Music Composition with BandLab

BandLab Project
Composition & Reflection


This project has 2 parts to it:
Part I
Create an original composition that is 2 to 3 minutes in length. Your composition must include at least 2 of the following 3 types of sounds that are possible in BandLab: (1) loops, (2) MIDI, and/or (3) digital audio. Your composition should represent your best work in regard to the creation of an original piece of music. Utilize what you've learned about compositional technique in theory classes and as a musician with many years of study and experience. Your composition should be titled.
Here are some examples from previous students:


If you're having a hard time getting started, try BandLab's SongStarter, artificial intelligence (AI) to help you compose. Here's a video to demonstrate how it works.

Part II
Write a 1-2 page reflection on your project. This reflection should be in three parts: (1) The Composition, (2) Technical Issues, and (3) Educational Implications. The writing prompts below are not meant to be prescriptive or limiting. Rather, they are a starting point to get you to consider issues related to each of the three areas.

The Composition Describe the "intent" of your composition. Why did your composition turn out the way it did? Does it represent something? Is it in a particular form? Did you utilize any particular compositional devices? Did the technology influence how you composed? Why?

Technical Issues What types of BandLab sounds did you use (loops, MIDI, digital audio)? Where are they in your composition? What technology-related issues did you encounter while working with BandLab? Did you have any problems? Were you able to solve these problems? How? Was there anything you wanted to create musically but were unable to do because of either the technical limitations of BandLab, or because you didn't know how to do it from a technical standpoint?

Educational Implications How can BandLab (or similar programs) be used in the process of music teaching and learning? How might it best be used with students in a secondary general music class? 

Turning In This Project
  1. Share  your composition with the class:
    • Save your BandLab composition, then Exit the Mix Editor (top left of the interface).
    • Click the Share button (arrow) for the song you’d like to share and then click Share Private URL.
    • Copy the link you are provided.
    • Share your composition and reflection with your classmates in the Discussion in Canvas that is set up for this project.
    • Start a post in the discussion forum. Type the name of your composition, select (highlight) the title you just typed, click the link tool in Canvas (looks like a single link of a chain), and paste in the URL to make the title a link to the composition. Then, below this, copy and paste in the reflection on this project, adjusting the formatting as necessary (don't just upload a Microsoft Word file). Doing these things will make it easier for everyone to listen to your composition and read your reflection.
    • After posting your composition link and reflection, listen to and comment on your colleagues’ compositions and reflections.
  2. Submit the URL of your composition and your reflection to your instructor in the Assignments area of Canvas.


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