Tech Tool Review: EarSketch

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Hello! For this week our tech tool will be EarSketch, a free platform developed by Georgia Tech that teaches students how to code through music creation. Designed for grades 6-12, EarSketch uses popular programming languages of Python and JavaScript, but instead having students try to code a “Hello World" message, students write scripts that generate beats, loops, and full music tracks. It’s a way to blend computer science with artistic expression that helps students see coding not just as something technical, but as something creative and personally meaningful.

What stands out immediately is how engaging EarSketch is, especially for students who might not originally see themselves as “tech people.” The platform comes with a vast library of sounds (including hip hop, EDM, pop, and Latin samples) which students can combine and modify using their code. They learn fundamental programming concepts like loops, functions, and variables. The feedback they get isn’t just seeing an image or motion appear on the screen, it’s in a song they hear that is changing as they write out each line. That immediate, personal connection makes it a powerful tool that can reach a wide range of learners.

EarSketch runs entirely in the browser and doesn’t require any installation, which is a huge plus for a school settings. It also includes built in tutorials, example projects, and classroom resources to help teachers introduce both coding and music production concepts. In a school library or makerspace, EarSketch would be fantastic for coding clubs or exploratory sessions where students can experiment with both music and programming. They could remix tracks, build theme songs for characters from books they’re reading, or even compose soundtracks for their own stories. In classrooms, teachers could integrate EarSketch into math or technology units; showing how sequencing, patterns, and algorithms apply in music.

EarSketch is a unique and highly engaging way to introduce coding, creativity, and digital literacy all at once. It encourages students to take risks, experiment and make something that feels truly theirs. For any school looking to add onto its approach to STEM, EarSketch is absolutely worth exploring. 

Here's a link to a little melody I created while playing around with the program: Link

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