Digital Musicking

A list of music apps that are great in the private studio setting, particularly for teaching piano lessons. Theory apps are included.

A Sim City-style online game (also available in a downloadable app) that is great for composition activities in the classroom. Warning: it's addictive for all ages!

Classroom noise level meter. Not only great for elementary classrooms but allows junior high ensembles to visualize the differences in their dynamics.

Fun website that allows you to play the drums using the keys on your keyboard- this would be a great way to introduce students to creating rhythms and patterns.

This website has online piano lessons and suggestions for jazz listening.

Being a first-year teacher is, as I'm sure we all know, daunting and overwhelming, especially for those of us who seek to be the best that we can be for our students. Nonetheless, educator Jim Matthews provides his audience with a concise list of eight habits exhibited by several highly effective band directors, which includes but is not limited to having ensembles play long tones, engage in breathing exercises, and participate in warm-up routines that are both effective and efficient. By adopting each of these eight habits, Matthews is certain that every year of teaching will be nothing short of productive and rewarding.

This official website for the Gordon Music Learning Theory provides many core principles and philosophies centered around this theory, professional development opportunities, and accessible links for music teachers to join an area chapter.

Blog Post by Ryan Sargent on how to effectively lesson plan as a music teacher. Ryan gives tips on standards, objectives and assessment music teachers can use to become more effective lesson planners.

This website has a bunch of resources! They have free, downloadable files like beginning of the year checklists. They also post a lot of instrument specific articles, like proper techniques and how to teach them.

This blog is run by Angela Harman, who is an orchestra teacher in Utah. She has several great posts on starting beginner strings, recruitment, and even re-energizing rehearsals. She also has a book on shifting, which can be tricky to teach.

The NAMM foundation is another great organization for music educators. On their website, they offer different resources for educators through the Music Achievement Council. They also offer some videos with 'tips for success', which can help you advocate and support music programs, and the 'business side' of teaching music.

As a member of NAfME, you get access to numerous resources. On their website, you can find different sections for teachers, students, etc. One of the resources as a teacher you can access is the Online Professional Development for Music Educators by Music Educators. Through this, you can get over a 100 hours of professional development. This is great, especially if you don't have a lot of opportunities to do this through your school.

This website provides the materials and step-by-step instructions required to create several simple homemade musical instruments using household materials.

Podcast hosted by four music educators who are early in their teaching careers. Various topics of use to a new music teacher as each host has a different background and teaching assignment (choral, band, strings).

This website provides browsers with a wide array of ear training exercises of varying difficulty levels.

This site is a great program for students to practice ear training. It is a simple interface but will test your ear.

This website provides a detailed teaching and playing sequence for increasing fluency for all members of the recorder family. These resources include note sequences, fingering charts, technical advice/tips, etc.

Lots of technical information on recorder method. Areas of the website that I explored have a lot of information that can seem overwhelming, but is also incredibly helpful. Would be a great resource for someone who wants to learn how to play/teach the recorder by studying/reading.

This website provides a wealth of information and resources for the elementary music teacher. These resources include: games, stories, songs (lyrics and chords provided), games to be played in music class, etc.

Blog post article from nafme.org on productive music practice. post filled with video clips and specific examples on things musicians can do to have more productive, goal-oriented practice sessions.

Offers free resources and information on the history of Rock & Roll. It looks like there are online lesson plans and more resources available if one signs up for an account with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. There's also information on field trips and educational opportunities for those who are able to take students to the museum in Ohio.