VIsualizing music – SCOPES-DF
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Lesson Details

Subjects *
Arts, Music
Age Ranges *
11-14,
Fab Tools *
Laser Cutter, Vinyl Cutter, Computers,
Author
Arevik Mkrtchyan

Author

Arevik Mkrtchyan

Summary

 This lesson connects music, visual arts, art history, physics, and programming, During the lesson students will be encouraged active listening and creative expression through abstraction and light painting. Students will explore the works of a classic and contemporary composer while learning about Vasily Kandinsky’s synesthetic approach to translating sound into visual form. lesson will start remembering words of Kandinsky “Lend your ears to music, open your eyes to painting, and… stop thinking!”, they will engage in deep listening and artistic interpretation. The lesson begins with students sketching abstract responses to music, focusing on rhythm, tone, and emotion. They will then experiment with light painting, using long-exposure photography to capture movement while exploring key physics concepts such as shutter speed, ISO, aperture, and motion. For this experima tation with lighting students will program XIAO RP2040 with MicroBlocks to select light colors and blinking patterns, wich they can use and choose based on their perception of the music’s mood and energy. We will have a magic dark box, with two holes, and they will listen music and trying to draw it with XIAO RP2040. We will took photoes with long exposure during the listening and drawing. By integrating their sketches, light painting, and programmed lighting effects, students will create a unique visual representation of sound. Through reflection and discussion, they will share their work, gaining insights into abstraction, self-expression, and the relationship between art, science, and technology. This lesson fosters creativity, confidence, and technical exploration, blending sensory experiences and digital tools. 

 

 

What You'll Need

Art Supplies

Paper, Pencils, markers, or paints for sketching and painting abstract music interpretations.

Technology and Equipment

XIAO RP2040 microcontrollers with rgb LED

MicroBlocks programming platform for students to program their XIAO RP2040.

Cables and connectors for connecting LEDs to the microcontroller.

BOX

Cameras capable of long-exposure photography (DSLR or smartphone with manual camera control).

Lesson Materials

Learning Objectives

  1. Express emotions and sensations through abstract watercolor painting while listening to music, without focusing on realistic representation.
  2. Understand the connection between music and visual art by exploring how sound can influence colors, shapes, and composition.
  3. Experiment with long exposure photography to create light paintings that visually interpret music and rhythm.
  4. Apply basic programming as part of artistic project and thnk about about farther usage of programming in art.
  5. Engage in active listening by analyzing how different musical elements (tempo, mood, instruments) affect their artistic expression.
  6. Explore the works of artists like Wassily Kandinsky and other painters who have visualized sound and music in their art.
  7. Develop a personal artistic response to music through both traditional (watercolor) and experimental (light painting) techniques.
  8. Discuss and reflect on their creative process and how different types of music influenced their artistic choices.

 

Reflection

First we have a talk about Abstract art, the difference between realistic, figurative art and abstract art, we talk about Vasiliy Kandinskiy and Archil Gorki, have a look on Kandinskiys paintings, series of worlks called improvistaions, we have a conversation about synesthesia, and how different feeling and how we can feel or translate different sences, like visualaize what we hear, or what we taste, or smell. They talk about knadinskiys works with words, “It’s about “freedom”, its about some messy feelings, Its just some “craziness”, “ununderstandable”, “amazing”

We talk about classic music, we started listen contemporary composer David Balsanayn, improvisations series, and They realy like the process, for the fisrt moments they were in active listening, I feel learners are stil waiting for the feelings and forms, some of them weres surprised how differently they paint the same process. It was 40 minutes active listening and engaged painting, it was very silent.

after that we started to work with magic box and introdusing to the long exposure light photography, light painting and we listen Vivaldis “spring” for the light paitning with 32 seconds exposure, after this activity, I asked them to go to the programming part to choose the color of

 

 

 

 

The Instructions

Introduction & Inspiration

Explore Vasily Kandinsky's art and his quotes. “making bridges between eyes, ears and hands”

“Lend your ears to music, open your eyes to painting, and… stop thinking!”

This quote encourages students to actively listen to music and allow it to inspire creativity without overthinking. 

Visual interpretation of Music

listening to a contemporary composer improvistaions

while listening focus on the emotion, rhythm, and energy of the music. How does the music make you feel? What shapes, colors, or movements do students see in teirr mind?

Sketch your response to the music:

  • While listening to the music, sketch abstract shapes, lines, and colors that represent the rhythm, tone, and **emotion

 

Programming for Light Painting

We will use XIAO RP2040 microcontrollers and MicroBlocks programming to control the LED lights for light painting.

Learn how to program the XIAO RP2040 to change light colors and create blinking patterns. 

As you program, think about how these light patterns can represent the mood and energy of the music you’re listening to.

Light Painting Experimentation

Light Painting Experimentation Use the Magic Dark Box and XIAO

  • ou will work with the “magic dark box”: a box with two holes. Listen to music through it and use your programmed LED lights to draw in the air while moving to the rhythm.
  • The goal is to create light trails that visually represent the music.

Capture Long Exposure Photos:

  • Set up the camera on.
  • While you are moving the LED lights, the camera will capture the light trails. Experiment with different speeds of movement and light patterns to see how they look in the photos.

 

Reflection & Presentation

Reflection & Presentation

  1. Present Your Work:
  • Share your final artwork (both sketches and light paintings) with the class.
  • Discuss how you translated the music into visual form through color, light, and movement.
  1. Reflect on the Process:
  • Talk about the challenges and discoveries you made while blending art, music, and technology.
  • Consider how creativity, science, and programming can come together in a unique way.

 

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