Abstract: TuneScope (tunescope.org) is a platform developed to introduce coding in the context of music. TuneScope is an extension of the educational programming language Snap! (from the University of California, Berkeley) that uses the W3C Web Audio application program interface (API) to generate musical notes and instruments. The structure of TuneScope was designed in consultation with the Music Department at the University of Virginia. The structure is design to support both the novices who have limited experience with music and student who may play a musical instrument. Participants in this workshop will have the opportunity to explore creation of music using TuneScope. The music activities feature creating a drum track, building a melody, adding chords, and layering tracks together to create a short original song.

Objectives

The objectives of the workshop are to: 1. Enable participants to create music using computational media tools. 2. Enable participants to incorporate computational thinking concepts through these activities.

Topical Outline

The music activities that will be explored during the workshop are drawn from a course, EDIS 2200: Creating Art, Animations & Music through Coding, taught in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Virginia. The course has also been approved by the Department of Computer Science as an elective in the Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science (BACS) degree program. The workshop will be supported by instructional videos and resources designed to support the course. Participants in the workshop will have the opportunity to hear musical compositions created by students using these tools. Participants will also have the opportunity to share their creations with one another. Topical Outline 1. An Introduction to TuneScope 2. Musical Motifs 3. Notes and Scales 4. Programming Drum Sequences 5. Building Chord Progressions

Experience Level

Beginner

Qualifications

Jo Watts is the director of the Make to Learn Laboratory at the University of Virginia. Rachel Gibson is a current graduate student in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Virginia. Monty Jones is an associate professor of education at Virginia Commonwealth University. Glen Bull is a professor in the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Virginia.