technology

Ms. Powers Music Instagram focuses on secondary general music. The page includes videos from classroom experiences that incorporate guitars, percussion, and vocals. Additionally, there are also occasional livestreams/videos on popular music in the classroom. All one needs is an Instagram account to get started!

Price: Always Free

Link: Ms. Powers on Instagram

Ms. Powers Music Instagram focuses on secondary general music. The page includes videos from classroom experiences that incorporate guitars, percussion, and vocals. Additionally, there are also occasional livestreams/videos on popular music in the classroom. All one needs is an Instagram account to get started!

Price: Always Free

Link: Ms. Powers on Instagram

Created by Google, Word Synth allows students to experiment with language and music. Users input their own words/phrase to be spoken on pitch. Drag the blocks up or down to change the pitch on any given word. Users can change the tonality and pitch center, the voice used, tempo of playback, and the ratio of singing to speaking during playback. The program also includes a tutorial!

Price: Always Free

Link: Word Synth

Created by Google, Word Synth allows students to experiment with language and music. Users input their own words/phrase to be spoken on pitch. Drag the blocks up or down to change the pitch on any given word. Users can change the tonality and pitch center, the voice used, tempo of playback, and the ratio of singing to speaking during playback. The program also includes a tutorial!

Price: Always Free

Link: Word Synth

Created by Google, Word Synth allows students to experiment with language and music. Users input their own words/phrase to be spoken on pitch. Drag the blocks up or down to change the pitch on any given word. Users can change the tonality and pitch center, the voice used, tempo of playback, and the ratio of singing to speaking during playback. The program also includes a tutorial!

Price: Always Free

Link: Word Synth

Created by Google, Word Synth allows students to experiment with language and music. Users input their own words/phrase to be spoken on pitch. Drag the blocks up or down to change the pitch on any given word. Users can change the tonality and pitch center, the voice used, tempo of playback, and the ratio of singing to speaking during playback. The program also includes a tutorial!

Price: Always Free

Link: Word Synth

This site is designed for music educators who need help using technology! In 12 online courses, teachers can learn how to use programs such as GarageBand, Mixcraft, Sibelius, Audacity and more. There are lesson plans to go along with each course, and the program will help you understand iPads, Chromebooks, Macs, and PCs. There are a few free resources in addition to those included in the subscription.

Cost: $49 per month or $490 per year

Link: Midnight Music

This site is designed for music educators who need help using technology! In 12 online courses, teachers can learn how to use programs such as GarageBand, Mixcraft, Sibelius, Audacity and more. There are lesson plans to go along with each course, and the program will help you understand iPads, Chromebooks, Macs, and PCs. There are a few free resources in addition to those included in the subscription.

Cost: $49 per month or $490 per year

Link: Midnight Music

This site is designed for music educators who need help using technology! In 12 online courses, teachers can learn how to use programs such as GarageBand, Mixcraft, Sibelius, Audacity and more. There are lesson plans to go along with each course, and the program will help you understand iPads, Chromebooks, Macs, and PCs. There are a few free resources in addition to those included in the subscription.

Cost: $49 per month or $490 per year

Link: Midnight Music

This site is designed for music educators who need help using technology! In 12 online courses, teachers can learn how to use programs such as GarageBand, Mixcraft, Sibelius, Audacity and more. There are lesson plans to go along with each course, and the program will help you understand iPads, Chromebooks, Macs, and PCs. There are a few free resources in addition to those included in the subscription.

Cost: $49 per month or $490 per year

Link: Midnight Music

This site is designed for music educators who need help using technology! In 12 online courses, teachers can learn how to use programs such as GarageBand, Mixcraft, Sibelius, Audacity and more. There are lesson plans to go along with each course, and the program will help you understand iPads, Chromebooks, Macs, and PCs. There are a few free resources in addition to those included in the subscription.

Cost: $49 per month or $490 per year

Link: Midnight Music

This site is designed for music educators who need help using technology! In 12 online courses, teachers can learn how to use programs such as GarageBand, Mixcraft, Sibelius, Audacity and more. There are lesson plans to go along with each course, and the program will help you understand iPads, Chromebooks, Macs, and PCs. There are a few free resources in addition to those included in the subscription.

Cost: $49 per month or $490 per year

Link: Midnight Music

This online resource allows you to create sheet music and educational activities for students. Teachers are able to assign assignments, mostly with score work. This would be successful in a theory classroom. It is compatible with Google Classroom, Clever, Office 365, Schoology, Canvas and Edmodo. The teacher can organize classes, collaborate in real time, contact students, add comments to assignments and work offline. It is best for assignments that involve writing musical notation. This would be difficult to use with younger students, although it claims to be successful with all ages. This can be used at school or home and with many different types of devices.

Price: Always Free

Link: Flat

This computer application allows students to improvise, learn, and compose music with their computer keyboard. It is perfect for allowing students to compose and share music in a time when many of them are away from friends and peers. Teachers can utilize this for lessons or enrichment. The site includes some lesson plans as well! aQWERTYon allows for export into other audio programs like Soundtrap and Ableton.

Price: Always Free

Link: aQWERTYon

This computer application allows students to improvise, learn, and compose music with their computer keyboard. It is perfect for allowing students to compose and share music in a time when many of them are away from friends and peers. Teachers can utilize this for lessons or enrichment. The site includes some lesson plans as well! aQWERTYon allows for export into other audio programs like Soundtrap and Ableton.

Price: Always Free

Link: aQWERTYon

Mixxx is software perfect for secondary technology and general music classes. Teachers can utilize Mixxx to create and perform live mixes with digital music files. Students can upload several songs to the software, then mix them into their own compositions. Students mix on a  turntable simulator and add exciting visuals elements.

Price: Free always

Mixxx

Mixxx is software perfect for secondary technology and general music classes. Teachers can utilize Mixxx to create and perform live mixes with digital music files. Students can upload several songs to the software, then mix them into their own compositions. Students mix on a  turntable simulator and add exciting visuals elements.

Price: Free always

Mixxx

This is an ideal resource for music educators looking for a web-based digital audio workstation (DAW). Soundation is a DAW for those editing music who prefer a higher quality of output and recording. This resource features virtual instruments and over 700 loops and effects. With subscription, pricing ranges from $1.99 to $6.99 monthly per person.

Price: Free during COVID-19 (3 month trial) with paid upgrades available

Link: Soundation

This is an ideal resource for music educators looking for a web-based digital audio workstation (DAW). Soundation is a DAW for those editing music who prefer a higher quality of output and recording. This resource features virtual instruments and over 700 loops and effects. With subscription, pricing ranges from $1.99 to $6.99 monthly per person.

Price: Free during COVID-19 (3 month trial) with paid upgrades available

Link: Soundation

Soundfly is an online service offering professional-quality music courses not often offered in traditional school. Topics range from the role of producers to songwriting and performance. Many of the production and electronic composition classes require additional programs/software. Soundfly has many available courses offered for free as well as additional paid courses, and is available for students as well as teachers looking for professional development.

Price: Some free courses, some paid

Link: Soundfly

Soundfly is an online service offering professional-quality music courses not often offered in traditional school. Topics range from the role of producers to songwriting and performance. Many of the production and electronic composition classes require additional programs/software. Soundfly has many available courses offered for free as well as additional paid courses, and is available for students as well as teachers looking for professional development.

Price: Some free courses, some paid

Link: Soundfly

Soundfly is an online service offering professional-quality music courses not often offered in traditional school. Topics range from the role of producers to songwriting and performance. Many of the production and electronic composition classes require additional programs/software. Soundfly has many available courses offered for free as well as additional paid courses, and is available for students as well as teachers looking for professional development.

Price: Some free courses, some paid

Link: Soundfly

Soundfly is an online service offering professional-quality music courses not often offered in traditional school. Topics range from the role of producers to songwriting and performance. Many of the production and electronic composition classes require additional programs/software. Soundfly has many available courses offered for free as well as additional paid courses, and is available for students as well as teachers looking for professional development.

Price: Some free courses, some paid

Link: Soundfly

Soundfly is an online service offering professional-quality music courses not often offered in traditional school. Topics range from the role of producers to songwriting and performance. Many of the production and electronic composition classes require additional programs/software. Soundfly has many available courses offered for free as well as additional paid courses, and is available for students as well as teachers looking for professional development.

Price: Some free courses, some paid

Link: Soundfly

Soundfly is an online service offering professional-quality music courses not often offered in traditional school. Topics range from the role of producers to songwriting and performance. Many of the production and electronic composition classes require additional programs/software. Soundfly has many available courses offered for free as well as additional paid courses, and is available for students as well as teachers looking for professional development.

Price: Some free courses, some paid

Link: Soundfly

This resource is great for both general music & music tech classrooms of all ages. This is a self-contained lesson and only requires speaking in rhythm. Teachers might use it early in the year as an “icebreaker” activity. The project allows for the use of applications/softwares to create a rhythmic accompaniment. The rapping portion allows some creativity, but also provides structure in creating rhythms.

Price: Free always

Link: “Rap My Name” Lesson Plan

Teachers can use this resource as a  Soundtrap-based lesson plan database. Soundtrap is a website designed for incorporating electronic music and recording projects into the classroom. This resource provides an extensive amount of lesson plans for all grades. The lesson plans focus on general music and satisfy National Core Arts Standards. Each lesson plan provides objectives, the level it is best suited for, a detailed explanation of the activity/project, and extended learning goals.

Price: Free during COVID-19 (Soundtrap subscription normally $249/year for 50 users)

Link: Lesson Plans To Inspire Your Classroom Activities

This introduction to composition is perfect for theory classes, online band and orchestra, and secondary general music! Clear directions on how to compose a basic melody for different instruments are provided. Students need access to notation software and the knowledge to create at least 2 levels of harmony to complete this assignment. This is already formatted for an online class setting. A grading rubric is provided, and teachers would be able to modify this flexible lesson for inclusion in a larger unit. Author: Sarah Gulish

Cost: FREE during COVID-19

Link: COMP-1_-Melody-Recall

Click here to access a google drive file. You must “Make a Copy” first and then you can edit. 

This introduction to composition is perfect for theory classes, online band and orchestra, and secondary general music! Clear directions on how to compose a basic melody for different instruments are provided. Students need access to notation software and the knowledge to create at least 2 levels of harmony to complete this assignment. This is already formatted for an online class setting. A grading rubric is provided, and teachers would be able to modify this flexible lesson for inclusion in a larger unit. Author: Sarah Gulish

Cost: FREE during COVID-19

Link: COMP-1_-Melody-Recall

Click here to access a google drive file. You must “Make a Copy” first and then you can edit. 

This introduction to composition is perfect for theory classes, online band and orchestra, and secondary general music! Clear directions on how to compose a basic melody for different instruments are provided. Students need access to notation software and the knowledge to create at least 2 levels of harmony to complete this assignment. This is already formatted for an online class setting. A grading rubric is provided, and teachers would be able to modify this flexible lesson for inclusion in a larger unit. Author: Sarah Gulish

Cost: FREE during COVID-19

Link: COMP-1_-Melody-Recall

Click here to access a google drive file. You must “Make a Copy” first and then you can edit. 

Teachers looking for Soundtrap lesson plans will find much of use here. This resource provides an extensive collection of lesson plans for all grades. Designed for general music while satisfying National Core Arts Standards, teachers can find objectives, ideal level, a detailed explanation of the activity/project, and options for extended learning in these plans.

Price: Free during COVID-19 (Soundtrap subscription normally $249/year for 50 users)

Link: Lesson Plans To Inspire Your Classroom Activities

This resource is ideal for secondary music teachers looking for a composition medium for online learning. The Acapella App is a great way to have students collaborate and create music together. Students can put together a song with multiple voices either by themselves or with their peers. Note: Students must be 16 years old to create an account and everything students create is public for everyone on the app.

Price: Free Always with Paid Upgrades Available

Link: Acapella App

This resource is ideal for secondary music teachers looking for a composition medium for online learning. The Acapella App is a great way to have students collaborate and create music together. Students can put together a song with multiple voices either by themselves or with their peers. Note: Students must be 16 years old to create an account and everything students create is public for everyone on the app.

Price: Free Always with Paid Upgrades Available

Link: Acapella App

This resource is ideal for secondary music teachers looking for a composition medium for online learning. The Acapella App is a great way to have students collaborate and create music together. Students can put together a song with multiple voices either by themselves or with their peers. Note: Students must be 16 years old to create an account and everything students create is public for everyone on the app.

Price: Free Always with Paid Upgrades Available

Link: Acapella App

This resource is ideal for secondary music teachers looking for a composition medium for online learning. The Acapella App is a great way to have students collaborate and create music together. Students can put together a song with multiple voices either by themselves or with their peers. Note: Students must be 16 years old to create an account and everything students create is public for everyone on the app.

Price: Free Always with Paid Upgrades Available

Link: Acapella App

This resource works well for vocally-oriented classes as well as the secondary music technology classroom. Students compose & record a vocal melody, add accompaniment tracks to match, and submit them for grading. The resource provides a grading rubric. This is a self-contained lesson with room to adjust difficulties for age. Subscription to Noteflight Learn and SoundtrapEdu allow one to take full advantage of the resource. Teachers can easily adapt this for instrumentalists as well through the Google Drive link to copy and edit. Author: Danielle Larrick

Price: Free during COVID-19

Link: Tonal Pattern Composition Lesson

This resource works well for vocally-oriented classes as well as the secondary music technology classroom. Students compose & record a vocal melody, add accompaniment tracks to match, and submit them for grading. The resource provides a grading rubric. This is a self-contained lesson with room to adjust difficulties for age. Subscription to Noteflight Learn and SoundtrapEdu allow one to take full advantage of the resource. Teachers can easily adapt this for instrumentalists as well through the Google Drive link to copy and edit. Author: Danielle Larrick

Price: Free during COVID-19

Link: Tonal Pattern Composition Lesson

This resource is great for both general music & music tech classrooms of all ages. This is a self-contained lesson and only requires speaking in rhythm. Teachers might use it early in the year as an “icebreaker” activity. The project allows for the use of applications/softwares to create a rhythmic accompaniment. The rapping portion allows some creativity, but also provides structure in creating rhythms.

Price: Free always

Link: “Rap My Name” Lesson Plan

These lesson plan units and resources are ideal for educators planning lessons for third through sixth grade music. Created by Carole Corman, these lessons cover topics such as physics of music, music appreciation, music technology, music theory, and performance. The units also include assessments, worksheets, and additional resources. These lesson plan units are ideal for in-class activities, but are also adaptable to be done at a distance.

Price: Free Always

Link: Elementary General Music Lesson Plans

This resource is ideal for elementary music educators who are looking for an online learning resource for their students that is fun and culturally informative. It is an interactive app that allows for the user to travel around the world and learn about different instruments and cultures. There are quizzes along the way that test one’s knowledge of both music and geography/culture.

Price: $5

Link: Jazzy World

This assignment is perfect for high school students in a music technology or general music class. This would be good for the middle or end of a unit on film music or on emotions in music. There are two projects in this lesson plan – a songwriter analysis assignment, and a composition assignment. Students need to have access to Logic or a similar software.

Price: Free always

Link: Songwriting/Composition Assignments

This introduction to composition is perfect for theory classes, online band and orchestra, and secondary general music! Clear directions on how to compose a basic melody for different instruments are provided. Students need access to notation software and the knowledge to create at least 2 levels of harmony to complete this assignment. This is already formatted for an online class setting. A grading rubric is provided, and teachers would be able to modify this flexible lesson for inclusion in a larger unit. Author: Sarah Gulish

Cost: FREE during COVID-19

Link: COMP-1_-Melody-Recall

Click here to access a google drive file. You must “Make a Copy” first and then you can edit. 

Teachers can use this resource as a Soundtrap-based lesson plan database. Soundtrap is a website designed for incorporating electronic music and recording projects into the classroom. This resource provides an extensive amount of lesson plans for all grades, focusing on general music and satisfying National Core Arts Standards. Each lesson plan provides details such as objectives, level, explanation of procedure, and learning goals.

Price: Free during COVID-19 (Soundtrap subscription normally $249/year for 50 users)

Link: Lesson Plans To Inspire Your Classroom Activities

This resource is ideal for secondary music teachers looking for a composition medium for online learning. The Acapella App is a great way to have students collaborate and create music together using collaboration. Students can put together a song with multiple voices either by themselves or with their peers. Note: Students must be 16 years old to create an account and everything students create is public for everyone on the app.

Price: Free Always with Paid Upgrades Available

Link: Acapella App

This resource is great for both general music & music tech classrooms of all ages. This is a self-contained lesson and only requires speaking in rhythm. Teachers might use it early in the year as an “icebreaker” activity. The project allows for the use of applications/softwares to create a rhythmic accompaniment. The rapping portion allows some creativity, but also provides structure in creating rhythms.

Price: Free always

Link: “Rap My Name” Lesson Plan

Perfect for junior/senior high music tech, this is billed as a back-to-school review. Students answer included questions about their musical backgrounds and then present that information through a medium of their choice. Any software that the teacher has available can be incorporated into this project. This could be used for several class periods (one to introduce, one to work, one to present). Given how open-ended this is, it can be altered to suit one’s students and circumstances.

Price: Always Free

Link: Musical Me: An Easy Back-to-School Tech Lesson