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Week 8: Ableton
19.4.24
This week, we had a special guest Tom Cameron from Ableton come in and teach us how to use ableton.
We first went through the tutorial on (https://learningmusic.ableton.com/). After going through the tutorials talking about how beats, notes, chords, and melodies work, I made this little song, in the playground.
Using Ableton
Later in the session, instead of working on the Billie Eilish remix assignment, I decided to try my hand at creating a simple trap beat. I began by selecting a melody from the available samples and loaded it into a sampler. After adding a few effects, I tweaked the settings to shape the melody into something unique and catchy.
Next, I took a piano sample and transformed it into a chord-playing instrument. I added a couple of effects to the piano to give it a more subdued and atmospheric sound, which complemented the melody well.
To complete the track, I focused on the beats, layering snare drums and a bass drum with an 808 to create a robust and driving rhythm. This layering technique helped to enhance the overall texture of the beat, making it more dynamic and engaging. The combination of these elements—melodic lines, subdued chords, and powerful beats—culminated in a trap beat that felt both cohesive and creatively fulfilling.
Here is the finished beat:
Making music has always been a dream of mine, whether it's producing trap beats or composing orchestral pieces. However, as I've transitioned into university, I've noticed my drive to create music diminishing. Balancing work and academic commitments, I rarely find the time to indulge in what I genuinely love doing.
Here's a video to something I created back in Year 10 when I was obsessed with FL Studio. I've been trying to reconnect with the energy that inspired me back then, but it feels so different now that I'm in university. Hopefully, one day, I'll be able to reignite that passion and integrate music-making into my life again.
On another note, this week's educational focus, while perhaps not traditionally applicable in a classroom setting, highlights a significant gap in educational topics, particularly from the maker community. Areas such as synthesizers, programming, electronics, microcontrollers, and software development could provide high school students with fresh experiences and opportunities that are closely linked to the surrounding communities and emerging job markets.
