Exploring EarSketch: Teaching Music Through Coding

One of the highlights of my time at GMEA last week was meeting Jason Freeman who is the creator of an amazing program called EarSketch and a Professor at Georgia Tech. Music and technology have always evolved together, and today’s students have a powerful tool at their fingertips that combines both: EarSketch. Developed by Georgia Tech, EarSketch is a free, browser-based platform that teaches music composition and coding at the same time. It’s designed for students of all backgrounds, making it an exciting way to introduce young musicians to digital music production while also developing computational thinking skills. EarSketch allows students to create music by writing code in Python or JavaScript. Instead of manually dragging and dropping loops into a timeline, they use simple coding commands to arrange beats, melodies, and effects. The software provides a vast library of professional-quality loops spanning multiple genres, from hip-hop to EDM to classical. Students can call these loops with a single line of code, specify when they should play in the track, and even manipulate their pitch, volume, and effects through programming.

One of the things I like best about EarSketch is its ability to make coding feel almost easy, even for students who have never programmed before. In many ways it is a natural next step to other similar coding platforms for children like Scratch. By connecting coding concepts to music composition, the learning process becomes a little more intuitive. Functions, loops, conditionals, and variables aren’t just abstract ideas—they’re tools to shape sound. For example, instead of simply explaining what a "for loop" does, students can use one to create a repeating drum beat that plays throughout their track. This hands-on experience makes coding tangible and immediately rewarding.

For music educators, EarSketch presents a fantastic opportunity to integrate technology into the curriculum in a meaningful way. It can be used in general music classes, music technology courses, and even cross-curricular projects with computer science classes. Teachers don’t need to be coding experts to get started—EarSketch provides detailed lesson plans, interactive tutorials, and a supportive online community. The platform is designed to be self-guided, allowing students to experiment and learn through discovery while also offering structured challenges that reinforce key concepts. In addition to music composition and coding, EarSketch encourages creativity and collaboration. Students can remix existing loops, record their own sounds, and share their compositions with peers. This collaborative element mirrors real-world music production, where artists and producers work together to refine ideas. It also introduces students to the concept of digital music workstations (DAWs), giving them foundational skills they can apply to other software like Soundtrap, GarageBand, Ableton Live, or YuStudio.

A great way to expand EarSketch projects is by integrating them with Soundtrap or YuStudio. Once students create their music through code in EarSketch, they can export their tracks and import them into Soundtrap for further editing, layering, and collaboration. This workflow allows students to start with the structured logic of coding and then transition to a more traditional music production environment. In Soundtrap, they can record vocals, add live instrument tracks, apply additional effects, and refine their compositions. This combination of EarSketch and Soundtrap provides a well-rounded music technology experience, blending programming with hands-on production.

Another reason to use EarSketch in the classroom is its potential to engage a diverse range of students. Some may be drawn to it because they love music, while others may find the coding aspect fascinating. Either way, it bridges the gap between two disciplines and shows students how technology can be a tool for artistic expression. In an era where digital skills are becoming increasingly important, EarSketch offers a way to prepare students for the future while keeping creativity at the center of learning. Whether you're a music teacher looking to incorporate more technology or a computer science teacher searching for an engaging project, EarSketch is great. It’s not just about writing code or making beats—it’s about opening doors to new ways of thinking, creating, and collaborating.

Do you use EarSketch with your students? I’d love to hear about the kinds of projects you are doing and how your students enjoy using the program.