Hookpad, composition made easy

Composition for students has never been so easy. This lovely little program has so many features that it could be the topic of several blog posts. Today I will discuss it purely as a composition tool.

To date I have only used the free features of this program. There are options for payment for a user or a classroom. These aren't cheap, but if it is something you will use frequently it may be worth considering. The bonus with a paid subscription is that it unlocks features such as printing a score and so on. There is also the option for a setting up a classroom to allow for set up of assessments, theory work and more.

As stated above, in this post, I will be focusing on the composition aspect of this tool. Simply create and account. The thing I love about hookpad is that once an account is created in google chrome, if I use the same device it automatically logs me in each time I open the software.

This is what you will see when you first log in ready to begin a new composition.

Depending on whether you are composing the melody first or a chord progression first as to which option you select. I like to work with the chord progression first so I right click on the chord section of the work space as shown in the next image.

This allows me to select the chords I wish to use. As you can see, chords are shown as roman numerals. This leads to an informal conversation regarding the use of upper case for major chords and lower case for minor chords. Chords are also colour coded. Certainly makes things easier in a classroom situation. There is as much or as little freedom as you wish. Across the top you will see buttons that allow you to save, open, export (unfortunately a paid feature), play, select time signature, select key, select tempo etc. Again this leads to a great conversation about music theory. If you or your students wish to use chords with added notes there is this option on the right hand side of the chords.

To the left of the work space is where we select the note values for both the melody and the chords. This is a very visual tool and the note values are shown as whole bar, half bar etc. This is shown in the image below.

On the right hand side of the score is a handle bar that allows you to drag backwards to shorten the line. I like to use this option when composing with an introduction of less than 8 bars.

Just as in "real life" your chord progression can use any rhythm and note values you like. to lengthen or shorten sounds is just like enlarging the cell of a table in a word document or an image in an image editing program.

I use this software in both junior and elective years. When beginning I like to keep the rhythm simple as seen below. Here is my introduction for a composition I am working on with year 8.

We will be composing a song using an introduction, verse and chorus. We have begun with a chord progression that will remain unchanged throughout the verse. For the introduction I am asking them to experiment with composing a simple riff using "safe notes" C D G.

What you will notice here is that everything is colour coded. If you hover the mouse over the chord it will show you the chordal notes in the melody. Again another great conversation starter for chordal notes and passing notes. It is quite simple to add rests by simply selecting the grey icon to the right of the notes. It too can have its length varied as need be. For the more advanced there is the option of adding notes to chords as seen on the right hand side.

Alternatively composers are able to select different inversions of chords.

My students are now ready to go on and compose their melody. As they move down the page they have the option of moving the palette rather scrolling backwards and forwards.

There is no limit to the length of a song (that I have discovered yet). New lines can be added underneath by clicking on the plus sign. Alternatively, lines can be removed by selecting the minus sign.

Another great feature is that as chords or notes are selected the student/composer is able to hear them. Using the cursor the composition can be played from any point. The software does select an automated accompaniment style creating a play along type effect. Students are able to hear the effect of melodic notes, either as dissonance or consonance with the harmony. As this is a lineal composition tool students have need to be able to read and write using traditional notation. They are able to see at a glance if a melody uses steps or leaps and how big those leaps are. They can see the relationship of a note to a chord and to see the harmonic rhythm.

It is possible to insert lyrics for the melody.

Once the lyrics are inserted they will be divided into syllables to line up with the melody. 

There seems to be one downside of the lyrics with the free version, and that is the lyrics run out. So before embarking on a song writing venture check how far the lyric tool extends to avoid heartache. 

Another great feature for beginners is the instrument tool. By selecting either piano or guitar composers are able to see their chords on the piano/guitar to begin to learn to play their own creation.

There are many more features I could write about. Once you begin experimenting with hookpad the possibilities are endless for composition, aural, analysis, music theory lessons and so on. This software useful for those students/composers who have little musical literacy. It is a great teaching tool for all ages and abilities, and the best part is that there are so many features that are free.

Once a new song has been composed and saved to the cloud it is great to share it. There are a number of different ways to do this depending on your computer literacy. Probably the easiest is to share the url to your composition.

I love this software. I did discover once, that in the initial signup phase you are able to print the score for a short time. Unfortunately this feature times out.

Try hookpad today. Find your inner composer or that of your students. Let me know what you think of this software or ways you have used it. I would love to get some new ideas.

Hookpad

Cheers

Teresa

Thinglink, bringing pictures to life

Ever wanted students to label a diagram of an instrument? Asked them to research biographical details of a composer? Had them investigate a variety of instrumental ensembles; small and large?
Thinkglink is a tool I have used for all of these things and more.

Again this is a free tool. It allows you to log in with facebook or google; again saving you from remembering passwords or setting up accounts. Using the free aspects of this app you can search the web-base for public thinglinks that have been created and shared by others. An interesting way to introduce the benefits of using this app is to search through examples of thinglinks that already exist.

Thinglink works by uploading an image. This image can be your own original image or one from the internet. Once the user has uploaded an image there are several options for adding data. This can best be screen in the pictures below.

This first picture is what the user will see after logging into their account.

At the top right hand corner is a red cross button. This is the button you select to create a new thinglink. As per other programs and apps, the user is given numerous options for uploading an image. I have used a variety of different methods and each is as easy as the other.

In this example I have used and uploaded a picture of the instruments of the orchestra. My suggestion, is before you do anything else, save this picture.

Now the fun part begins. You are invited to "add tags". In a way it is no different to tagging people in images that you upload to facebook. An icon will show on the image and on the left hand side you will have a number of options for input of information.

By clicking on the black circle icon you are able to select the icon you would like to use. In recent times thinglink has made changes as to the features that are accessible in the free account. Whereas once a user was able to directly insert a you tube video that then uses a play style button/icon etc, now the options are either to update for a fee, or paste the url address into the link box instead. Either way the details and information can still be shared, and the video can be played.

In this way the user is able to share as much information as they wish. The icon is movable by using the mouse to click and drop. I have used this type of image for students to label the instruments of the orchestra. They are also able to include information on the instruments and their respective families. Finally, they have also included a youtube video or similar of the instrument being played to make aural connections.

The final product will look something like the following:

Now you, or your students, are able to hover over each the icons to display the information they wish to see. Below are some examples of what can be seen.

This is a great way to get students engaged in their learning and research. The only thing that remains is the numerous options for sharing your finished product. Depending on your destination, you are offered the usual ways of sharing: email, link, embed code etc. I have most recently used embed codes to upload to google sites or blogs. Below is the thinglink upload using embed code.When embedding as a gadget into a google site be sure to use the embed size recommended for best results. When embedding into a blog using the html, this is not necessary, or at least not in blogger.

               

You now have your interactive image for classroom use. You are only limited by your own imagination or that of your students.

The link for thinglink is below. Good Luck.

Thinglink 

Padlet, an interactive noticeboard

This is a great little tool that can act as an interactive whiteboard but without the expense.

Once all students have the url for your padlet they participate in the discussion on the wall.

And the best part? The teacher has the ultimate control.

I have used this beaut little tool in a class where there are students who find it difficult to join in the conversation. By using padlet they feel safe to share their ideas anonymously. Of course you need to establish ground rules. It helps that the teacher has the ability to delete any comments that are not appropriate or on task.

One of the many ways I have used padlet successfully is by uploading and sharing a youtube video or a document and posting a question. Students are able to see each others' work in realtime. This provides them with instant feedback. They can work collaboratively without needing to discuss or move around the room. you can even run this remotely so that more than one class at a time are able to access it.

To create an account you are able to login with facebook or google. This is very useful if you have difficulty remembering a multitude of passwords. Once you have an account all padlets created are kept in the cloud. If students have their own device they are able to adjust the screen and computer settings to suit their own individual required needs, such as font size.

Padlet has created updates recently that will allow you to download the app using android, google chrome and wordpress, ipad is now supported as well.

The interface is very simple with a tool bar on the right hand side. Here you are able to modify the layout, padlet description, wall paper and share and export, access your account and use the help menu.

When you have completed your padlet there is the option to share and export. Whether you are a fan of hard copy, wish to distribute or upload as a jpg etc to a blog or website, there is an option to suit everyone. For those who like to work with embed code, this option works very well for embedding your padlet into blogs and websites. This is another way for your students to access padlet and return at a later date to see changes and additional information.

The help menu is very user friendly and will take you through all the basics that you need to know.

How you use padlet is up to you. It is a great alternative to photocopy and worksheets. You are able to monitor students in real time and give instant feedback. Students are engaged and can remain anonymous. All work can be saved for use at a later date to be used for revision or study. You could even use padlet and open discussion techniques as an assessment tool. You are only limited by your imagination. If you still arent sure on how to use padlet there is an array of videos on youtube that explain quite simply.

Please feel free to share your thoughts or ways you have used padlet.

The link for padlet is below. Good Luck.

Padlet 

The Development of The Well Tempered Klassroom

I have taught music in high school for over 20 years.

After babies I was lucky enough to have the pleasure of job sharing with an enthusiastic and highly motivated lady. It it thanks to her that my teaching style took on a new personality. I discovered the joy of technology in the classroom and haven't looked back since. To her I owe everything that I have since discovered and experimented with.

We all know that with the development of, and easy access to technology the nature of teaching has changed. Essentially we are still faced with the same job of educating, however, the tools we have at our disposal are varied and much more readily accessible to the masses.

The aim of this blog is to take some of the tools available and to look at their use and validity in the classroom. The Well Tempered Klassroom. Just as The Well Tempered Klavier (two volumes of preludes and fugues compoed by JS Bach; particularly as exercises) exercised the fingers and minds of many keyboard musician, the tools we have to employ in our modern Well Tempered Klassrooms can be used to exercise young minds to creatively and more effectively engage in their own learning journey.

Please feel free to leave feedback and share your own ideas and uses of this technology.

Cheers

Teresa