How to make a child’s first midi controller or introduction to music!

-Uses the Tone library now, but I will add how to connect to Ableton later

Level = Easy-Intermediate 

Audience:
students in an after school program (3rd-12th grade); must be done with a facilitator. A great project for students to use simple circuits to learn basic code, information about sound, and how to use Ableton Live (later).

The Controller- There are three shapes, square (2), circle (1), triangle (1).  Once connected to Ableton Live, I would like the squares to be a symbol for rhythm (the students will map it to some kind of drum output), the circle would symbolize effects (reverb, cathedral, distortion, etc), and the triangle for auxiliary instruments or samples.

Prior knowledge necessary (facilitator if working with a beginner class):

coding with Arduino IDE

using the Arduino Tone library

soldering

sewing

proper use of conductive thread

knowledge of various conductive materials

Reflection: 

Process- I had a problem that I wanted to solve.  This led me to think about how I could use conductive materials and wires (needed for arduino uno) in a seamless way that is easy enough for a child to do!

Challenges- I spend hours trying to get it working with Ableton Live.  I feel like I am so close and that I will figure it out really fast after I take some space from the project

What did I learn- The beginning of connecting serial and midi using OSC, that not all arduinos (at least I can’t figure this out…) can work with the Ableton Connection Pack, that I should think more about how I want my images to represent my musical ideas, and how I would teach young students how to make this.