Soundation.com is a loop editor that allows students to edit songs, similar to Apple Garageband. Soundation is web-based, which means that users can access the application from any computer that has a browser, without having to worry about purchasing a license. I have used this application with my 6th grade general music class, and will provide my complete project, with instructions, rubric, and grading instructions. Loops come in two flavors: audio and MIDI. The audio sample loops are arranged by tempo, and you can't really mix different tempos.
Pricing:
Basic (700 free loops, no audio recording): Free.
Premium (more loops, storage space): $19.99, $49.99 or $99.99 per year
My Experience:
I've used Soundation as a medium for a 6th grade loop-based composition project (see assignment below). Students are assigned the task of creating an ABA-form song using the loops available in Soundation, and then complete a written reflection online. Many students have enjoyed the process of finding loops that work well together, and have enjoyed the sense of accomplishment when their entire song comes together.
Basic (700 free loops, no audio recording): Free.
Premium (more loops, storage space): $19.99, $49.99 or $99.99 per year
My Experience:
I've used Soundation as a medium for a 6th grade loop-based composition project (see assignment below). Students are assigned the task of creating an ABA-form song using the loops available in Soundation, and then complete a written reflection online. Many students have enjoyed the process of finding loops that work well together, and have enjoyed the sense of accomplishment when their entire song comes together.
Pros:
Cons:
Bonus:
This is a copy of the assignment I've used with my 6th grade general music classes. There are directions for using Soundation, a rubric, and reflection questions. I've used the program for 6 different classes, and tweaked and improved it a little more each time. If you are a teacher, you have my permission to use this with your classes and make any changes you like. However, if you are sharing the assignment with other teachers, please credit me by using this website address.
- Soundation is free, and can be used in any computer lab, or a t home.
- Students can create their own accounts to save songs in the cloud
- If students don't want to sign up for an account, the program can be used without an account by exporting .sng files to a flash drive.
- Soundation is an application in Google Plus hangouts, which means that two or more people can collaborate on a song in real time.
- Students who are more advanced in music can write their own MIDI tracks.
- There are some pretty advanced audio editing features available like volume and pan automation, as well as effects like delay, reverb, and distortion, though I've never used these with my classes.
Cons:
- Soundation's basic library of loops is fairly limited, with only a few different options for each tempo.
- On a slow internet connection, Soundation can be buggy, and the audio loops are slow to load.
- Sometimes Soundation has problems saving files correctly, and students lose their work.
- Soundation does not auto-save without an account, so make sure students save often.
- The process for saving .sng files to a flash drive instead of using their cloud-based saving system can be confusing for students.
Bonus:
This is a copy of the assignment I've used with my 6th grade general music classes. There are directions for using Soundation, a rubric, and reflection questions. I've used the program for 6 different classes, and tweaked and improved it a little more each time. If you are a teacher, you have my permission to use this with your classes and make any changes you like. However, if you are sharing the assignment with other teachers, please credit me by using this website address.
Final Thoughts and Verdict:
Because this is platform-agnostic and doesn't require any downloads, I highly recommend this program for use in general music classes.
RSS Feed