Music Creation
Music ties into a number of subjects – math, physics, art – as well as being a guaranteed attention grabber. Most everyone loves music.
Chrome Music Lab
Chrome Music Lab is a website that makes learning music more accessible through fun, hands-on experiments. No account needed, just start making music.
Explore everything from rhythm and visualizing sound waves to the Voice Spinner (scratch music) and arpeggios. The Song Maker will let you you make and share your own songs.
Highly recommended.
Tonematrix
Fun for younger students and a good teaching tool for all students, the tonematrix is a simple a pentatonic (five notes per octave) sequencer from Audiotool. When you launch the page, you are presented with a set of squares. Click on some squares to get things going. An excellent tool for teaching rhythm and creating simple sequences. Reloading the page is an easy way to "clear" the board.
Pan flute from drinking straws
Pan flutes are easy to make, takes only minutes, and cheap – drinking straws and some tape. Figuring out how to hold your lips just right to get a good sound takes a little practice.
If you want, you can tune your flutes with a online or cell phone guitar tuner app. A fun project for the classroom or family.
- YouTube URL
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sglOT1J80Ss
Flying Robot Rockstars
KMel Robotics created a team of flying hexrotor copters that create music in ways never seen before. Worth viewing "full screen".
- YouTube URL
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qlqe1DXnJKQ
K-12 Resources For Music Educators
Cynthia Shirk has created a very comprehensive music site--composing as well as history, scores, groups etc. If you only have time to look at one site, this is IT!
The Piano Education Page
The Piano Education Page is a one-stop resource for teachers, students, parents of students, and fans of the piano with over 1000 pages of family-friendly information, upgraded regularly. Special sections for teachers, parents and kids.
Virtual Drumming
Virtual Drums lets you play a wide variety of virtual drum sets right from your web browser.
Virtual Drumming includes free drumming lessons, games, drum sheet music and the ability to share your drumming videos on YouTube.
Audiotool
Appropriate for older students, Audiotool is a free yet powerful online music production studio right you can access with a browser. It provides virtual versions of pro audio equipment, including synthesizers, drum machines, mixers, audio filters and stomp boxes. The Music section showcases work done using the site.
Music-AMC
The site offers artistic, biographical, and contact information, along with upcoming performances of composers, conductors, performers, and ensembles. The directory also contains information on professional organizations and educators working in new American music. Look for the Artist Spotlight, highlighting composers, performers, and industry insiders who shape the world of new American music.
Birds on The Wires
Using a newspaper picture of birds sitting on telephone wires, Jarbas Agnelli was inspired to try making a song out of it. The results speak for themselves.
Have your students try it with a picture of their own ... or one you provide.
- YouTube URL
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoM4ZZJ2UrM
Make Music
MakeMusic (with a special price for schools) helps teachers create lessons for vocal or instrumental ensembles and tools for site reading and singing.
Useful for teaching instrumental or vocal.
My Classroom
This resource from the National Association for Music Education contains current information, news, tips, lessons, and networking opportunities you need as a music educator.
Learning time is so precious that cross-disciplinary approaches should be encouraged.
Related Topics ...
Other Areas To Check Out...
• Audio Recording Software and Podcasts
• Music -- Theory and Practice
• Music & Stories in the Classroom
• Audio/Video Primary Sources
• Drones
• School Video Production
