alternative teaching practices for a changing world
SoundTrap
Soundtrap is excellent browser-based recording software that focuses on cross-platform accessibility and a well designed user experience. Soundtrap allows users to record and edit both audio and MIDI. Users can create using a huge library of pre-existing loops of drums, guitar, bass, etc… Users can also apply a small number of effects to tracks.
Soundtrap has excellent support for educators with tools that create seamless integration with Google Classroom and other LMS systems. Teachers can create assignments, set up collaborations, and review student projects through the Soundtrap edu toolset. The Soundtrap website has links to many useful resources with ideas and lesson plans for using Soundtrap in your teaching.
Cost:
$249 for 50 users. $4.98 per additional seat.
Educator Resources
Soundtrap for Educators on YouTube
Soundtrap for Education on Facebook
Soundtrap Tutorials on YouTube
Lesson Ideas
Practice play-a-longs
Include all pre-recorded tracks
Students can mute their part and record in its place.
Compose hold music
MSUB students composed transition music for YPR
Compose video game music
Transcription exercises
Teacher records a melody/rhythm
Students notate it using MIDI track
Or...students notate it using flat.io
Improvisation exercises
Drones or ostinati
Ostinato based off of repertoire
Practice records
Rhythmic counting
Teacher records something and students record themselves counting on another track (i.e. 1, 2+, 3e+a)
Critical listening
Teacher records performance in class. Students play adjudicator and record their comments critiquing the performance.
Score a film
Record pieces collaboratively
Sax quartet
Brass quintet
Entrainment exercises
Have kids clap on the beat to a prerecorded melody
Instrument recognition
Teachers include recordings of instruments and students identify the instruments by sound.
Record performances early in the semester and then again at the end. Compare and contrast.
Accuracy assessment
Record several performances of sheet music with intentional errors. Provide the sheet music to students through flat.io. Have them note which version is correct.
Flat
Flat is browser-based easy to use music notation software. Users can create new pages of notation, import existing notation documents in a variety of formats, and listen to music played back.
Like Soundtrap, Flat has excellent educator resources integrating seamlessly with Google Classroom and other common LMS systems. Flat allows teachers to setup assignments and collaborations.
Cost
$100 for 50 users. $2 per additional seat.
Educator Resources
Lesson Ideas
Teacher shares etudes or repertoire with students through flat.
Students perform transcriptions of material and notate it in Flat.
Theory and notation quizzes.
Aural skill quizzes.
Listen to the sample and notate it.
Copy sheet music.
Copy a piece of professionally published music into flat.io.
Chrome Music Lab - SHARED PIANO
Google’s Chrome Music Lab features a browser-based real-time shared piano. Teachers can invite students into their shared piano session with a link. Each user is assigned an animal avatar and color to track which user played particular notes. Like any other online performance based tool, there is latency so Having students perform real-time together isn’t feasible. However, games that involve asynchronous activities can provide a valuable learning experience to students. All input notes are saved within the session and can be replayed at any time.
Cost
Free
Lesson Ideas
Teacher performs melodic or rhythmic idea and students repeat it individually.
A musical game of "Simon" similar to above but the teacher augments the idea by one each iteration.
Breezin Thru Theory
Breezin Thru Theory provides an excellent theory curriculum that leads students through theory lessons and exercises from beginner through advanced. Lessons are clear and concise.
Teachers can monitor student progress at any time.
Cost
Depends on the type of package (lab vs individual)
Breezin Thru Composition
Breezin Thru Composition provides an excellent composition curriculum that leads students through composition lessons and exercises from beginner through advanced. Lessons are clear and concise.
Teachers can monitor student progress at any time.
Cost
Depends on the type of package (lab vs individual)
Sight Reading Factory
An excellent way to improve sight reading skills, Sight Reading Factory will generate sheet music samples for students to read based on parameters like difficulty, key/time signature, and instrument. Students can record their sight reading attempts so teachers can asses their progress. Sight Reading Factory integrates with Canvas and Music First Classroom. Unfortunately, I don’t see any mention of Google Classroom integration.
Cost
Contact SRF for a quote.
Smart Music
SmartMusic is an excellent repertoire development tool. Teachers can assign students repertoire or etudes from the existing SmartMusic Library. In addition to presenting the sheet music to students, SmartMusic will use MIDI to perform the accompaniment.
SmartMusic is now entirely browser-based. When SmartMusic made the jump to browser-based users noticed a substantial decrease in the number of pieces available in the library. However, it is possible to import pieces into your library if they exist in mxml format. There are a number of online resources that feature popular repertoire in mxml format.
Cost
Teacher - $40/year, Students - $10/year