This semester CWM students are spending time in the Media Lab with Steve Reich’s Different Trains, a piece the PSQ is performing in February. Classes will study the piece and produce their own “Different Trains,” using sounds and images they collect and edit in Logic Pro and iMovie.

On the first day of class students did a “listening walk” to attune to the everyday music we hear when we slow down enough to pay attention to the world around us.

After discussing our walks, we oriented to the Media Lab (a new space for most students), exploring the Lab’s various equipment and how to use the space.

Then we settled into the Listening Nook of the Media Lab for some deep listening to the first movement of Different Trains. After listening we talked about what we heard, how it made us feel, and how the piece is constructed.

After listening, we transitioned to the computers where we explored Logic! We learned how to import files and select, move, copy, and loop audio regions. We then completed a short assignment, using a pre-recorded audio file (Laura saying, “Welcome to the Media Lab. Have fun making your own music.”) to create new audio pieces. The results are below!

Sophie L
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/SofieL9-20-2010.mp3|titles=Sophie L]

Malachy H
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/malachy9-20-2010.mp3|titles=Malachy H]

Liam H
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/liam9-20-2010.mp3|titles=Liam H]

Justin C
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/justin-9-20-2010.mp3|titles=Justin C]

Gabriel V
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Gabriel9-20-2010.mp3|titles=Gabriel V]

Elvis R
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/elvis-9-20-2010.mp3|titles=Elvis R]

David D
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/david9-20-2010.mp3|titles=David D]

Anthony D
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/anthony9-20-2010.mp3|titles=Anthony D]

Angel V
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/angel9-20-10.mp3|titles=Angel V]

Jeffry S
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/092110jeffry.mp3|title=Jeffry S]

Alana P
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/9-21-10alana.mp3|titles=Alana P]

Aiden S
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/9-21-10aidensullivan.mp3|titles=Aiden S]

Brian R
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/9-21-10-Brian.mp3|titles=Brian R]

First day of class!

Here’s to a great year!

Today was the last class. We did some final work on mixing and mastering, and also reflected on what we did over the last six weeks together by writing and talking about these questions:

1. How would you like to introduce your piece?
2. If you were telling a friend about this class, how would you describe it?
3. How has this class affected the way you think about music?
4. How has this class affected they way you play/study your instrument?

Here’s what everyone had to say:

CHRISTIAN Y

My piece feels like a party’s going on. It feels like 2000 people on the dance floor. The DJ says, “Pump it up!” and the crowd dances a lot. There’s one guy who has a sugar rush (if you eat too much sugar you go crazy on the dance floor).

To make this piece, I listened to a couple songs and thought about it and I tried some new beats and found a beat that goes with the song. Then I put voices in to make it sound better – louder and cooler and amazing. I tried to play a piece of playing – it went good but I thought about it and changed my mind. Sometimes songs come with feelings and mix my head up. When I mixed my song up, I added more things and took some parts out.

Christian Y
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Christian_121bpm.mp3 ]

DAVID D

This class was cool, fun, and awesome. We go on Logic Pro and put music on the tracks. I used to not be interested in making music but now I am. For my piece, first I put the Bond theme in and I made some parts loud or soft. Then I added different tracks to it and and made them loud or soft.

David D
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/David_120bpm.mp3 ]

KIRBY V

I would tell my friends that I had a lot of fun in this class while also learning so much. Media Lab provides us with the chance to be very creative without the fear of being judged.This class made me appreciate music a lot. I love music so much but in a sense I feel so much closer to it now. I learned how much work it actually takes to make a song. When I made a song, everything had a reason. So now when I listen to music, I wonder why the musician chose to do that.

Kirby V
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Kirby_110bpm.mp3 ]

PAUL O

I partnered up with Josh to work on a piece. In our piece we recorded ourselves playing our instruments and then put the recording on the computer. After, we made a beat using a keyboard. The keyboard we used could be used to sound like a drum or a violin or anything else. After we made the beat with the keyboard, we added the recording of ourselves. At first, the recording didn’t match up with each other so we altered the recording to sync with the beat. Shout out to my boy Henry.

If I was to describe this class to a friend I would tell them that this class is dead bangin’. We use a program called Logic Pro to make beats and we can record ourselves playing our instrument and sync it with the beat. So the class is fun.

This class has affected my thinking on music in a way that allows me to realize I can do so much work with music besides playing just sheet music. This class has affected how I play my instrument because I don’t always have to play classical music.

JOSH R

Our piece is a sample of a viola thrown down 12 notches and made it sound like an acoustic bass. Yeah it pretty much kicks butt in every sense. We are planning on just freestyle over playing on this. It was a Black Violin influence. Shouts to Henry! This will be available for everyone to free play on. This piece is rugged and street but ambient at the same time.

We get on a Mac and use Logic Pro and make hits. Monday is my favorite day of the week because I would come make good music. I appreciate all types of music now. This class helped me understand the amount of work involved in making all types of music. I study more rhythms and different instruments. Also, I pay more attention to keys and melodies.

Josh R and Paul O
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/josh_paul_90bpm.mp3|titles=Josh R and Paul O ]

PALOMA G

In this program we created our own music by using stuff we recorded on recorders and mixing what we recorded with a beat. I really like this program.

In my piece, I like it when I say “Wait!” and when I say, “Okay now my hands are cold.” I like those parts. I like the beat that I created. I also liked that I made my piece dark and cheerful, just like I wanted.

This class really makes me like music more than I already do. I love music and I love it even more now thanks to this class. Music is exciting. This class doesn’t affect the way I study/play my instrument(s) because well I don’t know why. I have been playing the same but better because I have been practicing, so no it has not affected me and my instrument(s), I don’t see how or why.

Paloma G
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/paloma_120bpm.mp3]

JESSE W

I put my piece together beat by beat. It’s sort of a R&B type of thing. I call it “Groove.” Betsey gave me the idea when sending the piece to my email. I really think that suits my piece. When I make a beat, I just look for something that can be the foundation/main beat. Then I just search for things that sounds good. Then I just add it to a certain place where I think it fits.

Jesse W
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/jesse_80bpm.mp3]

ANGIE D

Well first I would say that Media Lab is AWESOME. It’s like mixing up different stuff to make one. Learning how to use Logic Pro – it’s like making a song using voices. Just using Logic Pro helped me understand how music is sometimes made. I chose to end my song with a rough and hard voice. It showed me how some musics are not all that simple! It helped me to know how different kinds of beats can make ONE.

Angie D – Around the World
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/angie_aroundtheworld.mp3|titles=Around the World ]

Angie D – Funk
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/angie_funk.mp3|titles=Funk ]

Angie D – Fin
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/angie_fin.mp3|titles=Fin ]

Angie D – Beauty
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/angie_beauty.mp3|titles=Beauty ]

KARL O

First I thought about something that has to do with hip-hop, so I put some drums to set of a good beat. Then I wanted something that went good with the drums so I added a violin and clarinet solo and it sounded awesome. Then at the end I sort of want a guitar solo.

At the Performance Party, I felt excited because I wanted to show other people what I made. But I sort of felt weird just standing up on the stage.

I think Media Lab is an awesome class. We used a program called Logic Pro 9 to make different loops and make different beats.

First, I sort of thought that music was sort of boring. But when I joined CMW, I thought music was better. Finally, I joined Media Lab and thought music was awesome and was one of the best things ever created. Now since I joined the Media Lab, I think good about being a cellist. Also I get more into playing my cello and practicing.

Karl O
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/karl_90bpm.mp3]

ALANA P

In the first half of my piece you’re at a night club. Also in this part I included an improvisation part. Then once this part finishes, you are now waiting for the bus. You are now on your way home. I also used an improvisation part in this. In both sections I included a recording of me and Angie from when we were taking our expedition with Micah and Paloma. When I shared this piece at the Performance Party it was very exciting because I saw many people nodding their heads to my beat. It was very fun! But I also have to give props to Logic Pro because I found many loops to create my piece there.

If I were to describe Media Lab to my friend I would say, “It’s a class I go to every Monday and we make our own tracks on this program called Logic Pro. This program allows me to share my favorite styles.”

This class has affected the way I think about music now because I see that you can take all different styles of music and it can still sound awesome and cool.

This class has affected the way I play and study music because now I can always take my violin and improvise over my piece.

Alana P
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Alana-Final.mp3]

We spent these two classes working on our final pieces. We reviewed the idea of creating a piece that evokes a particular mood, tells a story, or makes use of musical patterns. Works-in-progress were shared and technical demos were done when needed.

At the end of the 5th class, everyone selected 20-40 seconds from their piece to be shared at the March 13 Performance Party (thanks to Henry for mixing everything together).

Choose your own adventure day!

1. Use the Zoom H2 recorders to collect sound from out in the world (accompanied by Micah).
2. Work with a Ravel piece to create a new piece that evokes a mood, tells a story, or uses musical patterns (or makes use of any of the strategies we talked about during the last class).
3. Listen to music Betsey selected (on a discman in the Listening Nook) and record your thoughts about what you’re hearing in your Media Lab notebook.

Everyone created their own class experience from these options today. Betsey also conferenced individually with everyone about their final projects.

Today we began class in the “listening nook.” Betsey played several different electronic music pieces for us. We discussed the strategies composers used to create these works as a way to start thinking about creating our own new work. We talked about how pieces made us feel and why, and focused in on strategies like harmony, repetition, imperfect looping, tempo, rhythm, motifs, hooks, layering, etc.

Then we moved over to the computers. We reviewed what we learned last week and experimented with some of these strategies.

The first Media Lab class started today with nine CMW students ages 9-17!

Betsey Biggs (standing on the right), an electronic music composer currently in residence at Brown University’s Cogut Humanities Center, started the class by leading us on a “sound walk” into the never-before-seen Media Lab space.  After a discussion about listening (what we heard on our walks/the different ways we respond to sounds/how much we notice when we actively focus on listening, etc), we talked about the ways we might use this new space and work together over the next six weeks. We then got on the computers and, with the help of teaching assistants Henry Kerins (on the left) and Micah Salkind, dove into our first Logic pieces. We did a quick “intro to the Mac” session and then explored Logic’s tools by using pre-made loops to create short projects.

Angie and Alana
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/day1_AngieAlana.mp3|titles=Angie and Alana ]

Christian and Josh
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/day1_ChristianJosh.mp3|titles=Christian and Josh ]

David and Kirby
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/day1_DavidKirby.mp3|titles=David and Kirby ]

Jesse
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/day1_Jesse.mp3|titles=Jesse ]

Paloma
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/day1_Paloma.mp3|titles=Paloma ]

Paul
[audio:http://www.communitymusicworks.org/medialab/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/day1_Paul.mp3|titles=Paul ]