Digital Resources for Music Teachers and Schools
This is a selection of digital resources for freelance and school music teachers which may be of use during the Covid-19 crisis and school closure.
Addanote Online Resource: Free Videos
Addanote offers teaching and learning support videos for whole class practical music lessons that is sequential, incremental and regularly revisits prior learning to aid embedding into long term memory, based on theories of errorless learning.” A number of free sample videos are available to view and play-along to through the above link.
Making Online Music Education Accessible and Inclusive
Joy Stacey of Drake Music summarises the key findings from Drake Music’s research in to how we can make online music education accessible and inclusive.
Musical Contexts
A wealth of schemes of work and resources for KS2-KS4. Includes all worksheets, teacher notes, listening examples and videos. Sunderland Music Education Hub has purchased a lifetime subscription to Musical Contexts for Sunderland schools. Contact Liam.Huitson@togetherforchildren.org.uk for login information.
Musical Futures
https://www.musicalfutures.org/
Mainly focussed around practical music-making. Some resources for free. For example ‘Guide to Songwriting’ or ‘Vocal Warm-Ups’.
Currently during the Covid-19 crisis Musical Futures are offering some normally paid resources for free – each school can have 2 x Playalong resources and 1 x Chair Drumming for free, normally to a value of almost £40. To access these go to https://www.musicalfutures.org/musical-futures-blog/covid-19-musical-futures-support-during-school-closures
Other resources on their site can also be paid for. They can be bought individually, or can buy a full subscription. Includes play along to GCSE set works, beatboxing, ‘Just Play’ resources.
Teachers Pay Teachers
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com
Worksheets to buy individually, or some are available for free. Also possible for teachers to upload their own resources and earn money.
Education and Bass
Education & Bass are offering schools free access to more than 1800 + (new content added weekly) music technology online tutorials, courses and lectures. To sign up, go to:
TES
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources
Resources to buy individually, or some are available for free. Similar to above, in that teachers could upload their own resources to earn money.
Learning Music
https://learningmusic.ableton.com/
This website from Ableton allows students to learn about beats, melody, chords, bass-lines and song structure. Students can work through the tutorials then create their own songs using ‘the playground’. If you have Ableton Live software in school, students can export their ideas from the website to use in Ableton once they return to school.
YouTube – Delivering Online Lessons
A selection of videos to help deliver online lessons.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=music+teaching+online
NYMAZ
A youth music development charity. Includes information on teaching online lessons.
BBC Bitesize
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zpf3cdm
Very useful for GCSE music, with specific content and revision tailored for AQA, Edexcel, Eduqas and OCR specifications.
Guide to World Music
https://worldmusic.net/blogs/guide-to-world-music
This website provides an insight into music from around the world and is complete with relevant examples linked to YouTube, the site covers everything from the Tango, to English Folk Music, Reggae and more.
Theory Rocks
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP4bC1sD1QcMVVxMSEL7qUQ
This YouTube channel consists of 6 videos that explain different aspects of music theory – time signatures, note & rest values, scales, reading treble & bass clef. Look in the video descriptions for links to online quizzes that have also been created for each video.
Groove Pizza
https://apps.musedlab.org/groovepizza/?
This website uses a pizza shape to represent different drum patterns. This easy-to-use drum machine allows students to explore beats from famous songs and create their own using rhythmic grids.
Zoom
A very popular option for delivering online Music lessons and even choir rehearsals. Free options or available as a subscription with additional features.
Moog and Korg
Moog is offering its MiniMoog Model D and Korg is offering its Kaossilator synth app for free.
To find out more:
Rockschool – Video examinations
Video examinations for all Rockschool candidates (excluding Grade 6-8).
https://www.rslawards.com/examination-update-covid-19/
Charanga
Email liam.huitson@togetherforchildren.org.uk with any queries regarding subscriptions.
https://www.musicmark.org.uk/resources/providers/charanga/
YUMU (part of Charanga)
A portal for sharing work with students for them to complete at home. Here is a ‘how to’ video with Music Coordinators and Instrumental Teachers:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DCrBwLyGaBlhNRD_WCoPEbM-BD4N8GPk/view?usp=sharing
VIP Studio – Guide for teachers | Competitions for pupils (Charanga)
A collection of music production resources, log in details via this link:
Sing Up – Home schooling using Sing Up
“Help yourself to our collection of free resources to keep them learning and singing outside of school. We will continue to add new resources so make sure you check back for more.”
https://www.singup.org/home-schooling/?embutton
Primary Resources (Singing, Games etc.)
A collection of free online resources for Primary aged students:
https://www.musicmark.org.uk/resources/resource-category/primary/
Music Games
Aimed more at classical musical elements, terms and composers; can choose ‘beginner’ or ‘advanced’:
https://www.classicsforkids.com/games.html
Music Theory
A comprehensive collection of music theory resources, covering a range of areas from the basics up to more advanced theory:
https://www.musictheory.net/lessons
A Student Musician’s Guide to Music Theory
A detailed introduction to music theory, including a theory terminology glossary and links to further online resources exploring why theory matters, pitch and understanding the music alphabet.