Digital Resources

Music Composition

Chrome Music Lab (13 visually stimulating online opportunities for exploring sound production) (grades K-6)
- Songmaker is a point-and-click composition app using graphic notation; songs can be saved to a link or downloaded as a .wav file)
Groove Pizza (free exploration of rhythm, patterns, meter, and simple beat-making with a connection to geometry) (grades 4-9)
DanielX's Composer (a free point-and-click video-game-like composition page - uses the musical staff) (grades 3-8)
Music Grid (click on the boxes to control pitch as the song plays; limited interface) (grades 2+)
BeatMaker (a point-and-click beat maker; can be used with or without the free account) (grades 4+)
BeepBox (a browser-based system for composition/loops; share songs by copying/pasting the unique URL) (grades 5+)

Noteflight (an online music notation program with options for student recording and assessment) (grades 2+)
- Video tutorial page for creating worksheets and assignments
- Google Classroom integration help page
- NOTE: This site requires a log-in. SDUSD has a district license for music students. Students, please contact your music teacher if you need your information. Teachers, please contact Anne if you have questions.
MuseScore (a free open-source notation app for creating and playing compositions) (grades 7-12) *requires a log-in
Flat for Education (free online music notation software with ability for collaboration) (grades 2-12) *requires a log-in

Online Sequencer (a browser-based pitch sequencer much like MIDI editing in a DAW) (grades 5+)
Abelton's Learning Synths & Playground (similar to Chrome Music Lab but for older students, Learning Synth is a lesson/exploration of synth controllers and Playground is a simulated controller itself; all free) (grades 7+)
SoundTrap (online software DAW for editing audio and creating beats) *See MusicFirst Classroom *requires a log-in
Audacity (free open-source audio editor program for download) *requires a log-in
BandLab (free online or app version DAW/recording studio that allows creating, mixing, mastering, collaborating, and more) *requires a log-in

Rhythm Writer (click on a beat to choose rhythmic options; requires Flash)
Rhythm Randomizer (straightforward webpage produces random rhythmic segments for reading practice; click on the example to get a new one)

Dot Piano (use your computer keyboard as a piano and see interesting visuals) (all ages)
Virtual Piano, Musicca Virtual Piano, or iMusic School Online Piano (touch-screen sensitive for Chromebooks and tablets)
Seeing Music (sing into your microphone and see a visualization of the pitch)

Staff Wars and related downloadable app-games (free note-naming practice in a variety of clefs and at a variety of levels) (grades 3-7)
MusicTheory.net (free theory lesson website for general exploration, with ability for teachers to create customized exercises with direct links)
Teoria.com (free tutorials, exercises, and more for theory and ear training)
Variation Playground (free: click-and-drag small melodic excerpts to create a longer composition and to visually see how form works)
Music Tech Teacher (over 130 free Flash animation quizzes, games, and worksheets) (grades 3-8)

Brain Pop (online website for exploration of music theory, instruments, and music genres - lesson videos are free; exercises, worksheets, etc. available with teacher subscription) (grades 4-8)
Two-minute Music Theory (youtube playlist) (grades 8-12)
8-Bit Music Theory (youtube playlist featuring analyses of video game music) (grades 8-12)
Khan Academy (free online video lessons on theory, music history, instruments, and composers - note: it says "this course is retired" but it is still accessible)
David Conservatoire (free theory tutorials and videos on an easy-to-navigate website)
uTheory (up to ten free music theory lessons and practice exercises per day) (grades 4-9)
The Guitar Junky's Music Theory Fundamentals (overview of theory)

New York Philharmonic's Kidzone (explore instruments and composers) (grades 2-6)
Classics for Kids (explore composers; play musical games or compose) (grades 2-6)
Dallas Symphony Orchestra (learn about composers, instruments, and practice tips) (grades 4-8)
"Zap! Boom! Pow! Superheroes of Music" (a San Diego Symphony YouTube Playlist of 2-3 minute videos about classical composers, based on the book of the same name by Lucy A. Warner)
The timeline of the History of Music Recording (grades 9-12)
"Sing Out Loud" or "Shakespeare Sings" (YouTube series from the LA Opera)

"A Virtual Choir 2,000 Voices Strong," a 15-minute TEDTalk with Eric Whitacre about the Virtual Choir project
The KPBS TV series "Broadway or Bust" follows 60 musical theatre students to New York to be coached for the National High School Musical Theatre Awards competition
The competition show "Sing That Thing!" features a cappella choirs in numerous styles

Vic Firth's Rudiments practice site (free video and PDF drum rudiments)
Learn to Play Music.com on youtube, which has instructional videos for instruments ranging from recorder and ukulele to strings and woodwinds to piano
Rockin' Recorder has a method book and tracks right on the website
Empowering Yourself for Vocal Independence playlist on youtube
Sing Well, a 10-lesson online singing class
Little Kids Rock video lessons for vocals, rock band instruments, ukulele, and songwriting
Lessons on Mr. Ethridge Music for ukulele, guitar, bass, piano, and drums

IMSLP/Petrucci Library - public domain scores and recordings
Choral Public Domain Library (CPDL) - public domain choral and vocal works
Art Song Central has free sheet music for classical-style art songs
Kronos Quartet's 50 for the Future - advanced string quartets
Free-Scores.org - classical and contemporary sheet music for primarily solo and small group