Using SongMaker to simply create play-along videos: Xmas edition

Using technology in your music lessons difficult? Creating play-along videos for your music education hard and time-consuming? Think again!

In the following video you will learn a simple approach to creating a play-along score with accompaniment in BoomWhacker® colour notation.

The process is easy and it does not take you long or cost you extra money!
Just follow these simple steps:

• Choose a song;
• Go to musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Song-Maker;
• Notate the melody and the harmonic and rhythmic accompaniment (you may need to add extra bars via the settings) and choose sounds to your liking;
• Set the tempo slider to suit the song and your students’ ability;
• Let your students take school instruments that have colours that match the BoomWhackers® colour notation system (decide whether your students will be playing one or more tubes);
• Hit the Play button and enjoy the music making!

Additional ideas:

• Let your students choose a song, have them write down and practice the melody and accompaniment, and have them present their song;
• Turn down the volume or turn off the sound system and have your students play the music without SongMaker making the sound;
• Prepare an extra version of the song without, for example, the melody and let your students play the melody from memory;

Suggestions for better results:

• Adjust the tempo to make playing along less or more difficult;
• Pay attention to the balance in volume between the sound of SongMaker and the school instruments. Also check the balance from the back of your classroom;
• Practice when to start the video in case you want to give four beats in advance;
• In the settings, you can, for example, add extra bars and change the meter, scale, and pitch range;

Now …
Get your class into the Xmas vibes and let them play along their favourite Xmas songs in videos you create yourself using Chrome Music Lab – Song Maker.

Or play the good old Jingle bells song without preparation.

Just click on the play button below to hear the arrangement.
Or Edit with Song Maker to see the song in full screen!

Enjoy technology-enriched musicking with your class!

Happy Christmas!