3/12_finish C Minor stuff/2nd Inversions

It seems like most folks need time to finish up their 2 C Minor assignments, so I'm giving you today to finish them both up. Remember, I need for you to turn in 2 separate Reason files:

1. your name_CMinorscale
2. your name_CMinorbeat

Please make sure you turn them both in to the Dropoff folder by the end of the period.

Assignment #2 - C Minor scale

1. Open a new Reason file.
2. Create a Subtractor Analog Synthesizer.
3. Load a sound from one of the four main categories (Bass, Monosynth, Pad, or Polysynth).
4. Set the L marker on Bar 1 and the R marker on Bar 5.
5. Turn on the Click (aka metronome) and set the tempo to something you can work with. Remember - the goal is to play one note on each click!
   
6. Practice playing the C Minor scale up and down in time with the metronome: (C-D-Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C-C-Bb-Ab-G-F-Eb-D-C)
   
7. When you've got it down, hit the Record button and record your performance.
8. Fix any off notes by quantizing.
9. Save the file to your folder as "(your name)_C Minor scale"
10. Have one of the instructors check it and then turn it in to the Dropoff folder (Pickupdropoff>BAVAC>Dropoff>Period 5).

Assignment #3 - C Minor beat

1. Start a new Reason file.
2. Create a Redrum and make a 32-step beat.
   
3. Put it into the Sequencer Window using Copy Pattern to Track.
   
4. Now create a keyboard instrument (Subtractor/Malstrom/NN19/NNXT/Combinator) and load a patch into it. Please make it something where you can hear actual notes (not FX or Drums or Percussion).
5. Using the C-Minor scale, find some notes that sound good with your beat. Record a melody over your drum beat. You can play the notes in any order, or any style that you want, but they have to ALL be from the C Minor scale.
   
6. Add some more instruments and play some parts that go along with the first melody you just put down.
7. Copy all your parts out so that they end on Bar 17.
8. Save this as your name_CMinor beat.
9. Turn it in to the Dropoff folder.

3/10_Minor Scale/2nd Inversion

Basic
Alright, so it's been a week or so since we worked on our keyboard knowledge, but I want to get back to it for a minute so that you can expand the range of sounds you have to use when you are making your own music.

I would like to introduce you to my friend, the Minor Scale.

First, lets quickly refresh our memory of the Major Scale. Here is the formula, in case you forgot:

W-W-H-W-W-W-H

Now, here is the formula for the Minor Scale:

W-H-W-W-H-W-W

What kind of mood or emotion would you say the Minor Scale has?

Now let's see how this formula looks on an actual keyboard. Here are the notes of the C Minor Scale...
So today, I have 3 things that I want you to do:

Assignment #1 - Worksheet

Fill out the worksheet that I'm handing out on the C Major/C Minor scales. You are going to be using this as reference for the other 2 assignments, so it makes sense to do it first.

Assignment #2 - C Minor

1. Open a new Reason file.
2. Create a Subtractor Analog Synthesizer.
3. Load a sound from one of the four main categories (Bass, Monosynth, Pad, or Polysynth).
4. Set the L marker on Bar 1 and the R marker on Bar 5.
5. Turn on the Click (aka metronome) and set the tempo to something you can work with. Remember - the goal is to play one note on each click!
   
6. Practice playing the C Minor scale up and down in time with the metronome: (C-D-Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C-C-Bb-Ab-G-F-Eb-D-C)
   
7. When you've got it down, hit the Record button and record your performance.
8. Fix any off notes by quantizing.
9. Save the file to your folder as "(your name)_C Minor scale"
10. Have one of the instructors check it and then turn it in to the Dropoff folder (Pickupdropoff>BAVAC>Dropoff>Period 5).

Assignment #3 - C Minor beat

1. Start a new Reason file.
2. Create a Redrum and make a 32-step beat.
   
3. Put it into the Sequencer Window using Copy Pattern to Track.
   
4. Now create a keyboard instrument (Subtractor/Malstrom/NN19/NNXT/Combinator) and load a patch into it. Please make it something where you can hear actual notes (not FX or Drums or Percussion).
5. Using the C-Minor scale, find some notes that sound good with your beat. Record a melody over your drum beat. You can play the notes in any order, or any style that you want, but they have to ALL be from the C Minor scale.
   
6. Add some more instruments and play some parts that go along with the first melody you just put down.
7. Copy all your parts out so that they end on Bar 17.
8. Save this as your name_CMinor beat.
9. Turn it in to the Dropoff folder.

Advanced

Today you're going to be working on 2nd inversion chords. I will come around and show you exactly what this is in a second, but think about it - if the 1st inversion was taking a chord and shifting it up one note, then the 2nd inversion is just shifting up two notes. 

Please fill out the worksheet first. Then do the following assignment:

Create a 16 bar beat that features the A Major or A Minor chord (your choice). You are going to play the regular chord first, then the 1st inversion, then the 2nd inversion.  Over those chords, record a melody that is from the same scale (A Maj/A Min). Save this as your name_2ndinversion and turn it in to the Dropoff folder.

3/9_Original Beats

Basic and Advanced

Today we're going to be playing our original beats in class and checking out each other's production styles. I want to start playing these at 1pm, so I want you to start turning them in at 12:55.  Please put them in the Dropoff folder (Pickupdropoff>BAVAC>Dropoff>Period 5).  Save this as:  your name_original 3-6.

You will be getting a grade on these, so be sure that your beat includes ALL of the following items:

Basic 

• Be at least 16 bars long (end on Bar 17)
  
• Include a Redrum with at least one 32-step drum beat. (I would prefer two)
• A melody using either the Subtractor or the NN19
• Another melody using either the Malstrom or NNXT
• All notes quantized.

Advanced 

• At least 2 verses, 2 choruses
• At least 5 instruments
• Some basic mixing (volume and panning)

3/6_Quantizing & Original Beats (Basic & Advanced)

Basic & Advanced

One of the biggest advantages to using a software program like Reason is the fact that you don't have to be a great keyboard player to make really polished sounding performances - the program can help you fix the notes that are a little off.

The function that lets you do this is called the Quantize function.

How do you use such a magical thing you ask? Very easy.

Here are the steps for quantizing:
1) Record yourself playing something with the keyboard
2) Go into the Edit View by pressing this button:

3) Now click and drag a box around all the notes you want to fix. The notes that are dark red/brown are the ones that are selected.

4) Click on the Quantize button:

5) Listen back to the performance. If certain notes sound weird, manually move them where they sound better by clicking and dragging them.

Assignment
OK, at this point you've all got enough experience to start developing your own styles of beats, so today I want you to work on an original beat. This needs to be turned in by the end of class today.

Basic folks - your beat should include all of the following elements:

• Be at least 16 bars long (end on Bar 17)
  
• Include a Redrum with at least one 32-step drum beat. (I would prefer two)
• A melody using either the Subtractor or the NN19
• Another melody using either the Malstrom or NNXT
• All notes quantized.

Save this as your name_original 3-6 and turn it in to the Dropoff folder (Pickupdropoff>BAVAC>Dropoff>Period 5).

Advanced folks - I want the following:

• At least 2 verses, 2 choruses
• At least 5 instruments
• Some basic mixing (volume and panning)
  

You should also save this as your name_original 3-6 and turn it in to the Dropoff folder.

Have a great weekend!!!

3/5_Exploring the Subtractor/1st inversion (DUE)

Basic
Today we are going to be taking a look at a new instrument in Reason: the Subtractor!

The Subtractor is a kind of instrument called a synthesizer. A synthesizer is an electronic instrument. It lets you make all kinds of original sounds by combining different frequencies together. In general, synthesizers don't sound like sounds you make with traditional instruments (guitars, pianos, trumpets, etc.). Instead, they have the ability to be shaped into lots of different sounds, from really cheesy ones to really deep and emotional-sounding ones.

Today we're going to get familiar with the different types of sounds that you can use with the Subtractor...

First of all, where do you think you click to load new sounds?

Once you've clicked on the folder, you will go into the usual file browser. To find the Subtractor sounds, go to: Reason Factory Soundbank>Subtractor Patches

The main categories of sounds that you can load into the Subtractor are:

• Bass*
• FX
• Mono Synths*
• Pads*
• Percussion
• Polysynths*

The ones with a star next to them are the ones that I consider to be the most important.

So here is your assignment for today:

1. Go to the Pickupdropoff folder and copy the file called Subtractor Practice.rns
   
2. Open the file and listen to the beat. I have created a Redrum and a Subtractor already to get you started.
3. Create a new Subtractors (Create>Subtractor Analog Synthesizer).
4. In this Subtractor, you are going to load a sound that you like from one of the four main categories (Bass, Mono, Pad, Poly).
5. Record yourself playing something that goes along with the part that I've already made. (Hint: if you really can't think of anything to play, try to figure out the notes that I played and just play the same thing with a different instrument).
6. Once you record two parts that you like, use the Pencil Tool to draw a region around the part and start copying those parts so that they end on Bar 9.
7. Now move the L and R markers so that the L is on Bar 9 and the R is on Bar 13.
8. Create a third Subtractor and load a sound from a different category (Bass, Mono, Pad, Poly) than the last one you used.
9. Come up with and record an original melody to go in this section. 
10. Use the Pencil Tool to draw a region around the notes you just played (from Bar 9 9-13).
11. Copy the region so that it ends on Bar 17.
12. Move the markers so that you have the whole song in your loop. Listen to it play back.
13. Save this file as "(your name)_Subtractor practice.rns"
14. If you have finished working with the Subtractors and still have some time left, Mute my Redrum and create a new one. Make a beat that you like better.
    
15. Put the new beat into the Sequencer Window using Copy Pattern to Track.
16. Save it and turn it in to the Dropoff folder (Pickupdropoff>BAVAC>Dropoff>Period 5).
    

Advanced
Please finish and turn in your 1st inversion assignment to the Dropoff folder by the end of class today. Call it your name_1st inversion.

3/3_Major/1st Inversion (con'td)

Basic

Your priorities for today are as follows:

• Finish and turn in the Major Scale assignment from yesterday (3/2).
• Finish and turn in all missing assignments.
• Do the Extra Credit assignment below.
  

Extra Credit

1. Start a new Reason file.
2. Create a Redrum drum machine and make a short (4-8 bar) beat. Put it into your Sequencer Window using Copy Pattern to Track.
3. Create an NN19 or Subtractor and load a sound that you like into it.
   
4. Using your Keyboard Worksheet, check out what the notes of the D or G Major scale are.
5. Come up with a melody that only uses notes from this scale and record it into the Sequencer Window.
6. Try to add a 2nd instrument (NN19/Subtractor/etc.) and use notes from the same scale to add another melodic part.
7. Save this as your name_MajorExCred and turn it in to the Dropoff folder (Pickupdropoff>BAVAC>Dropoff>Period 5).
   

Advanced

Your priorities should be as follows:

• Turn in all missing work
• Finish and turn in the interval assignment from yesterday (3/2).
  

3/2_Major scale/1st Inversion

Basic

Quick recap: how many possible notes are there?

Right, 12. But just because you have all these possible notes to work with, doesn't mean that they will all sound good with each other.

A scale is a set of notes that sound good with each other.

The two most common scales are the Major and Minor scales. Generally speaking...

• the Major scale sounds happy/upbeat. You hear it a lot in pop music.
• the Minor scale sounds more sad or intense. You hear it a lot in hip hop and other harder styles of music.

What you should know about scales is that they are created by the way the notes are spaced out by the amount of space between each note. Take a look at the keyboard:


When two notes are right next to each other, it is called a half step (for example C to C#).
When two notes have a note in between them, it is called a whole step (for example, C to D).

How much space is in between E and F?

OK, so now that we know about whole steps and half steps, I'm going to reveal to you the formula that will let you make a Major scales from any key on your keyboard...

Major scale formula:

W-W-H-W-W-W-H

Once you know the formula for a scale, it doesn't really matter what key you start on. You can always make the kind of scale that you want. Today, we are only focusing on the Major scale, so let's hear for ourselves what I'm talking about...

For today's assignment, please do the following:

1. Copy the file called "Major scales.rns" to your folder from the Pickupdropoff.
2.Open the file.
3. Create an NN19 Digital Sampler. (There will already be an NN19 in your rack. Don't worry about this.)
4. Load a piano patch into the NN19. For example: Reason Factory Sound Bank>NN19 Sampler Patches>Pianos and Keyboards>BRIGHT PIANO.smp
5. Hit the Play button (spacebar) to listen to the tempo of the metronome.
6. Now practice playing the C Major scale up and down in time with the metronome - play a note in time with each click. If the tempo is too fast, slow it down.

This is the order of the notes you will play: C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C-C-B-A-G-F-E-D-C

7. When you are confident about being able to play this, go ahead and hit the Record button and then Play to start recording. When you are done, hit Stop.
8. Hit Play to listen to your performance. If you like it, move on to the next step, if not, then delete your performance and start again.
9. Now move your markers so that the L is on Bar 5 and the R is on Bar 9.
10. Pick another white key (I recommend G or D) and, looking at your Keyboard Worksheet, figure out the keys of the Major scale starting from this note. Mark them on your worksheet.
11. When you've got all the notes figured out, practice and record yourself playing this scale and show the instructor.
12. Save the file as "(your name)_Major scale.rns"

Remember the formula!

W-W-H-W-W-W-H

Advanced

Today, you are going to start working with inversions. Inversions are chords played with the keys in different orders. They are useful because they let you give the chord a slightly different sound while keeping the basic feel the same.

Today, you're going to work with what is called the 1st inversion.

Please do the following.

1. Create a Reason beat (or open one that you have already been working with).
2. Create a simple 4-bar drum beat with either Redrum or Dr. Rex.
3. Create a melodic instrument (NN19/Malstrom/Subtractor/etc.)
4. Decide whether you want to work with a Major or Minor chord.
5. Pick a note to start with and figure out the Major/Minor chord from that note.
6. Now take the 1st note off and find where the same note is, one octave up.
7. Move your hand so that your thumb is where your the 3rd finger used to be, your middle finger is where your 5th finger used to be and your little finger is on the high note that you just found. Play this new chord.
8. Record yourself switching between the original chord and this new chord inversion that you just figured out.
9. Save the beat as your name_1st inversion and turn it in to the dropoff folder.