Low Cost MusicTechnology Options For The Music Education Classroom
Low Cost MusicTechnology Options For The Music Education Classroom

Finding ways to stretch your budget in a music classroom is always important and even more so when trying to purchase high tech electronics, software, and other materials.  This article provides an updated list of dozens of different low cost or free alternatives to expensive music education products.  It includes such categories as music notation software, drill design software, special needs hardware, and many more.

 

The Star Spangled Banner- Free Sheet Music For Band Inst.
The Star Spangled Banner- Free Sheet Music For Band Inst.

This document contains sheet music for all common instruments to play The Star Spangled Banner, also known as the sheet music to the National Anthem of the United States of America. You can view the sheet music online or download the individual parts arranged for all common concert band instruments.  If you do not see your instrument listed please scroll to the bottom of the page and try one of the the other instruments.  Most musicians will be able to find at least one instrumental part that matches their range and preferred key signature.  If you are seeking a simple piano version of the song please select from the voice, trumpet, or alto saxophone versions.

 

Using Plickers as an Assessment Tool in the Music Education Classroom
Using Plickers as an Assessment Tool in the Music Education Classroom

Music, band, choir, and orchestra classrooms can be huge and assessing the knowledge and retention of individual students in such a large class can be daunting.  Plickers are one of several solutions that can be adapted to work in large groups, making the act of assessing a student’s understanding a little easier and a whole lot faster.  

Is Marching Band A Sport? Pros, Cons, and a Reality Check
Is Marching Band A Sport? Pros, Cons, and a Reality Check

In recent years the question of whether or not marching band is a sport has been brought up time and time again for various reasons and by various groups.  On one side you have the YES crowd who says that marching band is competitive, physically demanding, and every bit as much a team event as any traditional sporting event.  On the other side of the coin are those who say no, that marching band is NOT a sport and it is a musical pursuit that happens to involve coordinated movements.  Both sides are right, but to make a final decision we need to look deeper into the facts.  Read on to find out what they are!

Portable Digital Audio Recorder Buying Guide With Reviews
Portable Digital Audio Recorder Buying Guide With Reviews

Scroll down to view the comparison chart of over a dozen different portable digital audio recorders.

Buying a portable digital audio recorder is a major decision.  The balance between price, features, and quality is a fine line that has many different options to choose from.  There are dozens of different models of portable digital audio recorders, some of which have drastically different sets of features yet sell for roughly the same price.  This easy to read head to head comparison chart and guide to many of the more popular portable digital audio recorders is intended to help potential buyers more easily see these differences and make an educated buying decision.

Apps and More for the Choral Classroom
Apps and More for the Choral Classroom

The number of apps, software, and gadgets available for use in the music classroom continues to grow each year but finding things that can actually be beneficial to your classes grows more and more difficult as well.  We spoke with Dr. Christopher Russell, Director of Choirs at Oltman Middle School in St. Paul Park, Minnesota to get his must-have list of apps.

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Karaoke MicrophoneWith the rising popularity of Karaoke, the demand for quality Karaoke software has increased. While the best software solutions are expensive and aimed at commercial usages (bars, hotels, et cetera), there are many free options available for those on a tight budget. Different programs offer different abilities and limitations. All Karaoke players should keep this in mind when looking for such software.


Popular Karaoke Software Programs

KaraFun is perhaps one of the most popular free software for Karaoke enthusiasts. KaraFun will allow you to play nearly all Karaoke file forms. Additionally, KaraFun features a powerful but user-friendly editor that allows for easy creation and editing of audio files. You can also open and use your Karaoke music downloads within the program in a simple to use interface. KaraFun provides all of the basic features to create Karaoke on your computer. KaraFun free is very similar to KaraFun studio, with most of the differences being the options available in their Karaoke editor. For those serious Karaoke players who enjoy the free version of KaraFun, they may want to look into purchasing the Studio version of the application.

Another good option is PyKaraoke, which is free a Karaoke software program that works with both Linux and Windows. While it doesn't have as many features as KaraFun, it does feature a simple interface that anyone should be able to figure out.

Make Your Own Karaoke Software Options

While you could download a complete package such as KaraFun, the best way to get free Karaoke software is to download separate programs that do different tasks.

Karaoke Anything! is a free program that allows you to remove the vocals from most songs (so that you can turn any song into a Karaoke track). It is rather basic (you will have to record the music as it plays with a program such as Audacity) but it is free and can be a useful tool from time to time.  Audacity is another free program that all Karaoke singers need. Audacity is a program which will allow you to record your vocals while you sing. When you finish recording, you can save the vocals to many formats (such as .mp3 and .wav). You can also use effects on your vocals to make them sound better (equalize, add reverberation, et cetera).

With these tools, you should be on your way to recording and publishing your own Karaoke music. Just remember to download some Karaoke music to go with your new software based creation tools.

 

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