Sonic Pi - 2 Day Workshop - Eyebeam Digitial Daycamp 2018
Authors
Melody Loveless
Website: melodyloveless.com
Instagram: @melodycodes
Before we start...
- How are music and code related?
- How can we organize sound with code?
- What are the relationships between live coding, transparency, and trust?
Target Audience / Prerequisite & Pre-Assessment
High School Students ages 14+
Outcomes & Goals
The next two days, we are going to work in Sonic Pi and host an Algorave/performance at the end of the second day
Pacing / Duration
Day 1
Part 1
- 10-15 min ~ Introduction to Workshop
- What is Music?
- What is Live Coding? ** What does Live Coding feel like as a performer? ** What is the relationship between Live Coding and Trust?
- Establishing Goals/Expectations
- 15-20 min ~ Introduction to Sonic Pi
- Discuss the following:
- Commands - play, sleep, sample, live_loop, x.times
- Parameters - rate, attack, sustain, decay
- How To: Traditional/Dance Music
- Focus: Time, Repetition
- How To: Ambient Music
- Focus: Randomness
- 35-50 min ~ Individual Work
- Pick from a prompt
- 10-15 min ~ Share to Neighbor/Constructive Criticism
LUNCH TIME
Part 2
* 45-60 min ~ Guests from Live Code NYC * Artists TBA * 10-15 min ~ Reflect on Performance * 5-10 min ~ Mini-Review and Open Q&A for techniques * 20-35 min ~ Focused Work * 5-10 min before the end, optional share out
Day 2
Part 1 * 10-15 min ~ Review * 10-15 min ~ Discuss our Algorave * Tips on structuring jam sessions * Music as a game * Melody's Tips * 15-20 min ~ Break off into groups * Plan/create guidelines * 45-60 min ~ Practice in Groups
LUNCH TIME
Part 2 * 20-35 min ~ Rehearse in Individual Groups * 10-15 min ~ Set-up for performance * 45-60 min ~ Performance! The Gig! * 5-10 min ~ Quick post-gig hang
Materials
- Computer
- Sonic Pi
- Speakers/Headphones
Vocabulary
- Algorithm - list of instructions meant to finish a task
- Commands - an instruction for the computer. Many commands put together make up algorithms and computer programs.
- Parameters - an extra piece of information passed to a command/function that customizes
- Algorave - a performance/event where music is generated by code. Typically, the musicians are paired with a visual artist, the code is displayed for the public, and the music is created for dancing
Listening Examples
The following are examples of music to inspire you as you code. Some of the songs/examples technically belong into multiple categories (ex. some process pieces could be danced too) - and that's okay! Your music can be fluid in categories too.
Traditional/Dance Music
- Sam Aaron and Ben Smith Jam in Sonic Pi - https://youtu.be/yD4HPX8TdA8
- Lil Data - https://youtu.be/S24xfCmQkTs
Process Music
- Clapping Music by Steve Reich
- Live Musician Version w/ So Percussion - https://youtu.be/I1y_oWgIkgE
- Sonic Pi Version - https://youtu.be/iJGb8chJHIE
- Piano Phase by Steve Reich
- Youtube/Note Visualization - https://youtu.be/57TuvksMR70
- Sonic Pi Version - Look at "Reich Phase" under the "Examples" section in the Sonic Pi Reference
- "Heavy Lifting" by Palm - https://youtu.be/u_325QDAz5A
- Try listening for the patterns of phrases starting from 2:30 to the end
Ambient Music
- "Banteay Srey" by Carl Stone - https://youtu.be/Cs28V_qDGzo
- "Kyema" by Eliane Radigue - https://youtu.be/PnbGirPTgF0
Algorithmic Music
- "Route One" by Sigur Ros - Sigur Ros used algorithms to manipulate samples from their song "Óveður" to create a generative and constantly changing piece
- More about the project - https://sigur-ros.co.uk/routeone/
- Link to Youtube Video - https://youtu.be/G54tllj-SKI
Exercise
Post Session
The following are places where you can find more resources/materials to continue your Sonic Pi journey
- Sonic Pi - http://sonic-pi.net/
- Programming as Performance - Sam Aaron TEDxNewscastle - https://youtu.be/TK1mBqKvIyU
Resources/Inspiration for Music Making
- Song Exploder - http://songexploder.net/
- This podcast interviews artists about their process while they write music. This is great for inspiration and new ways to approach song writing.
- "Music & Games as Shifting Possibility Spaces" by David Kanaga - http://wombflashforest.blogspot.com/2013/11/music-games-as-shifting-possibility.html
Other Live Coding Languages
- Tidal Cycles - https://tidalcycles.org/
- Max MSP - https://cycling74.com/products/max/
References
Sonic Pi - http://sonic-pi.net/ SONIC PI: LIVE & CODING