Music has multiple apps that can be applied to the classroom! Most of these apps I will present are integrated into my daily lessons. The apps are a big help when it comes to classroom organization and teaching tools.
The first app I use mostly with beginning band students who are first learning music but will use it to teach more advanced concepts for upper level band students. The app $1.99 and is called Theory Lessons which is based off the website Musictheory.net that I discussed in Week 5 blog. The iPhone or iPad can be hooked up to a projector or TV to be used in a classroom. When I introduce music theory in my beginning band classes, I use this app to teach staff, clefs, notes, rhythms, etc. before actually playing their instrument. The app can be found at the Apple Apps Store by clicking the link below. There is also a link to a video that gives a short demonstration of the app.
Theory Lessons App
Theory Lessons App Demo
The next app I want to share is called NoteWorks. It is a note recognition game for students first learning their notes on the staff. The game can be customized by extending the range and adding accidentals to the notes. The app can also select different key signatures when the student advances into more difficult music. This is a great tool in helping students with recognizing notes quickly without having to write the note name below each note which most band directors beg for students not to do!
Another great app I use for the classroom or teaching private lessons is called Make Music Inbox which is free! I shared the Smart Music software in Week 5 blog which is an interactive music program that can help students practice at home, grade their performance, and send results to teacher via secure server. Make Music Inbox allows a music educator to access the grades from the iPad, review recordings with students during class or lessons, and type in comments for the students to view later. This is such an awesome support tool for the Smart Music music software they can be utilized anywhere!
The last app I want to share is called Fingering for iPad. This app is great to use for students or the band director to look up the correct fingerings for notes on an instrument. The app allows one to select the instrument, then note on the staff, and it will show you the correct fingering on an instrument chart. The instrument chart looks like the actual instrument so it makes it easier for beginning students to see which keys or valves they need to press. Awesome tool for during class or at home practicing!
It is difficult to find quality apps for music education because the app store is saturated by music applications. There is everything from guitar apps, piano apps, metronome apps, drum apps, etc. that the great music education apps get mixed in the pile. I like the Music Matters Blog because it covers some really great apps that apply to the music classroom. The Sight Reader app is featured and reviewed on one of the blog posts. Sight Reader is an awesome app for helping students practice their sight reading on their instrument. It can be used in private lessons or in class. Another great tool for helping teach music students!
There are many great apps out there for music education and they continue to get better! I am looking forward to exploring what new developers and educators have to offer!
Jordan
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The Fingering app seems like a great tool to implement with your students. Have you used this app before? I always wanted to learn to play the piano, so this seems like a must have if I ever get a chance to begin lessons.
ReplyDeleteThese apps sound really helpful for differentiating instruction in music class, which has got to be hard, given the students' different musical backgrounds and musical instruments. I currently teach in Seoul, Korea and the students here start learning to read music in grade 1 in public school. Most of my grade 1 students play at least one instrument, some even play two. It is sad to see how much the music programs have gotten cut in the US.
ReplyDeleteJoAnn, I use the app almost daily with students. If a student forgets hot to play a note I usually can hand them my iPad to look it up while I continue instruction elsewhere. It has worked great so far and keeps rehearsal going.
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