Online Resources
We’ve compiled a list of some of our favourite online resources, to make sure that you still have access to excellent music education at home.
For a whole host of video content, including a ten week guitar course and a full series on music theory, why not check out our YouTube channel?
Chrome Music Lab
https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com/Experiments
Play with simple experiments that let anyone, of any age, explore how music works.
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.
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.
The Young Freelancer’s Guide to Mental Health and the Music Industry
The Young Freelancer’s Guide to Mental Health and the Music Industry looks at common challenges facing freelance musicians, strategies for meeting them, and how to access support.
National Youth Jazz Orchestra’s Virtual Academy
https://www.nyjo.org.uk/virtual-video-series/
A site full of free resources to keep young musicians exploring during lockdown. Register to access all resources, including a virtual video series!
Play Opera (KS1 LKS2)
www.wno.org.uk/playopera
Geared towards young children, our interactive show is designed to keep children entertained during lockdown, while engaging their minds about many of the different elements of an opera performance, with educational aspects around singing, classical music, and even back stage elements such as costume and design. The shows include musical performances by members of WNO, fun and historical facts, teach-and-sing songs, weekly challenges, and more. The audience also gets to meet members from behind the scenes, so that they really get to understand an opera company from the inside out.
GCSE Composition Resource
https://www.nmcrec.co.uk/gcse-music
This resource explores a series of works by composers in the NMC catalogue, offering students and teachers a comprehensive insight into how to approach their own composing in an imaginative way. This guide would support students studying GCSE Music or beyond and could also be useful for Key Stage 3 Music. * Downloadable interactive PDF with links to music extracts and more * Also available as part of MusicFirst’s Focus on Sound online classroom
R:string
https://www.nmcrec.co.uk/rstrng
This free app allows students to create their own remixes, taking music by composer Kate Whitley as a starting point, and featuring a specially devised remix by Olugbenga Adelekan of Mercury Prize nominees Metronomy. Our website includes lesson plans for teachers, an instructional video, and opportunities for students to have their remixes featured on NMC’s website. * Designed to meet KS3 and KS4 curriculum * Compatible with desktop, smartphone and tablet.
Learning Music (UKS2)
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.
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 (UKS2)
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 (KS2)
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 (KS2)
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.
A Parents Guide to Tutoring
https://www.mytutor.co.uk/blog/homeschooling-during-covid-19-how-one-family-is-doing-it/
The guide offers lots of helpful information, such as a useful guide for parents who are considering a tutor for their child. How to tell if a child needs a tutor, how to choose a tutor, and how to tell if tutoring is helping your child.
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:
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.
Collated by Laura Tindall and Sunderland Music Hub