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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MicrophoneDoing karaoke at home or at a party is a great activity to do with family and friends, but buying a karaoke player is a little more complicated than simply going out and buying a CD player. Different models at different prices levels have widely different features and abilities. Use this basic guide to help make the best choice regarding the functions that are desired.

Karaoke Computer Software

There are three basic styles of karaoke players available on the market right now. The first, cheapest, and often easiest to use is a software based karaoke player. Using a home computer and this special karaoke software a computer or properly connected home theater system can become an instant karaoke studio. One of the most popular and fully featured of the software based players for karaoke music is free . The VanBasko Karaoke Player software is ad-free freeware and available at many Internet download web sites.

 

Component Karaoke Players for the Home

The second type of karaoke player is a component audio style box that connects as a dedicated member of a home theater or sound system. These mid level karaoke players also double as CD or DVD players as well. Look for players that support the CDG format or that say they are able to play karaoke CD’s.

Portable Karaoke Players

The third type of karaoke player is a larger, portable karaoke machine that can be transported from place to place and often includes speakers, microphones, and a video screen (or video outputs to connect to a TV). Many karaoke machines also include a small collection of karaoke CD’s that contain popular songs.

Features To Look For When Buying A Karaoke Player

Newer and more fully featured karaoke players include special utilities and options that make the karaoke experience easier to set up and enjoy. Look for players that offer key changing capability. This feature allows the singer to alter the key of the music to bring it down or up to their comfortable singing range. Another useful ability is to be able to adjust the tempo or speed of a song without changing the key at the same time.

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