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Rhythms of Self:

Exploring Cultural Identity

Through Online DAWs and Beat-making

Guillermo A. Rojas

The personal viewpoints expressed in this session are solely those of the presenter and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or views of Music Will.

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Allow Me To ReIntroduce Myself, My Name is....

Guillermo Rojas

- Concert Band and Modern Band Director

- Concord Magnet School K-8 in Norwalk, CT

Saxophone, Keys, & Singer/Songwriter for

The Upfronts

Grades: 3rd-8th for Modern Band

4th-8th for Concert Band

I’ve been using Music Will in my ensembles since 2017,

but first time introducing Modern Band to Norwalk in 2025

through working at CMS K-8

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From Chrome Music Lab to Full Online Studios

Chrome Music Lab, was here it all started for me

Simple
Approachable
Creative

Great for General Music

K-3

Cool way to introduce

using student laptops

in the music classroom

Speaking about student laptops!

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Chromebooks MacBooks

School Laptops

And The Never-Ending Quest for a Fully Charged Device.

Give a laptop purpose beyond the schoolwork; students start to protect it like they would any other instrument.

It can be

a beat machine,

a keyboard,

a studio,

and a song waiting to happen.

A laptop can be more than a screen.

Now another show of hands, who has students that carry Chromebooks or any school issued laptop in their schools?

- Chromebooks, Student Laptops, are incredibly powerful music making tools….when they’re not trying to blow them up with Paperclips

No, seriously. Paperclips and the graphite of pencils were being stuck in USB ports. And for some reason this trend was a big hit in CT schools, don’t ask me why, don’t want to know why. One case in Newington, resulted in an evacuation just because of the smoke alone from the device. Another in Plainsville Middle School resulted in the student being hospitalized for inhaling the smoke, the same student who caused the fire.

Morale of my side tangent here— We want to further inspire students to take care of these laptops, not destroy them just because, but to appreciate these devices, which are accessible music making tools, that through apps and websites, allow students to learn how to code for flash video games, compose music for a student made videos, and/or use a MIDI/DAW tools for Digital Music compositions.

So lets talk DAWs, thats what this session was about, not the newest tech in schools.

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What the heck is a DAW?

So, What the heck is a DAW?

Well I think it’s best first to show you some popular DAWs,

including ones that maybe you have heard of before or maybe used already.

You’ve got

FL Studio

Pro Tools

Abelton

Garageband

Logic Pro

& for any of my old heads here, Audacity

And there’s probably some of you who are feeling like this.

“Dude, you didn’t answer the question”

- How can DAWs be used within your own instruction?

Find photos of Cranbury Uke Club 2023-24?

Find original songs from them? EPCR and IGOV?

- Chromebooks, Student Laptops, when they’re not trying to blow them up with Paperclips

An accessible music making tool, through apps and websites, allow students to learn how to code for flash video games, compose music for a student made videos, and/or use a MIDI/DAW tools for Digital Music compositions.

INTRODUCE

If time permits, give everyone about 5-7 minutes to explore each website.

Activity:

Explore one of these websites

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DIGITAL AUDIO WORKSTATION or DAW….Duh

For Beginners, who have no clue what a DAW is:�A DAW is a computer program that lets you record, edit, and mix music all in one place. You can use it to make beats, add instruments, and even record your voice to create songs.

For the Experts in the room:�Digital Audio Workstations are software platforms used for multitrack recording, MIDI sequencing, audio editing, mixing, and mastering. Each DAW offers unique workflows suited for tasks like sound design, live performance, or studio production.

For Your Kiddos back home:�A DAW is like a music-making app where you build songs with sounds, kind of like playing with musical LEGO blocks! It lets you tap beats, play notes, and make your own awesome tunes.

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The Novation Launchpad mimics a real MIDI controller launchpad

A hands-on way to explore beats, loops, and remixing with just a few clicks.

Great introduction to electronic music to younger grades

Novation Launchpad

Website

Explore the Launchpad

See what kind of mix you can create!

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An easy to use online DAW, flexible enough for students at any level.

Tracks

Effects/Plug-ins

Looper

Gives students a DAW experience similar to what the pros use, like Logic, Pro Tools, or FL Studio

Choose from thousands of Samples and Loops, organized by Instrument or popular Music Genres.

Reinforces keyboard note reading while introducing piano rolls used in most DAWs.

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Making the Most of Soundtrap as an Educator

Real-time feedback

Leave comments directly on tracks to guide students as they work.

Collaborative editing

Adjust plugins and mix elements with students to teach EQ and effects in action.

Easy exporting

Download student projects so they can share their music beyond the classroom

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ALRIGHT, LET’S EXPLORE!

Explore the Sample Library

Browse and listen to different loops or one-shots. Pick a few sounds that catch your ear.

Add Your Own MIDI Parts

Use the on-screen piano roll or virtual keyboard to add a melody or bassline.

Build a Simple Beat Idea

Layer a kick, snare, and hi-hat to create a basic groove.

Create a 4 to 8 Measure Loop

Arrange your samples and MIDI parts into a short loop that feels complete. This is your mini track.

Soundtrap

www.soundtrap.com/musicmakers

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979 × 729

Smart Sample Matching with AI�The site uses AI to suggest loops that fit together, helping students focus on creating instead of overthinking.

Genre-Based Sample Packs�Students choose a music genre and get a curated set of loops and sounds to match.

Teaches Song Structure and Instrument Roles�Students learn how different parts like drums, bass, melody, and synths work together in a track.

SPLICE STACKS w/ AI

Splice

Genre Based Sample Packs

Students start by picking a genre they like, and the site loads up sounds that fit that vibe.

Teaches Song Structure and Instrument Roles

It’s an easy way to show how drums, bass, melody, and synths each play a part in building a song.

Smart Sample Matching with AI

It suggests loops that go together, so students can just dive in and start creating without getting stuck choosing sounds. If they don’t like one, they can just tap and swap it out.

There’s a lot of debate around AI in the arts — and I get it. But I see this as a starting point, not a final product. Tools like this help students jump right into music making with sounds they connect to. From there, they can start shaping their own original ideas and grow their creativity from that first spark.

If music is a second language learned through hearing and imitation, then AI can serve as an unbiased tool to help students generate and explore new musical ideas. Rather than replacing creativity, it can spark it—offering fresh starting points and possibilities. The real question isn’t whether AI belongs in music, but how we use it to empower student voices

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BEAT SEQUENCER

Great for exploring rhythm and layering�It’s like painting with sound — perfect for hands-on music making.

Build drum patterns using a grid�Turn beats on or off by clicking boxes.

Loops the pattern�Whatever you create plays on repeat, helping students hear rhythm and timing.

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BEAT SEQUENCER & MUSIC WILL DRUM NOTATION

Same Grid Format

Rows = drum parts

Visual + Audio Connection

Students read beats left to right, just like in Music Will drum charts.

Kick, snare, hi-hat lines match the familiar layout.

Students hear what they “notate”, providing instant feedback.

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SPLICE STACKS AI

SPLICE BEAT SEQUENCER

ALRIGHT, LET’S EXPLORE, AGAIN!

Click and explore samples

Play around with different sounds and see what catches your attention.

Change the key or tempo

Try shifting the pitch or speed to give your track a new feel.

Use Solo (S) & Mute (M) to shape the mix

Focus on one sound or take one out to hear how each part fits.

Mix up genres

Try something unexpected. Combine different genres and see where it takes you.

Try using a Music Will drum chart�Recreate a charted rhythm, then make it your own by layering or tweaking the sequence.

Explore and swap drum sounds�Try out different kits and samples to hear how they change the groove and style of your beat.

Music Will Drum Charts

Pages 7-10

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Bringing DAWs and Beat Making Into the Classroom

Record and edit student performances or compositions

Teach song structure, beat-making, arranging, while still reinforcing rhythm, tempo, pitch, and musical form

Build confidence through accessible music production

Collaborate on group projects or soundtracks

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When Beats Reflect Who We Are

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Students bring their own cultural sounds, from Reggaetón to Gospel or Trap to Afrobeat.

Choosing their own sounds encourages voice, pride, and creative ownership.

Simulated studio work in class helps students understand how music is created across different genres and cultures

DAWs give students space to express the music they know, love, and grew up with.

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TIME TO CREATE!

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Create Your Track

Use one of the tools we explored today to build something:

an 8-bar loop
a simple beat
or an original mix of samples

Name Your Persona

Think of a simple DJ name to go with your track. Keep it creative, personal, or just something that makes you smile.

Step into the Spotlight

At the end, we’ll invite volunteers to be our guest DJs for a quick showcase in the club!

Insert QR Here

Soundtrap

Splice Stacks

Splice

Beat Sequencer

Novation Launchpad

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EVALUATION SLIDE AND LINKS

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Linktr.ee

for all websites!

(and some more shameless plugs of my band)

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Music Will will make all presentations available after the conference.

Please be sure to fill out your session evaluation form in the event app.

The personal viewpoints expressed in this session are solely those of the presenter and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs or views of Music Will.