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Simple tool to help my students hear the steady beat when we are working with rhythms!  It could also be a great tool to help them see the different tempi.

This is a great, free metronome tool to use with students in the classroom or for them to use in their own practice at home. It allows students to work on rhythm, tempo, beat, and time signature.

This an online metronome that teachers and students can use to help reinforce good timing and tempo skills. The content is a musical tool.

DrumStation is a program that will allow students to create their own drum loops using 8 different drumming instruments. Be aware, I have not been able to find a tutorial for this program. However, it lets students be creative when composing through technology!

New software that concentrates on drum aspects of music creativity.

DrumStation is a program that will allow students to create their own drum loops using 8 different drumming instruments. Be aware, I have not been able to find a tutorial for this program. However, it lets students be creative when composing through technology!

My 6th grade clarinet students often get frustrated when looking up fingerings they don't know (we try hard to not tell them the answer, but rather have them look it up themselves). The charts in the back of the methods books are great, but to a young student it can be confusing which pinky or side key is actually supposed to be used. This interactive fingering chart, while obviously not in their book, could alleviate these same frustrations in their practice sessions at home.

Excellent tool for percussionists to HEAR what the 40 essential rudiments are supposed to sound like and gives a very good methodology for practicing them slowly and gradually improving. The one downside (and it is significant in my philosophy) is that many of the illustrations use traditional grip, whereas I teach only match grip.

This page is a one stop shop for all snare drum rudiments. Each rudiment has a video showing the proper technique. In addition, there is a written out version of each rudiment as well as different tempi with which it can be practiced. This is a great resource to share with all percussion students, especially those preparing for auditions.

Great website for teachers who are not percussionist. Rudiments are hard for anyone to memorize if you are not using them everyday. This site is also great for students who are still learning rudiments. One can easily click on a rudiment and can hear what it is supposed to sound like at different tempos, and what it looks like in standard notation.

Wynn Literature is a site I found a few years ago as I was looking for music for my high school Intermediate Band to play for the Georgia Music Educators Association's Large Group Performance Evaluation (concert festival). The band I had one year was unprepared to play most Grade 4 Literature and I needed help choosing Grade 2 or 3 pieces. Wynn created this list of compositions that are on the GMEA LGPE required list. It is important to double check the most current LGPE list as the list is updated yearly. The compositions are written by composers whose works have been deemed to be "Contemporary Concert Band Standards" as they have the best mix of challenging the students as well as entertaining. Some of the composers include James Swearingen, Quincy Hilliard Robert W. Smith, David R. Holsinger, and James Curnow just to name a few. The site has changed a lot since I originally found it. You were able to click on the individual compositions to get more information about the piece such as key signature, meter, performance ranges for most of the instruments, technical issues that may occur (difficult rhythms or harmonies), background on the composer and historical perspective of the composition. Since the site's links do not work anymore, WynnLiterature is a great starting point to search for literature to play at the middle school level as well as the lower/developmental bands in high school.

Wynn Literature is a site I found a few years ago as I was looking for music for my high school Intermediate Band to play for the Georgia Music Educators Association's Large Group Performance Evaluation (concert festival). The band I had one year was unprepared to play most Grade 4 Literature and I needed help choosing Grade 2 or 3 pieces. Wynn created this list of compositions that are on the GMEA LGPE required list. It is important to double check the most current LGPE list as the list is updated yearly. The compositions are written by composers whose works have been deemed to be "Contemporary Concert Band Standards" as they have the best mix of challenging the students as well as entertaining. Some of the composers include James Swearingen, Quincy Hilliard Robert W. Smith, David R. Holsinger, and James Curnow just to name a few. The site has changed a lot since I originally found it. You were able to click on the individual compositions to get more information about the piece such as key signature, meter, performance ranges for most of the instruments, technical issues that may occur (difficult rhythms or harmonies), background on the composer and historical perspective of the composition. Since the site's links do not work anymore, WynnLiterature is a great starting point to search for literature to play at the middle school level as well as the lower/developmental bands in high school.

Wynn Literature is a site I found a few years ago as I was looking for music for my high school Intermediate Band to play for the Georgia Music Educators Association's Large Group Performance Evaluation (concert festival). The band I had one year was unprepared to play most Grade 4 Literature and I needed help choosing Grade 2 or 3 pieces. Wynn created this list of compositions that are on the GMEA LGPE required list. It is important to double check the most current LGPE list as the list is updated yearly. The compositions are written by composers whose works have been deemed to be "Contemporary Concert Band Standards" as they have the best mix of challenging the students as well as entertaining. Some of the composers include James Swearingen, Quincy Hilliard Robert W. Smith, David R. Holsinger, and James Curnow just to name a few. The site has changed a lot since I originally found it. You were able to click on the individual compositions to get more information about the piece such as key signature, meter, performance ranges for most of the instruments, technical issues that may occur (difficult rhythms or harmonies), background on the composer and historical perspective of the composition. Since the site's links do not work anymore, WynnLiterature is a great starting point to search for literature to play at the middle school level as well as the lower/developmental bands in high school.

This is an interesting read that was linked on Dr. Bauer's resources discussing the connections of arts and common core standards.

This informative Edutopia article by blogger and professor Karin Nolan encourages educators about the simplicity about integrating their current teaching approach and curriculum structure with a standards-based curriculum. You do not have be a musician to satisfy the standards either.

This is a great article for the classroom teacher who is looking arts integrated lessons.

This website presents a colorful presentation of music theory basics including notation, rhythm, key signatures, intervals, minor scales, part writing, seventh chords, and augmented chords. Each page can be printed.

Music Theory is a topic that can often be confusing when beginning to learn.  This website does a great job of breaking down the elements of music theory for anyone who is trying to gain deeper understanding of Music Theory.

This website is great for quick music theory handouts for students. It contains PDF worksheets to print and share with students. Excellent free resource!

The article discusses insight on intonation and ways that teachers and students should approach intonation. The answer is, not with a tuner.

I found this to be a very interesting read/listen. She discusses how to foster creativity in the classrooms. In music, composing is an essential skill and the ultimate creative activity. However, I find myself sometimes nervous to let the kids compose. What if they are not successful? What if they talk too much or get too loud? But Goodwin really gives me the courage to start small and grow from there. It's not about having the kids write a symphony, but to show what they learned by creating something new.

"Although technology is sometimes intimidating, it will give you capabilities that will set you apart from your competition. Do not shun technology, embrace it and it will open new opportunities for you and your students. Remain current on the latest trends and incorporate them into your studio and instruction, your students will appreciate it and you will be a better musician for it.Although technology is sometimes intimidating, it will give you capabilities that will set you apart from your competition. Do not shun technology, embrace it and it will open new opportunities for you and your students. Remain current on the latest trends and incorporate them into your studio and instruction, your students will appreciate it and you will be a better musician for it.

Here are some excellent ideas for introducing various tempo and rhythmic patters to students of grade levels K through 5. The examples go over steady beats, eighth not patterns, and dynamic changes of loud and soft. The first few examples do not specify grade levels but the later examples do. The grade levels are highlighted in yellow.

IPA Source is an excellent resource for any choral director, especially if you include foreign language pieces in your repertoire. Not only does this site offer IPA translations and guides for your knowledge, but you can even use it as a resource to teach your students the International Phonetic Alphabet. This resource is not entirely free, but the subscriptions are relatively affordable for educational institutions.

Midnight Music is designed to simply technology for music teachers. The YouTube channel provides tips, tutorials and lessons and advice. With new videos posted each week there is an abundance of information available to any music teachers. This site could be useful with navigating which software to use for certain projects or discovering what technologies are available. The channel's owner is not based in Australia and may make some references to grade level that are not familiar to teachers in other countries.

Offers a good variety of lessons, for both beginners and advanced students, from notes' duration to Neapolitan chords. Also tools such as chord calculator, metronome, pop up piano window etc., are available for free.

A great free cite for notation practice exercises and lessons.

Music Theory Learning to read music

This site is something that most music educators today are familiar with; Finale. it provides a free download of Finale as well as blogs and training tutorials about how to use the program. The purpose of Finale is to all teachers (and students!) to create their own music. It can be anything from an original composition to an arrangement of a familiar song to a replica of something that has already been created. Not only does finale help build musical creativity, but it also teaches students about the basics of music notation. This site is a great source because it takes you step-by-step through downloading Finale, making it more user-friendly, especially for those that might not have as much experience with more recent music software.

This website focuses on music creativity through technology and those teachers who work with students who are not involved with traditional performing ensembles and music classes. Great articles and resources

This website focuses on music creativity through technology and those teachers who work with students who are not involved with traditional performing ensembles and music classes. Great articles and resources

The Army's music is a source for several beneficial resources. You can find upcoming performances for all of the bands to find a performance closes to you. These bands include the active bands, Army Reserve Bands, National Guard bands, and the U.S. Army School of Music Band. Each band will also have smaller ensembles such as jazz bands and rock bands. The site also has recordings of the Army band performing some traditional ceremonial songs including marches, fanfares, and even bugle calls that are found on the music tab. This is very beneficial if you are are trying to perform a patriotic show or performing for the school's JROTC programs. There are pages for the National Anthem and The Army Song that provides the history of the songs as well as the lyrics and recordings. You can click on the songs titles to download mp3 files. The education tab is great because it has a list of U.S. Army Music Master Classes for every instrument and covers a wide range of topics. From basics and fundamentals to practicing to percussion. Master classes are added periodically. When you click on the title of the master class, a PDF will download. You can also request for a clinicians, clinic teams, master classes, or guest conductors to come out to your school. The only expense you might have to pay is for travel expenses if they are not in the area.

The Army's music is a source for several beneficial resources. You can find upcoming performances for all of the bands to find a performance closes to you. These bands include the active bands, Army Reserve Bands, National Guard bands, and the U.S. Army School of Music Band. Each band will also have smaller ensembles such as jazz bands and rock bands. The site also has recordings of the Army band performing some traditional ceremonial songs including marches, fanfares, and even bugle calls that are found on the music tab. This is very beneficial if you are are trying to perform a patriotic show or performing for the school's JROTC programs. There are pages for the National Anthem and The Army Song that provides the history of the songs as well as the lyrics and recordings. You can click on the songs titles to download mp3 files. The education tab is great because it has a list of U.S. Army Music Master Classes for every instrument and covers a wide range of topics. From basics and fundamentals to practicing to percussion. Master classes are added periodically. When you click on the title of the master class, a PDF will download. You can also request for a clinicians, clinic teams, master classes, or guest conductors to come out to your school. The only expense you might have to pay is for travel expenses if they are not in the area.

Admittedly, I'm a total geek for the "old classics", but I find this website absolutely amazing! In about 3 minutes time I was able to locate about a half dozen pieces that I've been looking for at some point or another since I started teaching. I think there are resources that every band director could use here.

Public Domain town band music library. Would be great for so many things - especially playing marches at MPA that aren't overdone.

This is another invaluable resource of Public Domain compositions for the Band World. So many of the old marches and waltzes are out of print and difficult to come by, but this website has an extensive list of great works that are all public domain. A great resource not only for finding pieces to play, but also for doing some traditional score study.

This is an interactive website focused on clarinet fingerings and tone tendencies. It can be used as a game to determine fingerings and tendency tones, or it can be used as a reference. It not only shows fingerings, but also note placement on a staff.

This is an interactive website focused on clarinet fingerings and tone tendencies. It can be used as a game to determine fingerings and tendency tones, or it can be used as a reference. It not only shows fingerings, but also note placement on a staff.