Your Voice Is Power
Explore how music, coding
and entrepreneurship can
effect positive change
What is Your Voice is Power?
Make beats. Learn code. Promote equity.
Your Voice is Power is a project-based curriculum, mapped to the National Curriculum for Computing that introduces the fundamentals of computer science to students through an exploration of music and social change. Across five learning modules, students engage in fun activities and thought-provoking discussions to learn how these topics intersect.
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Lesson resources
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Lesson 1Learn to code in EarSketch through playing a collection of beats, and how entrepreneurship can promote equity. Lesson plan and slide deck included. -
Lesson 2Understand data structures, creating lists and using indexes - plus understand that there are many layers to injustice. Lesson plan and slide deck included. -
Lesson 3Learn different selection statements, code a simple jukebox program and combine the use of selection and lists to develop algorithms. Lesson plan and slide deck included. -
Lesson 4Learn the role of loops, the concept of parallel processing and how to use a loop index for iteration. Lesson plan and slide deck included. -
Lesson 5Learn the importance of specifying measures and tracks to interleave music, combine function calls to create an intro, verse and chorus and how to debug code. Lesson plan and slide deck included. -
Lesson 6Learn how to develop custom functions, understand the difference between arguments and parameters and how to call a function multiple times. Lesson plan and slide deck included.
Featured Videos
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Layer of Songs
Music Technologist Chalece DeLaCoudray and Audio Engineer Mike Larson code sound layers in EarSketch. Mike Larson has worked with Pharrell as his Recording Engineer for over 10 years. Chalece was the first African American to receive a Masters in Music Technology from Georgia Tech.
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Decode the Message in the Music
Dr. Joycelyn Wilson, Assistant Professor of Hip Hop Studies and Digital Media at Georgia Tech, teachers us about the messaging in music and how to decode it with her groundbreaking method, The O.U.T.K.A.S.T Imagination.
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Song Structure
Music Technologist Chalece DeLaCoudray and Audio Engineer Mike Larson code song structure in EarSketch using functions.
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Entrepreneurship
Beatrice Dixon, Co-Founder and CEO of The Honey Pot Company shares her Top 6 Tips for entrepreneurs and the importance of entrepreneurship and equity.
FAQ
What is the recommended age range for participation?
The programme is open to students aged 11-18
What materials (hardware/software) are required?
Students will need access to a web browser and internet to participate. EarSketch is a web based coding platform (no downloads necessary). EarSketch runs on chromebooks and any computer with a standard web browser.
All curriculum materials can be used digitally or can be printed out. No other equipment is required.
All curriculum materials can be used digitally or can be printed out. No other equipment is required.
Who created the Your Voice is Power Curriculum and Competition?
CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT & PRODUCTION:
Sabrina Grossman, Program Director, CEISMC, Georgia Tech
Chalece DeLaCoudray, Innovator in Residence, CEISMC, Georgia Tech, chaleced.com
Joycelyn Wilson, PhD, Assistant Professor of Hip Hop Studies and DM, HipHop2020 Innovation Archive, Georgia Tech
Roxanne Moore, PhD, Senior Research Engineer, Georgia Tech
Stephanie Walters, YELLOW Foundation
Justin Funiliar, YELLOW Foundation
Mike Galliard, YELLOW Foundation
Krystal Hardy Allen, CEO, K. Allen Consulting
Jaritza Alecon, Associate Consultant, K. Allen Consulting
VIDEOGRAPHY:
Tekquiree Spencer, Executive Producer, Spencers4Hire
Jermaine R. Spencer, Executive Producer, Spencers4Hire
Beatrice Dixon, Featured Entrepreneur, Co-Founder of the Honey Pot Company
Mike Larson, Sound Engineer and Music Producer
CREATIVE:
Kass Escalera, Design Education Diversity, Amazon
Ashley Glover, UX Designer, Amazon Fire TV
Jimin Kim, UX Visual Designer, Amazon
Matt Giuliari, UX Designer, Amazon Devices Design & Services Group ,
Rina King, UX Visual Designer, Amazon Devices Design & Services Group
TECHNICAL:
Jason Freeman, Chair, School of Music, Georgia Tech
Luke Heerman, Application Developer Lead, School of Music, Georgia Tech
Love Park, Education Outreach Coordinator, CEISMC, Georgia Tech
Sabrina Grossman, Program Director, CEISMC, Georgia Tech
Chalece DeLaCoudray, Innovator in Residence, CEISMC, Georgia Tech, chaleced.com
Joycelyn Wilson, PhD, Assistant Professor of Hip Hop Studies and DM, HipHop2020 Innovation Archive, Georgia Tech
Roxanne Moore, PhD, Senior Research Engineer, Georgia Tech
Stephanie Walters, YELLOW Foundation
Justin Funiliar, YELLOW Foundation
Mike Galliard, YELLOW Foundation
Krystal Hardy Allen, CEO, K. Allen Consulting
Jaritza Alecon, Associate Consultant, K. Allen Consulting
VIDEOGRAPHY:
Tekquiree Spencer, Executive Producer, Spencers4Hire
Jermaine R. Spencer, Executive Producer, Spencers4Hire
Beatrice Dixon, Featured Entrepreneur, Co-Founder of the Honey Pot Company
Mike Larson, Sound Engineer and Music Producer
CREATIVE:
Kass Escalera, Design Education Diversity, Amazon
Ashley Glover, UX Designer, Amazon Fire TV
Jimin Kim, UX Visual Designer, Amazon
Matt Giuliari, UX Designer, Amazon Devices Design & Services Group ,
Rina King, UX Visual Designer, Amazon Devices Design & Services Group
TECHNICAL:
Jason Freeman, Chair, School of Music, Georgia Tech
Luke Heerman, Application Developer Lead, School of Music, Georgia Tech
Love Park, Education Outreach Coordinator, CEISMC, Georgia Tech
What is the role of Amazon, BCS, RocketJudge and Georgia Tech in this competition?
The competition is run and managed on by BCS, the Chartered Institute of IT.
Amazon will provide employees to initially judge competition entries to create a shortlist and will also provide the prizes.
RocketJudge will enable competition entries to be collected and sent to Amazon employees for judging.
Georgia Tech provide the Earsketch platform, where entrants will remix songs through their code and create their entry for the competition.
Amazon will provide employees to initially judge competition entries to create a shortlist and will also provide the prizes.
RocketJudge will enable competition entries to be collected and sent to Amazon employees for judging.
Georgia Tech provide the Earsketch platform, where entrants will remix songs through their code and create their entry for the competition.
What is Earsketch?
EarSketch is a free web-based platform to help students of all ages learn core topics in computer science, music, and music technology in a fun and engaging learning environment. EarSketch helps students learn to code in Python or JavaScript through manipulating loops, composing beats, remixing sounds, and applying effects to a multi-track digital audio workstation.
What is YELLOW?
Founded by recording artist, producer, songwriter, philanthropist, and entrepreneur Pharrell Williams, YELLOWis a 501(c)(3) non-profit working to EVEN THE ODDS for all youth through education. YELLOW has a focus on 5 key priorities: Abolish Remedial, Revolutionize Teaching, Inspire Entrepreneurship, Nourish Youth, and Enlist Communities. Through these priorities, YELLOW will transform education and teaching for the future, creating a lens of possibility.
What is Amazon Future Engineer?
Amazon Future Engineer is Amazon’s comprehensive childhood-to-career programme to inspire, educate and enable children and young adults from lower-income backgrounds to try computer science.
What is Computing at School?
Computing at School is the network for Computing Teachers in the UK. Part of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, Computing at School harnesses the power of volunteers, empowering members to gift knowledge, expertise and support to one another in a virtuous circle of improvement. To find out more and get involved visit https://www.computingatschool.org.uk