QGrooves Plus is a QuaverMusic Creative that allows you to create songs by dragging loops to an instrument grid. In this Creative, you can add pre-recorded loops for Keyboards, Synth/Brass, Drums, Percussion, Bass, Guitar, and Vocals.
Teachers or students can navigate to the Creatives icon from their Dashboard to freely create.
Starting a New QGrooves Plus #
Click Menu > New to start a new QGrooves Plus.
- Title your Composition
- Enter the Composer’s name
- Click Ok to begin!
Instrument Grid #
The Instrument Grid is the main section of QGrooves Plus. This is where you add instrument loops to make up your song.
- Each column (up and down) is a measure.
- There are measure numbers at the top of each column.
- Select a measure number, at the top, to start your composition at any measure other than measure 1.
- Each row (left to right) is an instrument.
- Click the white arrow to change to a new instrument.
- Use the volume sliders to mix each individual instrument
- Drag and drop any of the colored loops from the bottom control panel to the grid to start!
- There is a yellow box that will highlight as you select different instrument rows. This will also change the available instrument loops in the bottom control panel.
- Clicking the speaker icon will mute the instrument row.
- Clicking the headphone icon will solo the instrument row.
To remove an instrument loop from the grid, drag the selected loop off the grid/screen.
Recording into QGrooves Plus #
First, make sure your device and browser have your microphone enabled, or this feature will not work
- If not already selected, make sure you have the Record option selected in the instruments dropdown.
- Once ready to record, click the red REC button. You can also toggle a Click Count In to count you in before you record.
- After you have recorded there are preset effects you can use such as Custom, Stadium, Studio, Raw, or Liquid.
- If you want to customize your own effects click the Effects menu to open faders where you can adjust effects like Delay, Reverb, Distortion, Chorus, and Tremolo.
Control Panel #
- Playback Controls: The playback buttons include a loop, backto beginning, and play button.
- Click the play button and it will turn into a pause button
- When you click the loop button it will deactivate the loop
- Tempo: To change the tempo, click the Tempo drop-down.
- Key: To change the key of the loops showing, select a piano key.
- Based off of a C Major scale
- Loop Styles: To change the loop styles, click the Style drop-down.
- Clear: Click Clear to clear your QGrooves Plus and start over.
- Measure Navigation: Use arrows to add/view additional measures.
- You can create up to 32 measures
- Select a measure number, at the top, to start your composition at any measure other than measure 1.
- Loop Tiles: Use the arrows to view additional instrument loops. Check out the Instrument Grid section for more on adding loops to the instrument gird.
Adding a PlayAlong Track #
- Click on the blue bar below your title and composer name to add a PlayAlong Track.
- You can also click Menu > PlayAlong to add
- Click the Play button next to the title to preview any PlayAlong track.
- Select a check box next to PlayAlong you wish to add.
- Click Select to add the PlayAlong as a backing track.
After Adding PlayAlong Track #
- Once added, you will notice the chord progression of the PlayAlong Track is at the top of each column.
- Once added, a volume slider will appear next to your PlayAlong’s title, allowing you to edit the mix of the PlayAlong vs. your QGrooves Plus.
- Click the red X to remove the PlayAlong Track.
Note: Play-Along Tracks are tempo specific; if you change the tempo of your composition, you will lose your current Play-Along Track.
Saving your QGrooves Plus #
Click Menu > Save to save your QGrooves Plus Creative. Your Creative will be saved in your account, ready for you to view or edit in the future!
Opening your QGrooves Plus #
Click Menu > Open to Open or Delete your QGrooves Plus
- Choose to Open or Delete
- Click Cancel to go back to QGrooves Plus.
Download and Make an Mp3 of your QGrooves Plus #
- Click Menu > Save. If you have not already, you will be asked to give your QGrooves Plus a title.
- After saving your project, you can make an mp3 to download it. Click Menu > Make Mp3 from the menu and then Menu > Download the mp3 when it’s ready.
How to Assign QGrooves Plus to Your Students #
To begin, create a folder where your assignment will live.
- With no folder selected, click Menu, New Folder, and give it a title.
Your folder will now appear on the right side of your Resource Manager.
- Search for QGrooves Plus in Resource Manager.
- Drag the resource into your folder on the right side of the screen.
- Select the folder and hit Menu and New Assignment Template.
- Name your assignment “QGrooves Plus.”
- Open the folder and see your named Assignment with a green “A” next to it.
How to assign the assignment template to students: #
- Click Menu > Assign to Class to choose a class or classes you would like to give the assignment to. Use the Assignment Details screen to select your class(es), student(s), assign date, due date, and more!
- Students can submit their composition by clicking Menu > Submit on their QComposer Plus.
- Students should Save their submission if they wish to access it at a later time.
- Completed submissions will appear in your GradeBook next to the student’s name with an orange checkmark, meaning submitted.
- Click the checkmark to open the assignment review screen and view their work.
