Coding the Song: Repetition and Loops

Warning: Your screen size is quite small for viewing this. Rotate your device into landscape mode if you can.

1 Introduction
2 Review Repetition in Music
3 Introduce Loops and Efficiency
4 Demonstrate the Loop Block
5 Code the Snapping Loop
6 Code the Full, Optimised Song
7 Run the Optimised Code
8 Conclusion

1 - Introduction

2 - Review Repetition in Music

3 - Introduce Loops and Efficiency

Explain that doing the same thing many times is a waste of effort for a programmer! Introduce the concept of a loop block. Explain that a loop is a special command that tells the computer: "Do this set of instructions again and again, without me having to write it out every time." This makes the code shorter and more efficient.

4 - Demonstrate the Loop Block

Draw a visual representation of the song's code on the board. Show the long sequence of SNAP cards you laid out previously. Now, draw a large circle or bracket around the SNAP command and label it "Repeat 4 Times". Explain that instead of saying "Snap, Snap, Snap, Snap," we can just say "Snap" and put it inside a Repeat Loop.

5 - Code the Snapping Loop

Have the students focus only on the repeating snaps. Lead them in performing the snap action four times quickly. Then, use the new Loop Concept: Give the command, "Repeat Snap four times!" Have them perform it again, understanding that the one command equals four actions.

Unlock the Full Learning Experience

Get ready to embark on an incredible learning journey! Get access to this lesson and hundreds more in our Digital Skills Curriculum.

Get started

Copyright Notice
This lesson is copyright of DigitalSkills.org 2017 - 2025. Unauthorised use, copying or distribution is not allowed.

Your Answer or Description of Your Work

Project URL This can be a link to your project (e.g. a Scratch, Microbit, Arcade or CodePen URL link).

Upload File

You must be logged into Scratch to share your project, otherwise the link will not work.

To get the URL link of your Scratch project:

Make sure you're logged into Scratch.
Click on the Share button in the project editor.
Click on the Copy Link button.
Click on the Copy Link link. This will save the URL of your project page into your clipboard.

To get the URL link of your Microbit project:

Click on the button in the project editor.
Click on the Publish Project button.
Click on the Copy button. This will save the URL of your project page into your clipboard.

To get the URL link of your Arcade project:

Click on the button in the project editor.
Click on the Publish Project button.
Click on the Copy button. This will save the URL of your project page into your clipboard.

To get the URL link of your CodePen project:

Make sure you're logged into CodePen.
Open your project in the editor.
Click on the Save button at the top of the editor.
Copy the link from the address bar in your web browser (e.g. https://codepen.io/Jane-Smith/pen/gOVXxBQ)

Coding the Song: Repetition and Loops

Teacher Class Feed

1 - Introduction

Send your work to your teacher

2 - Review Repetition in Music

Send your work to your teacher

3 - Introduce Loops and Efficiency

Send your work to your teacher

4 - Demonstrate the Loop Block

Send your work to your teacher

5 - Code the Snapping Loop

Send your work to your teacher

Unlock the Full Learning Experience