Note the music

We can program a computer to play music. Conventionally this is done by hard coding, which is the process of coding all possible expected behaviours. Alternatively, we can train an artificial intelligence (AI) computer about what notes go well with others, so it can play a duet with a human musician. Students can make their own instrument that plays a particular note for a set beat, for example when a piano key is pressed or a guitar string is strummed or a drum skin is hit.

Additional details

Year band(s)	3-4, 5-6
Content type	Lesson ideas
Format	Web page
Core and overarching concepts	Abstraction, Specification (decomposing problems), Algorithms, Implementation (programming), Impact and interactions
Australian Curriculum Digital Technologies code(s)	AC9TDI4K03 Recognise different types of data and explore how the same data can be represented differently depending on the purpose AC9TDI6K03 Explain how digital systems represent all data using numbers AC9TDI4K01 Explore and describe a range of digital systems and their peripherals for a variety of purposes AC9TDI4K02 Explore transmitting different types of data between digital systems AC9TDI6K01 Investigate the main internal components of common digital systems and their function AC9TDI6K02 Examine how digital systems form networks to transmit data AC9TDI4P01 Define problems with given design criteria and by co-creating user stories AC9TDI4P02 Follow and describe algorithms involving sequencing, comparison operators (branching) and iteration AC9TDI6P03 Design a user interface for a digital system AC9TDI6P02 Design algorithms involving multiple alternatives (branching) and iteration AC9TDI6P05 Implement algorithms as visual programs involving control structures, variables and input AC9TDI4P05 Discuss how existing and student solutions satisfy the design criteria and user stories AC9TDI6P06 Evaluate existing and student solutions against the design criteria and user stories and their broader community impact
Technologies & Programming Languages	Artificial Intelligence
Keywords	Artificial Intelligence, AI, artificial, intelligence, teachable machine, data representation, algorithms, problem solving, digital systems, music, unplugged activity, Inclusive education, disability, disabilities
Integrated, cross-curriculum, special needs	The Arts, Inclusive education
Organisation	ESA
Copyright	Creative Commons Attribution 4.0, unless otherwise indicated.