Though there are so many incredible (and truly creative) uses for technology within classrooms, it can sometimes seem difficult to find truly applicable technology for the secondary music classroom that doesn't get in the way of our concert preparations, competitions, day-to-day teaching, etc. However, I'm so excited to share with you a few apps and programs that I've discovered that have been real game changers for my classroom!
Music First
Music First has been one of the things that I've used the most the past two years in my classroom! I've assigned "practice assignments" for every student twice per week, and have the students submit a recording of the assigned excerpt. (This is great for tracking progress over time, giving documented feedback, and having a digital/ time stamped documentation of student practice all on one platform.) I also have used Music First for tests, which saves a significant amount of already precious class rehearsal time! Finally, I love using Music First in a way where students respond to a written prompt or embedded video!
-PRICE VARIES ON TEACHER NEEDS
-Classroom Application: Test & homework platform!
-Online classroom for K-12
-Platform for recording, writing, video integration, etc.
-Extension software (Practice First, Focus on Sound, Sight Reading Factory, Noteflight, Cut time, etc.)
-Internet based
EdPuzzle
EdPuzzle has a lot of really interesting features to it, but the part that is most exciting to me is that you can edit YouTube videos to embed in platforms like Music First or Google Classroom with the feature that disables students from skipping through the video! How many times have you had to scroll through a video to find the right place to start/stop it for you kids? How many times have you seen your kids miss information because they skipped the video? EdPuzzle... where problems are solved!
-FREE (teacher account available)
-Classroom Application: Edit youtube videos to show, share, or assign in classes.
(There’s a way for you to have students watch a video without students skipping through
it!)
(There’s a way for you to have students watch a video without students skipping through
it!)
-Connects to Google Classroom!
-Links for embedding videos
Amazing Slow Downer
This little gem can slow down (or speed up) any sound file, allowing students to study the intricacies, textures, and style of the music without necessarily changing the pitch of the recording (unless you want it to). Now, after doing some research, I found out that the full version of the software costs some money, however, there is an app version (The Amazing Slow Downer Lite) that would work just as wonderfully for basic classroom use!
-Mac software, Windows software, APP: ASD Lite (FREE), ASD (Price Varies)
-Classroom Application: Choose any music file to slow down and study the intricacies,
textures, etc. of the music.
textures, etc. of the music.
-Full version = $$, but there *is* a free app version that is just as effective!
-Speeds can speed up/ slow down, but pitch does not change if you don’t want it to.
-http://ronimusic.com/
Screencastify is such an interesting Chrome extension! This allows you to record your screen, which could be really cool for a "flipped" classroom, professional development training (or any training, for that matter), and visual/digital lessons, lesson plans, or sub plans! Plus... it's free!
-FREE
-Classroom Application: Record your screen to “flip your classroom”, professional
development training, & visual lessons/lesson plans/sub plans, etc.
-CHROME EXTENSION!
-Compatible with Mac, Windows, and Chromebooks!
-https://www.screencastify.com/
The Smithsonian Folkways Recordings is not only an incredible resource for authentic recordings of world music (perfect for studying style, performance practice, history, etc.), but it has several available lesson plans from teachers worldwide (in PDF format). Also, the liner notes available also give great context to the interesting pieces! Plus, I found that there are a few teacher courses available, too!
-FREE
-Classroom Application: Listen to authentic recordings of world music to study style,
performance practice, history, etc.
-Many recordings have great liner notes to apply to cultural context of piece.
-Several available lesson plans from teachers worldwide. (Downloadable in PDF format.)
Teacher courses available
-https://folkways.si.edu/
Another resource that I've used a ton the last few years has been Noteflight! Though I love programs like Finale and Sibelius for advanced music notation, Noteflight is quite user-friendly and has basic music notation features available for writing quick single or multi-part pieces or songs. But, my favorite thing about it is that because it's cloud-based, I can access and work on the same file at school AND at home without worrying about platform compatibility or availability between computers!
-FREE
-Classroom Application: Music notation (from both teacher and students)!
-Cloud Based
-Simple input, several basic options for notation
-https://www.noteflight.com/
Screencastify
Screencastify is such an interesting Chrome extension! This allows you to record your screen, which could be really cool for a "flipped" classroom, professional development training (or any training, for that matter), and visual/digital lessons, lesson plans, or sub plans! Plus... it's free!-FREE
-Classroom Application: Record your screen to “flip your classroom”, professional
development training, & visual lessons/lesson plans/sub plans, etc.
-CHROME EXTENSION!
-Compatible with Mac, Windows, and Chromebooks!
-https://www.screencastify.com/
The Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
The Smithsonian Folkways Recordings is not only an incredible resource for authentic recordings of world music (perfect for studying style, performance practice, history, etc.), but it has several available lesson plans from teachers worldwide (in PDF format). Also, the liner notes available also give great context to the interesting pieces! Plus, I found that there are a few teacher courses available, too!-FREE
-Classroom Application: Listen to authentic recordings of world music to study style,
performance practice, history, etc.
-Many recordings have great liner notes to apply to cultural context of piece.
-Several available lesson plans from teachers worldwide. (Downloadable in PDF format.)
Teacher courses available
-https://folkways.si.edu/
Noteflight
Another resource that I've used a ton the last few years has been Noteflight! Though I love programs like Finale and Sibelius for advanced music notation, Noteflight is quite user-friendly and has basic music notation features available for writing quick single or multi-part pieces or songs. But, my favorite thing about it is that because it's cloud-based, I can access and work on the same file at school AND at home without worrying about platform compatibility or availability between computers!-FREE
-Classroom Application: Music notation (from both teacher and students)!
-Cloud Based
-Simple input, several basic options for notation
-https://www.noteflight.com/
