teachComputing
  • Home
  • AI
    • AI Literacy >
      • AI Alliteration
      • Describing Monsters
      • Dystopian writing
      • Bringing literacy to life with AI
      • AI Literacy Prompts
    • AI Computing >
      • AI Computing Lessons >
        • Make me happy
        • Chatting Robot
        • Supervised Learning
        • Fooled
        • Socratic Debate
        • Moral Machine
      • AI Coding Strategies
      • AI Computing Prompts
    • AI Prompts
  • Teaching & Learning
    • Wellbeing
    • Blog
    • Humour >
      • Teacher Humour
      • Teacher Humor
    • PLN Challenge >
      • Covering your backside
      • Online Privacy
      • Twitter Challenge >
        • Twitter All Star
        • Challenge 1
        • Challenge 2
        • Challenge 3
        • Tips for staying safe on Twitter
        • Tips for hosting Edu Twitter Chats
        • Tips for taking part in Twitter chats
        • It's all about the hashtag! Essential chats for educators
        • How to storify a chat
        • How to schedule Tweets
        • Twitter Lists
        • NT2tEU
      • Facebook Challenge >
        • Challenge 4
        • Challenge 5
        • Challenge 6
        • Tips for staying safe on Facebook
      • Google Challenge >
        • Challenge 7
        • Challenge 8
        • Challenge 9
      • Pinterest Challenge >
        • Challenge 10
        • Challenge 11
        • Challenge 12
        • Tips for using Pinterest
      • Blog Challenge >
        • Challenge 13
        • Challenge 14
        • Challenge 15
        • How to create a classroom blog
      • Staffrm Challenge >
        • Challenge 16
        • Challenge 17
        • Challenge 18
      • Skype Challenge >
        • Challenge 19
        • Challenge 20
        • Challenge 21
      • Edmodo Challenge >
        • Challenge 22
        • Challenge 23
        • Challenge 24
      • TeachMeet Challenge >
        • Challenge 25
        • Challenge 26
        • Challenge 27
      • In-school challenge >
        • Challenge 28
        • Challenge 29
        • Challenge 30
      • 30 ways to grow your PLN
    • Tools for Teachers >
      • Web 2.0 >
        • Top 10 Web 2.0 Tools
        • Classroom Response Tools
      • Quiz Tools
      • Classroom Management Tools
      • Software >
        • Media Conversion Tools
        • Application Software
      • Multimedia >
        • Free Music
    • BYOD
    • Digital Leaders >
      • Digital Leaders Blog >
        • DL Archive
      • DL Tips
      • Quotes
      • Links
    • Flipped Learning >
      • Flipped Classroom vs. Blended Classroom
    • Gamification >
      • Gamification vs. Game Based Learning vs. Game Design
    • School Closures
    • Game Based Learning >
      • Minecraft >
        • Minecraft in Education
        • Minecraft Lesson Ideas
        • Minecraft Literacy
        • Real Life Minecraft
        • Minecraft Top Tips
        • Minecraft Coding Tutorials >
          • Minecraft Code Builder Setup
          • Minecraft Code: Walking on Air
          • Minecraft Code: Hello World
          • Minecraft Code: Functions
          • Minecraft Code: Rainbow
          • Minecraft Code: Skyscraper
          • Minecraft Pixel Art
    • The magic of >
      • The magic of Computing
      • The magic of Maths
      • The magic of Science
      • The magic of Literacy
    • Road2e2
    • T&L Blog
  • Computing
    • Computing Blog >
      • GCSE Computer Science
      • General
    • Teaching Computer Science >
      • CPD >
        • Blocks to Code
        • Tutorials >
          • How to embed Flash into PowerPoint
          • How to embed YouTube videos in to PowerPoint
          • How to create a wiki
          • How to create a classroom blog
      • Schemes of Work
      • Programming Resources
      • Theory
      • Posters
      • Festive Computing Activities
      • FLOPPYS 2020
      • FLOPPYS 2021
      • FLOPPYS 2022
      • Game Design
      • App Creation
    • Theory Lessons >
      • Theory Tests
      • Computer Hardware >
        • Input / Output
        • CPU
        • LMC
        • Storage Devices
        • Memory (RAM / ROM)
        • Hardware
      • Binary Lessons >
        • Units of Data
        • Binary Representation
        • Binary Representation of Images
        • Binary Representation of Images (Festive)
        • Binary Representation of Characters
        • Binary Representation of Sound
        • Binary Representation of Instructions
        • Binary Addition
        • Hexadecimal
      • Software >
        • Operating System
        • Types of Software
        • Utility Software
      • Programming >
        • Flowcharts
      • Computational Thinking >
        • Data Science
    • Digital Literacy >
      • Social Media (Good or Bad thing?)
      • Cyberbullying
      • Staying Safe Online
    • ICT Strand >
      • Fake News Project >
        • Fake News 1
        • Fake News 2
        • Fake News 3
        • Fake News 4
        • Fake News 5
      • Spreadsheet Modelling
      • Superhero Movie Trailer
      • PowerPoint Task
      • Digital Imaging
      • Paint 3D Tutorial
    • Programming Lessons >
      • Scratch >
        • Festive Scratch >
          • Music Festive with Scratch
          • Turtle Snowflakes
          • What's your elf name
          • Secret Santa
        • Making music with Scratch
        • Sorting Hat Lesson
        • Turtle Time
        • Superhero name generator
        • Compliment Generator
        • Magic 8 ball
      • Python >
        • Chatbot
        • Coding Golf
        • Turtle Time >
          • Turtle Instructions
        • Magic 8 ball
        • Python Mad Libs
        • Rock Paper Scissors
        • Shakespearean Insult Generator >
          • Shakespearean Insult Generator Part 2
        • Compliment generator
        • Sorting Hat
        • Superhero name generator
        • Cards Against
        • Guess the word
        • Guess the number
        • Festive Python >
          • What's your elf name
          • Secret Santa
          • Turtle Snowflakes
      • Little Man Computer
      • Hour of Code >
        • Hour of Code Music
        • Python Tutorials
        • HoC 8-Bit Challenge
        • Music MicroPython (Festive)
      • Raspberry Pi >
        • Networking the Pi
        • Minecraft Pi
        • Harry Potter Sorting Hat >
          • Harry Potter Sorting Hat (GPIO)
        • Raspberry Pi LTSP (Networked Classroom)
        • Astro Pi
    • Homeschooling
    • Remote Learning >
      • Fun Python Tutorials
      • Python Tutorials >
        • Chatbot Tutorial
        • Dice Roll
        • Turtle Tutorial
        • Magic 8 ball
        • Sorting Hat
        • Rock Paper Scissors Tutorial
        • Cards Against
        • Python Mad Libs
        • Shakespearean Insult Generator >
          • Shakespearean Insult Generator Part 2
        • Guess the word
        • Guess the number
        • Superhero name generator
        • Compliment generator
        • Festive Python Tutorials >
          • What's your elf name
          • Secret Santa
          • Turtle Snowflakes
      • Scratch Tutorials >
        • Sorting Hat
        • What's your superhero name
        • Turtle Time Tutorial
        • Compliment Generator
        • Magic 8 Ball
        • Festive Scratch Tutorials >
          • Festive Music with Scratch
          • Secret Santa Scratch Tutorial
          • Turtle Snowflakes Tutorial
          • What's your elf name
    • Revision >
      • Data Representation >
        • Binary Representation of Images
        • Binary Representation of Sound
  • 21 Things
    • 21 Things To Try >
      • ConnectEd
      • Social Media >
        • Twitter
        • Pinterest
        • Facebook Groups
        • Facebook Pages
        • Google+ Communities
        • Staffrm
        • Edmodo
        • Mystery Skype
        • Blogging
        • Classroom Blogging
      • Gamification
      • Flipped Classroom
      • Breakout Edu
      • Edu Podcasts
      • Jar of Awesome
      • TeachMeet
      • Team Teaching
      • Mixed Reality
      • Digital Leaders
      • Genius Hour
      • Sketchnoting
    • Computing >
      • CS 20
      • Code Golf
      • PRIMM
      • Under The Hood
      • Unplugged
      • Podcasts
      • Facebook Groups CS
      • Flipped Classroom CS
      • Teach with Magic
      • Socratic Debate
      • Coding Music
    • 21 Things Keep Fit >
      • 20 Health Hacks
      • Home Health Hacks
    • 21 Things PLN >
      • Edmodo
      • Twitter
      • Reply to a blog
      • Skype
      • Cofee Edu
      • Pinterest
      • Reach out
      • Conferences
      • Instagram
      • Ning
      • MEC
      • Voxer
      • LinkedIn
  • Microbit
    • Physical Computing >
      • micro:bit LEDs
      • micro:bit PIR
      • micro:bit Servo
      • micro:bit Temp
      • micro:bit LDR
      • micro:bit Moisture
      • micro:bit RGB LEDs
      • micro:bit HC-SR04 3v3
      • micro:bit HC-SR04 5v
      • micro:bit Push button
      • micro:bit Potentiometer
      • micro:bit Piezo
    • Music >
      • Music Festive
    • Festive Projects
    • Projects >
      • Music
      • Music MicroPython
      • Servo Animals
    • Lessons >
      • Magic 8 Ball
      • Harry Potter Sorting Hat
    • Quick Start Guide
    • Microbit Simulator
  • #100 Ideas
    • Testimonials
    • Competition >
      • Competition 2
    • Worksheets
    • Bonus Ideas >
      • What's your elf name
      • Make me happy
      • Guess the word
      • Cards Against Humanities
      • Compliment generator
      • Data Science
    • Curriculum
    • ISTE
    • CSTA
  • About
    • Privacy
  • Home
  • AI
    • AI Literacy >
      • AI Alliteration
      • Describing Monsters
      • Dystopian writing
      • Bringing literacy to life with AI
      • AI Literacy Prompts
    • AI Computing >
      • AI Computing Lessons >
        • Make me happy
        • Chatting Robot
        • Supervised Learning
        • Fooled
        • Socratic Debate
        • Moral Machine
      • AI Coding Strategies
      • AI Computing Prompts
    • AI Prompts
  • Teaching & Learning
    • Wellbeing
    • Blog
    • Humour >
      • Teacher Humour
      • Teacher Humor
    • PLN Challenge >
      • Covering your backside
      • Online Privacy
      • Twitter Challenge >
        • Twitter All Star
        • Challenge 1
        • Challenge 2
        • Challenge 3
        • Tips for staying safe on Twitter
        • Tips for hosting Edu Twitter Chats
        • Tips for taking part in Twitter chats
        • It's all about the hashtag! Essential chats for educators
        • How to storify a chat
        • How to schedule Tweets
        • Twitter Lists
        • NT2tEU
      • Facebook Challenge >
        • Challenge 4
        • Challenge 5
        • Challenge 6
        • Tips for staying safe on Facebook
      • Google Challenge >
        • Challenge 7
        • Challenge 8
        • Challenge 9
      • Pinterest Challenge >
        • Challenge 10
        • Challenge 11
        • Challenge 12
        • Tips for using Pinterest
      • Blog Challenge >
        • Challenge 13
        • Challenge 14
        • Challenge 15
        • How to create a classroom blog
      • Staffrm Challenge >
        • Challenge 16
        • Challenge 17
        • Challenge 18
      • Skype Challenge >
        • Challenge 19
        • Challenge 20
        • Challenge 21
      • Edmodo Challenge >
        • Challenge 22
        • Challenge 23
        • Challenge 24
      • TeachMeet Challenge >
        • Challenge 25
        • Challenge 26
        • Challenge 27
      • In-school challenge >
        • Challenge 28
        • Challenge 29
        • Challenge 30
      • 30 ways to grow your PLN
    • Tools for Teachers >
      • Web 2.0 >
        • Top 10 Web 2.0 Tools
        • Classroom Response Tools
      • Quiz Tools
      • Classroom Management Tools
      • Software >
        • Media Conversion Tools
        • Application Software
      • Multimedia >
        • Free Music
    • BYOD
    • Digital Leaders >
      • Digital Leaders Blog >
        • DL Archive
      • DL Tips
      • Quotes
      • Links
    • Flipped Learning >
      • Flipped Classroom vs. Blended Classroom
    • Gamification >
      • Gamification vs. Game Based Learning vs. Game Design
    • School Closures
    • Game Based Learning >
      • Minecraft >
        • Minecraft in Education
        • Minecraft Lesson Ideas
        • Minecraft Literacy
        • Real Life Minecraft
        • Minecraft Top Tips
        • Minecraft Coding Tutorials >
          • Minecraft Code Builder Setup
          • Minecraft Code: Walking on Air
          • Minecraft Code: Hello World
          • Minecraft Code: Functions
          • Minecraft Code: Rainbow
          • Minecraft Code: Skyscraper
          • Minecraft Pixel Art
    • The magic of >
      • The magic of Computing
      • The magic of Maths
      • The magic of Science
      • The magic of Literacy
    • Road2e2
    • T&L Blog
  • Computing
    • Computing Blog >
      • GCSE Computer Science
      • General
    • Teaching Computer Science >
      • CPD >
        • Blocks to Code
        • Tutorials >
          • How to embed Flash into PowerPoint
          • How to embed YouTube videos in to PowerPoint
          • How to create a wiki
          • How to create a classroom blog
      • Schemes of Work
      • Programming Resources
      • Theory
      • Posters
      • Festive Computing Activities
      • FLOPPYS 2020
      • FLOPPYS 2021
      • FLOPPYS 2022
      • Game Design
      • App Creation
    • Theory Lessons >
      • Theory Tests
      • Computer Hardware >
        • Input / Output
        • CPU
        • LMC
        • Storage Devices
        • Memory (RAM / ROM)
        • Hardware
      • Binary Lessons >
        • Units of Data
        • Binary Representation
        • Binary Representation of Images
        • Binary Representation of Images (Festive)
        • Binary Representation of Characters
        • Binary Representation of Sound
        • Binary Representation of Instructions
        • Binary Addition
        • Hexadecimal
      • Software >
        • Operating System
        • Types of Software
        • Utility Software
      • Programming >
        • Flowcharts
      • Computational Thinking >
        • Data Science
    • Digital Literacy >
      • Social Media (Good or Bad thing?)
      • Cyberbullying
      • Staying Safe Online
    • ICT Strand >
      • Fake News Project >
        • Fake News 1
        • Fake News 2
        • Fake News 3
        • Fake News 4
        • Fake News 5
      • Spreadsheet Modelling
      • Superhero Movie Trailer
      • PowerPoint Task
      • Digital Imaging
      • Paint 3D Tutorial
    • Programming Lessons >
      • Scratch >
        • Festive Scratch >
          • Music Festive with Scratch
          • Turtle Snowflakes
          • What's your elf name
          • Secret Santa
        • Making music with Scratch
        • Sorting Hat Lesson
        • Turtle Time
        • Superhero name generator
        • Compliment Generator
        • Magic 8 ball
      • Python >
        • Chatbot
        • Coding Golf
        • Turtle Time >
          • Turtle Instructions
        • Magic 8 ball
        • Python Mad Libs
        • Rock Paper Scissors
        • Shakespearean Insult Generator >
          • Shakespearean Insult Generator Part 2
        • Compliment generator
        • Sorting Hat
        • Superhero name generator
        • Cards Against
        • Guess the word
        • Guess the number
        • Festive Python >
          • What's your elf name
          • Secret Santa
          • Turtle Snowflakes
      • Little Man Computer
      • Hour of Code >
        • Hour of Code Music
        • Python Tutorials
        • HoC 8-Bit Challenge
        • Music MicroPython (Festive)
      • Raspberry Pi >
        • Networking the Pi
        • Minecraft Pi
        • Harry Potter Sorting Hat >
          • Harry Potter Sorting Hat (GPIO)
        • Raspberry Pi LTSP (Networked Classroom)
        • Astro Pi
    • Homeschooling
    • Remote Learning >
      • Fun Python Tutorials
      • Python Tutorials >
        • Chatbot Tutorial
        • Dice Roll
        • Turtle Tutorial
        • Magic 8 ball
        • Sorting Hat
        • Rock Paper Scissors Tutorial
        • Cards Against
        • Python Mad Libs
        • Shakespearean Insult Generator >
          • Shakespearean Insult Generator Part 2
        • Guess the word
        • Guess the number
        • Superhero name generator
        • Compliment generator
        • Festive Python Tutorials >
          • What's your elf name
          • Secret Santa
          • Turtle Snowflakes
      • Scratch Tutorials >
        • Sorting Hat
        • What's your superhero name
        • Turtle Time Tutorial
        • Compliment Generator
        • Magic 8 Ball
        • Festive Scratch Tutorials >
          • Festive Music with Scratch
          • Secret Santa Scratch Tutorial
          • Turtle Snowflakes Tutorial
          • What's your elf name
    • Revision >
      • Data Representation >
        • Binary Representation of Images
        • Binary Representation of Sound
  • 21 Things
    • 21 Things To Try >
      • ConnectEd
      • Social Media >
        • Twitter
        • Pinterest
        • Facebook Groups
        • Facebook Pages
        • Google+ Communities
        • Staffrm
        • Edmodo
        • Mystery Skype
        • Blogging
        • Classroom Blogging
      • Gamification
      • Flipped Classroom
      • Breakout Edu
      • Edu Podcasts
      • Jar of Awesome
      • TeachMeet
      • Team Teaching
      • Mixed Reality
      • Digital Leaders
      • Genius Hour
      • Sketchnoting
    • Computing >
      • CS 20
      • Code Golf
      • PRIMM
      • Under The Hood
      • Unplugged
      • Podcasts
      • Facebook Groups CS
      • Flipped Classroom CS
      • Teach with Magic
      • Socratic Debate
      • Coding Music
    • 21 Things Keep Fit >
      • 20 Health Hacks
      • Home Health Hacks
    • 21 Things PLN >
      • Edmodo
      • Twitter
      • Reply to a blog
      • Skype
      • Cofee Edu
      • Pinterest
      • Reach out
      • Conferences
      • Instagram
      • Ning
      • MEC
      • Voxer
      • LinkedIn
  • Microbit
    • Physical Computing >
      • micro:bit LEDs
      • micro:bit PIR
      • micro:bit Servo
      • micro:bit Temp
      • micro:bit LDR
      • micro:bit Moisture
      • micro:bit RGB LEDs
      • micro:bit HC-SR04 3v3
      • micro:bit HC-SR04 5v
      • micro:bit Push button
      • micro:bit Potentiometer
      • micro:bit Piezo
    • Music >
      • Music Festive
    • Festive Projects
    • Projects >
      • Music
      • Music MicroPython
      • Servo Animals
    • Lessons >
      • Magic 8 Ball
      • Harry Potter Sorting Hat
    • Quick Start Guide
    • Microbit Simulator
  • #100 Ideas
    • Testimonials
    • Competition >
      • Competition 2
    • Worksheets
    • Bonus Ideas >
      • What's your elf name
      • Make me happy
      • Guess the word
      • Cards Against Humanities
      • Compliment generator
      • Data Science
    • Curriculum
    • ISTE
    • CSTA
  • About
    • Privacy
Search by typing & pressing enter

YOUR CART

Making music with micro:bit - MicroPython

Picture
What you will need:

  • Web enabled device (PC, Tablet, Phone) with an up-to-date browser (Internet Explorer, Safari, Chrome)
  • BBC micro:bit MicroPython editor (https://python.microbit.org/v/1.1)
  • BBC micro:bit
  • Speaker or headphones & two crocodile clips
​
Making music with MicroPython:

The built-in music library in MicroPython allows us to play music on your micro:bit. 

Before you start, you need to import the music library. The music library contains the methods used to make and control sound. Use the import music command to load the music library.
Picture
​import music

​Once you have imported the music library, it is possible to programme your device to play notes (or tones).

​In Micro Python, we use lists to play a sequence of notes. Here is the code for the opening bars of ‘Frere Jaques’:
​tune = ["c4:4", "d4:4", "e4:4", "c4:4", "c4:4", "d4:4", "e4:4", "c4:4", "e4:4", "f4:4", "g4:8", "e4:4", "f4:4", "g4:8"]

​Each note is expressed as a string of characters like this:

“c4:4”

Where C = note, 4 = octave and :4 = duration (beat or ticks).  Note names are case sensitive.
Example

Try the following example:
​from microbit import *
import music

tune = ["c4:4", "d4:4", "e4:4", "c4:4", "c4:4", "d4:4", "e4:4", "c4:4", "e4:4", "f4:4", "g4:8", "e4:4", "f4:4", "g4:8"]

music.play(tune)

​Did you recognise the tune?

Transcribing songs from sheet music

If we want to re-create our favourite songs on our micro:bit, we first need a basic understanding of sheet music.
Here’s a reminder of the most common notes used in a musical score:


The Treble Clef   
Picture
Below is the score for a very popular piece of music - Can you can guess what it is?
Picture
Answer: Grande Valse (You may know it as the ‘Nokia Ringtone’)

Did you notice the special # symbols at the start of the score. This shows that some of the notes are sharps. In this case, the sharp notes are:
F#, C#, and G#

In MicroPython, sharp notes are identified by adding the sharp symbol (or hashtag) # directly after the note, followed by the octave number.  Equally, flat notes are denoted using a b.after the note.

Example:
​“c#4:4”
​“f#5:4”
​Below is the music score for the Nokia Ringtone (this time with notes underneath). 
Picture

​It’s all about the timing

If we look at the notes in a music score again, you will notice that they’re different shapes and colours. These different shapes and colours denote the timings. (See below)
Picture
​Notice that some of the notes have a dot (or full stop) after them. For these notes, we need to multiply the duration by 1.5. 
Picture
​Below is the score again however, this time, with timings (duration).
Picture
Rests
Rests are natural pauses or breaks in a piece of music. Rests can be added to your code using the letter r followed by the duration. For example:
“r:4”
​“r:2”

​Rests are identified by the following symbols:
Picture
Picture

Challenge
  • Program your micro:bit to play the Nokia ringtone.
  • Use a loop to repeat the ringtone 4 times (or forever if you want to be really annoying!)
  • Modify your code so that the ringtone only plays when you press the ‘A’ button

Resources

Picture
Sheet music:
Picture

Playing music through your micro:bit

Option 1 - Buzzer

Wiring instructions
  1. Disconnect the micro:bit from your computer and disconnect the battery pack.
  2. Using crocodile clips, connect the longer leg (or + side) to Pin 0, and the shorter leg to GND on the BBC micro:bit.
Picture
Picture

​Option 2 - Headphones

Wiring instructions
  1. Disconnect the micro:bit from your computer and disconnect the battery pack.
  2. Using crocodile clips, connect the tip of the mini-jack to Pin 0, and the base of the mini jack to GND on the BBC micro:bit.
Picture
Picture


Useful links:

Micro:bit Music Fest - All the tools you need to make your own micro:bit band.
MicroPython - MicroPython music reference guide.
Play Tone - Reference guide for making music with Make Code.
Somebody to You: The Vamps - Learn how to play 'Somebody to You' by the Vamps on your BBC micro:bit using MicroPython.

​Licence:


Unless otherwise specified, everything in this repository is covered by the following licence:
Picture
BBC micro:bit "Magic 8-Ball" lesson is licenced under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.