Using Technology to create and play!!
Lessons and Links
This page is made up of a mix of Virtual Lessons, on using various Apps and websites, and Links to an ever-expanding list of music Apps and games to keep you creating, learning and having fun, whatever style of music you're into and however much you already know about music.
Virtual Lessons
Click on the orange buttons below to go to the Virtual Lessons pages for these Apps and music-making websites...
Recommended Apps and Sites
You can have a lot of creative fun making and playing music with technology!
There are hundreds of Apps and creative websites out there. So many that it can be difficult to know where to begin. Here is a list of our favourites and some How To videos to get you started.
Composing and Songwriting Apps
GARAGEBAND
for : iOS FREE Garageband is the biggest and most popular Music Sequencer* (*see the Glossary below) in the app world. Whether making music with loops, playing virtual Smart Instruments*, Singing, connecting real world instruments, or combining all of these, this powerful and user friendly app will bring your inner composer out! How To video coming in the next few days.
LAUNCHPAD - iOS version
for : iOS FREE Launchpad is a must-have App for all budding DJs and electronic musicians. It uses a grid of samples* and a bank of effects* to enable users to Create, Remix, Perform and Record music. With sounds that are powerful, cutting edge and very catchy it's an inspiring app and accessible even to beginners. How To video coming in the next few days.
LAUNCHPAD - Browser version
for : Browser FREE Launchpad Arcade can be used to create live arrangements and performances using loops from a large range of genres. Click the ‘Walk me through it tab’ on the homepage to see how the site works.
MUSIC MAKER JAM
for : iOS Android & Windows all FREE Music Maker JAM is a fast, fun and easy to use app which enables users to create, mix and share tracks across a range of contemporary music genres. Choose Mix Packs in different styles, combine loops* and beats and record vocals. How To video coming in the next few days.
CHROME MUSIC LAB
for : Browser FREE Chrome Music Lab is a set of 13 interactive players which create music and sound in a variety of ways. Our favourites are Song Maker, Rhythm, Kandinsky and Oscillators. See below for a How To video about the Song Maker and more How To videos will be coming in the next few days.
SAMPULATOR
for : Browser FREE Sampulator is another great website for creating and recording music. You can make different length loops from a big selection of sounds, including percussion, guitar, bass and some funky vocal sound effects too! What’s great about this programme is that you can use the QWERTY keys on your PC or laptop as well as your mouse. It gives you great flexibility for recording. There are lots of examples to listen to too. A How To video is below...
INCREDIBOX
for : Browser FREE iOS (£3.99) & Android (£4.10) Incredibox is, as it name suggests, an incredible box of sounds, in diverse, toe-tapping and really fun musical styles from around the world. You're in charge of 7 singers and beat boxers. You tell them what to sing and they make it happen. The website has a demo version with lots of content for FREE. How To video below...
TONE PAD (TONE MATRIX)
for : iOS & Browser (requires Flash) FREE Tone Pad is a simple and fun music-making App for iOS and (as Tone Matrix) a website. It uses a 16x16 square grid to programme looping compositions and it can really help you to learn about beats and their divisions. A How To video is below...
Virtual Instruments*
PIANO
Browser FREE
Online Pianist has a virtual piano for you to play. Play with a mouse, computer keyboard or via MIDI*.
DRUMS
Browser FREE
A virtual drum kit that you can play with a mouse, screen tap or computer keyboard. Also play drumming games.
KEEZY CLASSIC
iOS FREE
A simple Sampler* app. Create your own instrument by recording a different sound into each of 8 tiles.
Music Making Games
MONKEY DRUM
for : iOS FREE Monkey Drum is a game that will help improve your rhythm skills. Play instruments and watch as little jungle animals copy your tunes and beats. Or write music on screen for your new furry friends to play. Earn rewards and unlock new instruments.
SONIC EXPLORERS
Sonic Explorer J travels to different locations to explore sounds around us and in unusual places. He visits a jungle, garden, under the sea, a beach, a supermarket and prehistoric times. These video clips are designed to help children think about different sounds and how they relate to their environment.
Click here to try BBC Sonic Explorers.
We recommend this for Early Years and years 1 and 2
GLOSSARY :
ANDROID : non-Apple smart phones and tablets i.e. Samsung, One Plus, Moto, Google Pixel, Sony.
BROWSER : meaning a website-based app or game, accessed through the internet on laptop or desktop computer or devices.
EFFECTS : Devices which change the sound of audio sound files in live or recorded music. Can be subtle or extreme. Examples : Reverb (creates sounds of different spaces); Delay (adds echo to a sound); Chorus (makes one instrument or voice sound like many).
iOS : iPhones, iPads and for some Apps iPods.
LOOPS : audio files which, when triggered, repeat (or loop) until stopped. Apps like Garageband and Launchpad provide loops that can be combined, like building blocks, to create songs.
MIDI : Stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface, by which electronic instruments (a keyboard for instance) can connect to a computer or device by USB cable, enabling them to play and control sounds within the computer/device.
MUSIC SEQUENCER : An App or computer programme that can record, edit and play back music on multiple tracks, enabling the user to combine and synchronise instruments to create compositions and songs.
SAMPLES : (often also LOOPS) short audio file recordings whose playback can be controlled and combined in an App or sequencer to create songs.
VIRTUAL INSTRUMENT : an App or internet-based digital version of a real world instrument.