The L in TLC

 The L in TLC: Exploring Web 2.0 Tools (Part 2) 

Hello Again, 

I hope everyone has had a good start to the week! Time for another #blog. Exploring various Web 2.0 tools that focus on the L in TLC was an interesting process. There were certain sites that I struggled with and did not find very accessible or easy to use but there were more sites that I had a lot of fun with. One of the tools I enjoyed exploring was Strofe. Strofe is a music making platform with several instruments and samples that you can mix together to create your own sound. I have never “composed” music so it took me a while to get anywhere on the site, but overall it was an enjoyable experience making a few songs. Using this website got me feeling creative, and it didn't feel like doing school work. I think that's an indicator that it would be a good tool to pair with an academic assignment to get students engaged and having fun...but learning at the same time. 

Ease of use: Strofe does not have to be downloaded for students to use it- they can create music directly from any device so long as they have internet connection. The website can be used on a phone, a laptop, or a tablet. This also means there are no compatibility issues- if there is a school assigned laptop students have to use, they can make music on Strofe as long as they have internet access. Strofe is intuitive and easy to navigate making it accessible and user-friendly. I was able to create several songs and customize them in a short amount of time. There is a drag-and-drop interface that is really easy to use when customizing a song. It provides pre-built loops and samples which makes it easier to focus on the creative aspects of making a song rather than complex software skills. The better you get at using the site, the more you can do with the music you make, adding effects, layers, and different sound adjustments. When I was playing around on Strofe, my music was pretty basic and I stuck to the samples the website generated for me, only changing a few different things. If I had spent more time working with the website It would be easier to make more complex tracks. 

Check out my Strofe music if you dare; 

Hold Please  (inspired by the music that plays when you're on hold) 

Moody Movie Moment (The title speaks for itself) 

Lofi Blues (Ideal for studying...if you also want to be sad) 

Disaster Jazz (I'm Sorry) (Jazz but composed by someone who doesn't know what they're doing) 

Versatility: There are not many ways to utilize Strofe- its primary function is creating music. There is versatility in the type of music available on the platform- you can create jazz, pop, electronic, classical and more. This makes it versatile enough for a wide array of projects. The music is customizable and students are able to adjust tempo, pitch, and effects which allows for personalization and creativity. 

Likelihood of using it in the future: One critique I have of Strofe is that you have to pay in order to download tracks. (see picture below). All of the music you make can be easily shared with others, but it cannot be downloaded and used for other purposes unless you pay for it. This means that I couldn’t offer this as a resource for students to create music to use for their class projects (ex; film, presentations etc.). However, I can still see the benefits of incorporating Strofe in the English Language Arts classroom. For example, students could make a playlist for a novel or play we read, giving each song a title and explaining how it relates to a certain event in the book. In this sense, the playlist could represent a timeline of the novel. They could also create a playlist that describes a certain character and explain how each song represents that character with text-based evidence. Students could even create a soundtrack for stories they write themselves. There are many creative ways to incorporate Strofe into the classroom- could you see yourself using it in yours? 

Thanks for reading, 

Hannah