Greetings class!

If you are reading this, you have completed your first assignment of composing your first drum loop, mixing it down to MP3 format and you are now ready to post it on your blog. In our first few classes, we started to explore FLStudio. You should have a good working knowledge of the various parts of the program including the toolbars, the pattern selector, browser and playlist.
You will need all of these tools to complete your assignment. To review anything, even to skip ahead a bit, check out the FL studio video tutorials here: Don't forget, you can only access these from school where we have a site licence for the software and are allowed to use the videos and other features.

Your assignment is to create a drum loop that runs at least 10 seconds long. It should have two contrasting patterns that are connected by a drum fill. Your patterns should make musical sense with subdivisions between the different percussion instruments used. I'm also looking for good use of panning and balance of all instruments.

The FL studio file must be exported as an mp3, uploaded to Twango, and then embedded into your post on Blogger. You must make a descriptive entry describing your drum loop, and why you decided to make it sound the way it does. The more descriptive the better, and "because I liked it" or "it's cool" doesn't count. Next you must visit your classmates blogs using the links from my blog (this can be done outside of class at any computer) and leave a comment for each of your classmates that points out at least one specific positive comment and one specific constructive comment. Again "because I liked it" doesn't count.

Here are some guidelines for writing your first drum loop:
1. Start with the bass drum on beats 1 and 3 and put the snare drum on beats 2 and 4. This establishes the ground rhythm or pulse. You can tweak it later to make it more interesting.
2. Pick a higher pitched percussion instrument (hi hat, shaker, tambourine, ride cymbal, etc) to play subdivisions of the ground rhythm i.e. even eighth notes.
3. Simple is good. This pattern needs to be played many times in a row, so don't make it difficult to listen to. Think of the beat to one of your favorite songs. In the graph editor under velocity, make beat 1 fairly strong.
4. Also in the graph editor, pan your drums to enhance the stereo field. Imagine you are sitting at the drum set. Where is each instrument located? Pan to make it match the image in your head. Listen to your favorite music with headphones on and listen for panning.
5. Your fill should be busier than your basic drum patterns.

Here's a rubric for this assignment. Deductions can be made from the overall points allotted to each part of the project as partial credit at my discretion.

Maximum score 100 points:
20 Proper usage of bass drum, snare drum and other percussion.
10 Two patterns connected by a fill are easily identifiable.
10 Example is at least 10 seconds long.
10 Use of panning to enhance stereo field.
10. The link to the audio file is embedded in the blog post and the link works properly.
10. The post text is descriptive of the embedded audio sample.
10. Comments on classmates blogs are insightful.
10 Creativity.
10 Effort.

A few words on Creativity and Effort:You will always be graded on creativity and effort in this class.Creativity is a measure of what you have done with the project at hand. For this project, you could simply put the kick drum on 1 and 3 and the snare on 2 and 4 for the first pattern, make a single cymbal crash for the fill and then put the bass on 123 and4 for the last pattern. You will have met the critera, but will not have been creative. It can be your own style, or within the style of an established genre (Hip Hop, Rock, Techno, etc.) If the melody of your piece is singable, or if the groove makes your foot tap, then you have done your job.Effort is an indicator of class time used wisely, and putting care into the final product. Evidence of good effort is usually found in the details of the final project: Balance, blend, use of panning, sounds that aren't used are deleted, the patterns are organized, etc.

Here's an example of what I'm looking for:


Once you have your loop completed, export it as an MP3 file and post it on your blog. I'll listen to it (so will your classmates), comment on it and give you a grade.

Have fun!Mr. Rabuse