Be a Musician Chapter Notes | Year 3 Computing IGCSE (Cambridge) - Class 3 PDF Download

Making music

• In this unit, students will use Microsoft MakeCode for micro:bit to create programs that produce musical outputs, focusing on teamwork and algorithmic changes.
• Students will learn to:
  • Predict the outcome of changes made to an algorithm, understanding how modifications affect program behavior.
  • Create programs that produce outputs (e.g., sounds, icons) based on inputs from devices like buttons or sensors.
  • Outline the benefits of collaborative programming, such as shared learning and error reduction.
  • Develop programs for the micro:bit to produce specific outputs, such as melodies and visual displays.
• The micro:bit is a programmable microcontroller used to create interactive projects, particularly for playing music in this unit.

Algorithm to code

Predicting outcomes

• In MakeCode for micro:bit, the Music group provides blocks to control sound output, including melodies and sound effects.
• Key music blocks:
  • start melody () repeating (): Selects a melody (e.g., ‘dadadum’) and specifies how many times it repeats (e.g., once, forever).
  • set volume: Adjusts the loudness of a sound, ranging from 0 (silent) to 255 (very loud).
  • play sound () until done: Plays a selected sound effect (e.g., ‘giggle’) in its entirety before proceeding to the next instruction.
• Keyword:
  • Volume: The measure of how loudly or quietly a sound is played, controlled by the set volume block.
• Predicting outcomes: Understanding how changes to an algorithm affect its behavior is crucial for programming.
• Example: Comparing two algorithms to predict outcomes.
  • Algorithm A:

    Step	Instruction
    1	Start program when button B is pressed
    2	Show icon happy
    3	Set volume to 255
    4	Play sound giggle until done
    5	Pause 1 second
    6	Play sound hello until done
    7	Clear screen
    8	Stop program

    • Outcome when button B is pressed:
      • Displays a happy icon on the micro:bit screen.
      • Plays the ‘giggle’ sound at maximum volume (255).
      • Pauses for 1 second.
      • Plays the ‘hello’ sound at maximum volume.
      • Clears the screen, removing the icon.
  • Algorithm B:

    Step	Instruction
    1	Start program when buttons A and B are pressed
    2	Show icon confused
    3	Set volume to 255
    4	Play sound soaring until done
    5	Pause 2 seconds
    6	Play sound hello until done
    7	Clear screen
    8	Stop program

    • Outcome when buttons A and B are pressed:
      • Displays a confused icon on the micro:bit screen.
      • Plays the ‘soaring’ sound at maximum volume (255).
      • Pauses for 2 seconds.
      • Plays the ‘hello’ sound at maximum volume.
      • Clears the screen, removing the icon.
    • Changes from Algorithm A:
      • Input changed from button B to buttons A and B.
      • Icon changed from happy to confused.
      • Sound changed from ‘giggle’ to ‘soaring’.
      • Pause duration increased from 1 second to 2 seconds.

Coding on micro:bit

Output from an input

• Microsoft MakeCode for micro:bit is used to create programs that produce outputs (e.g., sounds, icons) based on inputs (e.g., button presses).
• Example: Creating a program for Algorithm B.
  • Steps to create the program in MakeCode:
    1. Create a new project named “Algorithm B.”
    2. Delete the default “on start” and “forever” blocks.
    3. From the Input group, add the “on button pressed” block and select ‘A+B’ from the dropdown.
    4. From the Basic group, add the “show icon” block and select the confused icon.
    5. From the Music group, add the “set volume” block and set it to 255.
    6. From the Music group, add the “play sound () until done” block and select ‘soaring’.
    7. From the Basic group, add the “pause (ms)” block and set it to 2 seconds.
    8. From the Music group, add another “play sound () until done” block and select ‘hello’.
    9. From the Basic group, add the “clear screen” block.
    10. Click Play to start the simulator and test by clicking the A+B button.
    11. Save the project.
    12. If using a physical micro:bit, download the program and press buttons A and B simultaneously to run it.
  • Input and output:
    • Input: Pressing buttons A and B simultaneously.
    • Output: Displaying the confused icon, playing ‘soaring’ and ‘hello’ sounds, and clearing the screen.
  • The micro:bit only produces outputs when the correct input is detected.

Coding as a team

• Collaborative programming involves multiple people working together to create code, offering several benefits.
• Benefits of team coding:
  • Learning from each other:
    • Team members share knowledge and learn new skills, such as software usage, programming language rules, and design techniques.
  • Encourages problem solving:
    • Teams use logical thinking to address coding issues.
    • When errors occur, members collaborate to share ideas and find solutions.
  • Fewer coding errors:
    • Multiple team members review the code, increasing the likelihood of spotting and fixing errors.
    • Example: One person writes code while others review it for accuracy.
  • Developing social skills:
    • Teamwork fosters skills like communication, listening, leadership, and creative thinking.
    • Encourages understanding and kindness among team members.

Did you know?

• An orchestra is a group of musicians playing different instruments together, requiring teamwork to perform successfully.
• Common orchestral instruments:
  • Violin
  • Bass drum
  • Clarinet
  • Trumpet
  • Piano
• Similar to an orchestra, coding teams must collaborate to achieve a cohesive program output.

What can you do?

• Predict the outcome of changes to an algorithm, such as modifying volume, sounds, or timing in a micro:bit program.
• Create programs that produce outputs (e.g., melodies, icons) based on inputs (e.g., button presses) using MakeCode for micro:bit.
• Understand the benefits of collaborative programming, including shared learning, problem-solving, error reduction, and social skill development.