

:

Create your own melody on GarageBand using the two methods we

discussed in class today (piano roll and MIDI keyboard). You will turn
your project file in for a grade on MM/DD at the beginning of class.
Make sure you include the following:
 A drum track using a preset loop (or make your own drum track
with the methods we learned today!)
 A bass track
 A melody track using any instrument of your choosing (excluding
drum sets). This track must contain at least five different notes.
Keyboard Identification Name
:

Label the key on the keyboard using the following notes:

A B B D E F
G A#/Bb C#/Db D#/Eb F#/Gb G#/Ab