Beat Design - UK Garage

Learning how to compose drum beats in different genres can help with understanding MIDI programming techniques as well as rhythmical fingerprints of specific styles. In this classroom activity learners develop their understanding of this by programming and editing from basic patterns into a fully developed beat that is influenced by the UK Garage style.

Learning: Rhythm | MIDI | Genre
What’s needed: Live 11.3 Intro or higher | Headphones  
What’s included: Demonstration videos | Beat Design poster | Teacher Guide | Learner Live Set with built-in guide and links to demonstration videos on YouTube  (15.8 MB) 
Level: Beginner level understanding of Session View
Author: James Tuck - Ableton Certified Trainer, Secondary School Head of Music & Musical Futures Tech Champion from the UK

Activity Overview

• Step 1 – Listen to ‘Flowers’ (Sunship Remix) by Sweet Female Attitude as an example of UK Garage
• Step 2 – Learners watch demonstration videos for each step of the activity and program drum beats in Ableton Live that get progressively more complex
• Step 3 –  Learners apply the skills/knowledge from the videos to develop their own drum beat(s)
• Step 4 - Work is shared with the group/teacher to receive feedback

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Warping – Bass in the Place

With Ableton Live’s Warping feature musicians can easily manipulate audio recordings for creative and corrective purposes. One way it can be used is by shifting the timing of individual notes - whether to put them in (or out) of time as well as completely changing the rhythm.  In this classroom activity learners create and move warp markers to alter the rhythm of a bass line to match the kick drum.

Learning: Warping Audio | Rhythm | Aural Skills
What’s needed: Live 11.3 Intro or higher | Headphones  
What’s included: Learner Live Set with included Help View instructions (8.3 MB) | Teacher Live Set with activity already completed (11.6 MB) | Teacher guide | Drum rhythm worksheet Drum notation (PDF & Musescore 4) | Warp marker video
Level: Beginner level understanding of Session View & critical listening.
Author: James Tuck - Ableton Certified Trainer, Secondary School Head of Music & Musical Futures Tech Champion from the UK

Activity Overview

• Step 1 – Teacher introduces the task and resources.
• Step 2 – Learners create warp markers for bass and match the rhythm of kick drum.
• Step 3 – Teacher shares selected classwork to appraise/highlight specific outcomes.
• Extension – Learners create more rhythmical alterations in other clips.

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Effects – White Noise Riser

Risers are a staple of modern music production, whether that be in Electronic Dance Music styles, Pop or Rock.  Whilst it is possible to use risers from sample libraries, it is always preferable to understand the process.  In this classroom activity the learner engages with three techniques to program a white noise riser effect.

Learning: Effects | Automation | Modulation
What’s needed: Live 11.3 Intro or higher | Headphones  
What’s included: Learner Live Set with included Help View instructions (8.1 MB) | Teacher guide | Learner demonstration videos
Level: Beginner level understanding of Session View.
Author: James Tuck - Ableton Certified Trainer, Secondary School Head of Music & MusicalFutures Tech Champion from the UK

Activity Overview  

• Step 1 – Teacher introduces the task and frames the use of risers in music.
• Step 2 – Learners follow video guides to programing risers from white noise.
• Step 3 – Teacher shares selected classwork to appraise/highlight specific outcomes.

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Sound Design and Synthesis with Drift

Creating original sounds from scratch using a synthesiser is a critical skill used in modern music production. This classroom activity allows for beginners and those with experience of sound design to develop and demonstrate their understanding of how sound can be shaped through synthesis using Ableton’s approachable and great sounding synthesiser, Drift. 

Learning: Sound design | Critical listening | Synthesis
What’s needed: Live 11.3 Intro or higher | Headphones  
What’s included: Teacher guide | Teacher Live Set (839 KB) | Learner Live Set with built-in guide (6.1 MB) 
Level: Beginner-Intermediate level understanding of navigating Live’s Session view
Author: James Tuck - Ableton Certified Trainer, Secondary School Head of Music & Musical Futures Tech Champion from the UK

Activity Overview

• Step 1 – Introduce topic and demonstrate use of in-built Lesson Guide via first steps of kick drum recipe
• Step 2 –  Practical activity where learners work through the included Live Set resource to shape six instrument types with help from the in-built Lesson Guide.  
• Step 3 – Learners share their Ableton Live sets via presentations to allow for critique of their work and understanding.

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