Welcome to the fun world of songwriting! Today, we’re going to learn about something called “Songwriting with Parameters.” Have you ever noticed how some songs have parts that change a little bit each time you sing them? Let’s think about the song “Old MacDonald Had a Farm.” Each time you sing the chorus, it’s a bit different because of the animal mentioned.
In the song, when you sing about a cow, you say, “On that farm, he had a cow, e-i-e-i-o.” The next time, it might be a pig or a duck. This small change each time is like using something called parameters. In computer programming, a parameter is a special piece of information that you give to a function to make it do something specific.
Let’s think about making ice cream sundaes with your friends. Imagine you start with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. That’s the same for everyone, just like the base of a song. But when you ask your friends what toppings they want, you might get lots of different answers. One friend might want chocolate syrup, another might want sprinkles, and someone else might want both! Here, “topping” is like the function name, and each topping choice is a parameter.
In both songwriting and making sundaes, functions and parameters help us create something unique and special. In computer programs, they work together to make the program do exactly what we want. And in our sundae example, they help us make delicious treats that everyone can enjoy in their own way.
So, whether you’re writing a song, making a sundae, or even creating a computer program, remember that parameters are like little helpers that let you customize and create something amazing. Keep exploring and have fun with your creativity!
Write a new verse for “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” using different animals. Think about what sounds each animal makes and how you can change the lyrics. Share your new verse with the class and see how many different versions we can create together!
Imagine you’re making an ice cream sundae. Choose a base flavor and then select different toppings as your parameters. Draw or write about your sundae creation and explain why you chose each topping. Present your sundae to the class and see the variety of sundaes everyone has made!
Work in pairs to create a short story. One person will choose a setting, and the other will choose a character. These are your parameters. Write a story together using these elements and share it with the class. Notice how different parameters lead to unique stories!
Create a piece of art using parameters. Choose a shape as your base, like a circle or square, and then decide on different colors or patterns to fill it. Display your artwork and explain how the parameters you chose influenced your final piece.
Play a math game where you create equations using parameters. Start with a number and then choose operations (like addition or multiplication) as your parameters. See how many different equations you can create and solve. Share your equations with classmates and compare your results!
This lesson is called “Songwriting with Parameters.” We’re going to be writing some songs here. Sometimes the chorus is just a little bit different each time you sing it. Do you remember “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”? The chorus is slightly different for each animal.
On that farm, he had a cow, e-i-e-i-o. The small change in each chorus can be shown using something we call parameters. Sometimes a function needs a parameter. A parameter is an extra piece of information you can pass to a function to customize it for a special need.
When you make ice cream sundaes with your friends, you are using a process similar to parameters in a computer program. The base of vanilla ice cream might be the same for every sundae, but when you ask your friends which toppings they’d like, you could get lots of different combinations. “Topping” is the function name, but each type of topping is a parameter.
Functions and parameters work together to create great computer programs and delicious sundaes too.
Songwriting – The process of creating lyrics and melodies for songs. – Emma used her creativity in songwriting to compose a beautiful song for the school concert.
Parameters – Specific values or limits that define how something should work, often used in computer programs. – The game developer adjusted the parameters to make the character jump higher.
Computer – An electronic device that can store, retrieve, and process data, often used for creating music and other digital tasks. – Jake used his computer to mix different sounds and create a new music track.
Function – A specific task or operation that a computer program can perform. – The music app has a function that allows you to slow down the tempo of a song.
Ice Cream – A sweet frozen dessert, not directly related to music or computers, but often enjoyed while working on creative projects. – After finishing her music composition, Lily treated herself to some ice cream.
Toppings – Extra ingredients added on top of food, like ice cream, to enhance flavor, similar to adding effects to music tracks. – Just like adding toppings to ice cream, you can add different effects to your music to make it more interesting.
Unique – Being the only one of its kind, often used to describe a special sound or style in music. – The band created a unique sound by combining traditional instruments with electronic beats.
Special – Different from what is usual, better, or more important, often used to describe a memorable music performance. – The concert was special because the musicians played a song they had never performed live before.
Program – A set of instructions that a computer follows to perform a task, often used in creating music or editing sounds. – Sarah used a music editing program to cut and mix different parts of her favorite songs.
Creativity – The ability to use imagination to create something new, important in both music and computer programming. – Creativity is essential when writing a new song or designing a fun computer game.
