Great Apps for Elementary Music Classes
Whether you have a class set of iPads, just a teacher iPad or your personal iPhone or Android phone, you can make use of many different apps to enhance your PreK – Grade 6 music classes.
If you have a teacher iPad, you can use iDoceo as your grade book, planner, seating plan. It takes time to set up, but once it’s done, it really helps with organization. https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/idoceo-teachers-assistant./id477120941?mt=8
A great app for vocal warmups is “Vocal Warmups for Singers or Choirs.” This app has 5 different sets of warmups that each include a physical warmup, breath awareness, breathing, range, diction and a jazz warmup. Each warmup begins with a female and male vocal model who drop out after 3 or 4 repetitions. Your students then continue the warmup with the accompaniment only. It’s available for iTunes and Android devices.
iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/vocal-warm-ups-for-singers/id597200553?mt=8
Google https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.singsys.vocalwarmups
Rain Rain Story app, is a sound story that uses a rain poem and the song, “Rain Rain Go Away.” Students add accompaniment to the poem creating a rain soundscape, then accompany and sing the song each time it occurs in the song. Interactive activities include 4 rhythm instruments to try out with the poem – students can decide which sound they like the best. There is an ear training section where students hear a so-mi-la pattern from the song have to choose the correct pattern from three that are shown. The last interactive activity is a xylophone, on which they can learn to play the song. This app is great for teachers to project the story. Students would benefit from doing the ear training on individual iPads.
iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/the-rain-rain-story-app/id638746145?mt=8
Google https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.denisappstore.rainraingoaway&hl=en
Learn and Play Recorder is an app that is a complete beginner recorder program. Students are introduced to the recorder, taught the letter names and note values and can practice them in an interactive activity. There are 39 songs with accompaniment that can be paused or stopped. A fingering chart is included. This is an excellent and carefully sequenced beginning recorder program. A lite version of this app – Learn and Play Recorder Lite – will be available very soon. Kids will get the first 8 songs for free, and if they want more, there’s an in-app purchase.
iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/learn-and-play-recorder-2/id850408047?mt=8
Google https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.learn.play.recorder
Learn and Play Recorder 2 is an extension to the Learn and Play Recorder program. Students review the notes learned, using 2 part soprano recorders with an optional alto. This program introduces F# and Bb. There are 24 songs for 2 part soprano, and the full score with 3 parts – 2 soprano and alto – is also included. The accompaniments are included and can be paused or stopped and rewound.
iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/learn-and-play-recorder-2/id850408047?mt=8
Google https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.recorder.v2&hl=en
There are some fun apps for practicing the names of the notes. Flashnote Derby is great – https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/flashnote-derby-musical-note/id453126527?mt=8 I bought it when it was .99 – it’s up to 2.99 now! Note Squish is also fun! https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/note-squish/id381536270?mt=8 Note Name Match Game is a memory game – students match the letter name to the note on the staff. There are 10 levels for treble clef and 10 levels for bass clef. It starts with just space notes, then just line notes, then notes on the staff, then extends above and below the staff.
iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/note-name-match-game/id693109355?mt=8
Note Name Memory Game – Google https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.deniseAppStore.notename
Garage Band is an app that is excellent for students from about Grade 4 and up. Students can create their own compositions. It’s an incredible buy for $4.99! https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/garageband/id408709785?mt=8