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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Parents who are thinking for their children to learn to play musical instruments can begin by harnessing their child's own instrument, the singing voice. Choosing the best musical instrument for one's child is a challenge and requires more thinking. From experience, this writer thinks that the best instrument in which children can easily start learning to use, is the instrument they already have, a singing voice!

 

Child's Singing Voice

The singing voice as a musical instrument is the cheapest of all instruments because it is available, it's free. It is also a pleasurable activity. An easy way in which children can become musical is by repeating songs they like, at home or with their friends. It is always a blessing when the child comes from a musical family, or a family that loves to sing together.

Effects of Singing

If children are encouraged to sing early on in life, their voices become an actual instrument which can be used effectively. It can also be a confidence builder for self-esteem. Singing enhances good health, as the very act of singing encourages a release of the body's natural pain killers and mood enhancers. By itself, it is a release. 

 

Singing is an excellent way to develop breathing, posture, pulse and rhythm, among other qualities vital to instrumental lessons. Singing can bring immense satisfaction.

Step Up to More Exposure

As the child grows to become a teenager, singing is enhanced by groups such as choirs, glee clubs, and even the use of Karaoke.Children should have the opportunity to sing at school, either with classmates as part of the music curriculum, or by joining a choir.

Parents should try to make the most of every opportunity for their children to sing, whether with a formally rehearsed choir tackling a serious repertoire, a school vocal ensemble, or an amateur musical show which offers a stage experience. Church choirs are almost always keen to recruit new members.

Moving on to Lessons

When considering individual lessons for older children, look for a voice music teacher who understands the needs of a child's voice at different ages. Great care should be taken when nurturing young voices. It is possible to inflict lifelong damage by demanding that a young voice does things for which it is not yet ready.

Parents should not try to pass on to their children their own anxieties if they had negative or untoward singing experiences as a child.

Sooner or later, the child's leanings and interests can be seen as a stepping stone in deciding whether to take a greater interest in singing or move on to learn another musical instrument.  

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