To create our spooky tune, we used Microsoft MakeCode to take advantage of its simple block code which is easy to use and is also accessible to even the youngest of coders!
What You Need:
Halloween Music on MI:Sound Speaker Board for microbit:
We gained inspiration for this tune from Michael Myers - Halloween Theme Song - Piano Tutorial published by Thrive Basics, which you can watch here.How to Code the MI:Sound:
- Go to the 'Input' section and drag and drop the 'on shake' function.
- The 'Basic' section has a 'show LEDs' function. Drag and drop it into the 'on shake' function. There are example images after the coding section.
- In the 'Loops' section, and drag and drop 'repeat X times, do' and put this underneath the 'show LEDs' function. Change the number 'X' to 5.
- Go to the 'Music' section and drag and drop 'play tone X for X beat' into the 'do' section of 'repeat 5 times'. Then, place the same function into the 'do' box until you have 7.
- Click 'Middle C' and use the keyboard to select the following tones in this order. High C#, Middle F#, Middle F#, High C#, Middle F#, High D and Middle F# which are all for 1/2 a beat.
- Then, go to the 'Loops' section and drag and drop 'repeat X times, do'. Put this underneath the completed 'repeat 5 times' section. Change the number 'X' to 2.
- Go back to the 'Music' section. Then, drag and drop another 7 'play tone X for X beat' into the 'repeat 2 times' section.
- In accordance with this, use the keyboard to select the following in this order. High C, Middle F, Middle F, High C, Middle F, High C and Middle F which are all for 1/2 a beat.
- There are two differences between the first two sections of code. Firstly, the first section has '#' on some of the notes. Secondly, the last 3 notes are different as the first section has 'Middle F#, High D, Middle F#' as the last three notes (call this pattern 1). Also, the second section having 'Middle F, High C, Middle F' (call this pattern 2).
- Repeat these sections until there is 5 completed section, in the following order according to the pattern number: 1, 2, 1, 2, 1 with the 'repeat X times' being 2.
- When this is done, you can then test it. Either by pressing the 'on shake' button on the online micro:bit or by downloading the code to the micro:bit up.
Example Images for BBC micro:bit Screen
The BBC micro:bit has a 5x5 display screen, which means you can create a symbol to complete your Halloween project! Check out some of the examples that we produced, including ghosts, a cross or a creepy smile!
The Completed MI:Sound Code:
For those that want to get the MI:Sound playing music immediately, the code can be downloaded from the editor below.©Kitronik Ltd – You may print this page & link to it, but must not copy the page or part thereof without Kitronik's prior written consent.
