How to Add Music to PowerPoint 2003

Inserting music is a simple way to add interest to a PowerPoint presentation,

In 1987, Microsoft purchased a product named "Presenter" from the California-based company Forethought. It shortly renamed the program "PowerPoint." In its original form, PowerPoint was only capable of producing black-and-white transparencies for overhead projectors. Eventually, PowerPoint became self-contained, allowing users to develop, edit and display full-color presentations on a computer. As the technology evolved, Microsoft added new features, including the ability to add video and music. With PowerPoint 2003, you can add music to a presentation in a matter of moments.

Instructions

Music from a File

1. Launch PowerPoint 2003. Click on the slide to which you want to add music.

2. Click "Insert" in the main toolbar, then "Insert Movies and Sounds." Select "Sound from File" to insert music from your computer. A new dialog box opens.

3. Browse for the music on your computer, click on the file and select "OK." Choose whether the music plays automatically or when clicked. A sound icon appears in the slide.

4. Right-click the sound icon and choose "Edit Sound Object" to customize how the music plays in the presentation. Choose to loop the music, adjust the volume or hide the sound icon.

Music from a CD

1. Insert a CD into the computer's CD drive.

2. Click "Insert" in the main PowerPoint 2003 toolbar, then click "Insert Movies and Sounds." Select "Play CD Audio Track." A new dialog box appears.

3. Choose the track or tracks to play from the CD and select the start and end times, if necessary. You can also choose to loop the music or hide the sound icon. Click "OK" when finished. The sound icon appears in the slide.

Tips & Warnings

• To ensure that the song plays during the presentation, store the file in the same location as the PowerPoint 2003 presentation file.

References

• "Presentation Magazine"; Happy Birthday PowerPoint; June 2007
• Microsoft: Microsoft Office: Add Sound and Video to a PowerPoint Presentation
• University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire: Microsoft PowerPoint 2003: Using Sounds and Video
• Microsoft: Microsoft Office: Add Music or Sound Effects to a Slide
• Goodwill Community Foundation: PowerPoint 2003: Inserting Sound Effects

Resources

• A Bit Better: PowerPoint Tips