Ambient, neo-classical and EDM chill out music is increasingly popular, fuelled by streaming service playlists that focus more on user moods as opposed to the artist themselves. There is a whole range of music that is created to be relaxing and hypnotic that has been proven to elevate moods and influence emotions. This genre is not based around traditional song structures and often is purely instrumental. The tempo is slow and the timbres are gentle and soft. All of this creates a feeling of calm and peace in a world that can often feel simply too busy and too loud.
For this project, students were able to explore and develop skills in composition and technology through this incredible and increasingly beloved style of music.
Supported by: Sample Library Review
Mentored by: Sam Burt (Music)
Project Outline
We increasingly live in a super complex world. We over-consume, we squeeze 25 hours into a day and new digital content flies at us from every angle. There is that constant pressure to ‘live our best life’ and of course the never-ending pings of social media notifications. Many people, both young and old, are finding it all physically and mentally overwhelming and are looking for more simplicity and balance in their lives. They are seeking to take control of their own well-being. One of the methods is using music, almost as a prescription, to switch off and tune in.
The Brief
This project is perfect if you want to start to explore music technology and like to compose your own music. Also, if you want to create work that is not song-based and is more experimental in nature this is a great choice. You will begin by researching this type of music and keeping a wellness diary to form the inspiration behind your work. This will progress to using music software and exciting sample libraries, as well as your own live instruments, to create a beautiful ambient composition.
Project Results
Please view the final results of the Ben McQueen from George Stephenson High School:
Thank you & Well done!
All we have left to say is thank you and well done, not only to Ben, but also to George Stephenson High School, North Tyneside Learning Trust, the companies that have supported and contributed to these briefs and the TICE team that plugged away at the project week after week.
To Ben – we hope you have enjoyed this project, we hope in years to come that you can proudly present an industry written project you did, achieved, quite frankly smashed. Well done and congratulations from everyone here at TICE.