Music Creation

Music ties into a number of subjects – math, physics, art – as well as being a guaranteed attention grabber. Most everyone loves music.

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.

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.

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

larger image of http://www.nyphilkids.org/instrument-lab.html?

image of http://www.nyphilkids.org/instrument-lab.html?

New York Philharmonic Kidzone

The New York's Philharmonic Kidzone contains build-it-yourself instrument design, composition and orchestration.

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

larger image of https://sites.google.com/site/k12musicresources/

image of https://sites.google.com/site/k12musicresources/

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!

larger image of http://www.pianoeducation.org

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.

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.

larger image of http://library.newmusicusa.org/

image of http://library.newmusicusa.org/

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.