Beat Making

Overview: 

             This course is designed to introduce teenagers to the essential aspects of beat making and music production.  Most popular music, from Hip Hop to Dance and Electronica, is produced by means of computers and other current technology.  The course will examine the history of music production, specifically exploring how Hip Hop music has relied on samplers and other emerging forms of technology.  Students will learn basic musical concepts as they relate to music production and will eventually create their own beats using various computer programs.

 

Objectives:

Understand the history of Hip Hop music and production

Learn basic music theory and concepts

Become familiar with trends in Hip Hop music and production

Learn the basics of beat making and create their own beats

Become familiar with the pioneers of Hip Hop production

Develop a critical awareness of the music industry and the media

 

Themes/Key Components of Course

History of Beat Making/Production

Explore Break Beats and the first hip hop songs

The early role of the DJ

The first samplers

Trends in sampling / hip hop production

Explore the major hip hop producers

 

    

Beat Making 101

Sampling (Digging, listening, what is a good sample, learning genres of music, how to sample)

Basic production concepts (counting bars, types of drums, terms)

Looping and chopping samples

Finding drums (drum loops vs. drum hits and chopping drums)

Sequencing

 

    

Corresponding NYS Learning Standards 

 

The Arts

Standard 1: Creating, Performing, and Participating in the Arts

Students will actively engage in the processes that constitute

creation and performance in the arts (dance, music, theatre,

and visual arts) and participate in various roles in the arts.

Standard 2: Knowing and Using Arts Materials and Resources

Students will be knowledgeable about and make use of the

materials and resources available for participation in the arts

in various roles.

 

Standard 3: Responding to and Analyzing Works of Art

Students will respond critically to a variety of works in the

arts, connecting the individual work to other works and to

other aspects of human endeavor and thought.

Standard 4: Understanding the Cultural Contributions of the Arts

Students will develop an understanding of the personal and

cultural forces that shape artistic communication and how the

arts in turn shape the diverse cultures of past and present

society.

 

Career Development and Occupational Studies

Standard 1: Career Development

Students will be knowledgeable about the world of work, explore

career options, and relate personal skills, aptitudes, and abilities to

future career decisions.

Standard 2: Integrated Learning

Students will demonstrate how academic knowledge and skills

are applied in the workplace and other settings.

 

English Language Arts

Standard 3: Language for Critical Analysis and Evaluation

Students will listen, speak, read, and write for critical analysis

and evaluation. As listeners and readers, students will analyze

experiences, ideas, information, and issues presented by others

using a variety of established criteria. As speakers and writers,

they will use oral and written language that follows the

accepted conventions of the English language to present, from a

variety of perspectives, their opinions and judgments on

experiences, ideas, information and issues.

Standard 4: Language for Social Interaction

Students will listen, speak, read, and write for social

interaction. Students will use oral and written language that

follows the accepted conventions of the English language for

effective social communication with a wide variety of people. As

readers and listeners, they will use the social communications

of others to enrich their understanding of people and their views.