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Lesson Plan
National First Ladies' Library

Synthesizing Music with the Technology Invention of the Modular Synthesizer

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore how to create synthesized music and discuss what they believe music would sound like without electronics. They explore a given website to determine how different types of instruments can be digitized. In groups, students...
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Website
Other

Computer Music: Guide to Fm Synthesis

For Students 9th - 10th
Computer Music provides a detailed site of the history, advantages/disadvantages, and uses of FM synthesis. Provides many graphics.
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Article
Cyberbee

Adventures of Cyberbee: Digital Audio Basics [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Try this beginner's tutorial for recording sound on the computer. It covers the historical background of audio files, file formats, basic audio recording, synthesized music and copyright.
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Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Polyphony

For Students 9th - 10th
Wikipedia provides a brief description and history of the term, polyphony, including many hyperlinked terms.
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Handout
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Inventor of the Week: Robert Moog

For Students 3rd - 8th
Robert Moog fused his love music and electronics when he invented the synthesizer. This website includes background information on the creation of the synthesizer and provides several links.
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Article
Other

Gyrofrog Communications: The Telharmonium

For Students 9th - 10th
Read a history of the telharmonium, how it works, and its influence upon electronic music.
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Handout
Other

Karbos Guide: A Guide to Sound Cards and Digital Sound

For Students 9th - 10th
Informative site about the use of sound cards and the necessity for them in today's computer world.
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Article
Other

Music Machines: Your First Synthesizer

For Students 9th - 10th
If you would like to know about buying a synthesizer, this article is a good resource. Included are tips on what to look for and how to experiment inexpensively.
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Website
Other

The Wiard Synthesizer Company

For Students 9th - 10th
Providing information about the Wiard Synthesizer, this site includes pictures and sound samples of their synthesizer.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Synthmuseum.com

For Students 9th - 10th
The headquarters for vintage and new synthesizers. This site offers information on a large collection of synthesizers from many makes and models.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Minimoog Voyager

For Students 9th - 10th
The headquarters for vintage and new synthesizers. This site offers information on a large collection of synthesizers from many makes and models.