FREE ONLINE RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS, STUDENTS. PARENTS

 

 

Here is a sampling of the dozens of music-related websites containing free material for music education.

 

TEACHER HELPERS & RESOURCES

* http://www.toddfamily.com/policies/   A comprehensive resource for teaching ideas and studio policies compiles from contributions to the Piano Pedagogy List.

 

* http://www.claviercompanion.com/  Clavier Companion Magazine is the wonderfully merged combination of Clavier and Keyboard Companion.  Many articles are posted online, but a print subscription is definitely worth it.  

 

http://www.webs.com/  Create a studio website for free.

 

http://www.marthabeth.com/pedagogy.html Martha Beth Lewis, a California teacher, offers a Q & A format. Teacher section includes articles on pedagogy, copyright issues, business practices.

 

http://www.smu.edu/totw/toc.htm Theory on the web from Southern Methodist University.  Includes and overview of basic theory, part writing rules, and basic composition all with good sound clips. Also a colorful dictionary of terms.

 

* http://www.kathyrabago.com/pianorep/basic_results.php A fabulous reference for selection of 157 intermediate 20th century piano pieces by 57 composers.  Searchable database includes many search options such as technique, rhythmic issues, harmonic scheme, level, etc.

 

* http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/dihtml/divideos.html  Go here to see clips of historical dance styles through the ages—quadrille, bouree, polonaise, minuet, etc.  They are classified by musical period.

 

http://www.agelesslearner.com  All kinds of motivational information.

 

http://www.piano-lessons-master-teachers.com/piano-mastery/  Piano  Lessons with Master Teachers. The original publication was titled, "Piano Mastery - Talks with Master Pianists and Teachers," written by Harriette Brower in 1915. The work has since gone into the US public domain; a vast resource of vintage works no longer under ownership or copyright.

 

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95336672  NPR Interview with Oliver Sachs author of Musicophilia on how the brain processes music.  20 minutes long.

http://www.pianonet.com/ National Piano Foundation website has information on choosing a piano, history of the piano, and lesson ideas.

 

* http://www.karadar.com/Default.htm Karadar Classical Music World contains vast quantities of information on composers, periods, etc..

 

http://pianoeducation.org  The Piano Education Page is a one-stop resource for teachers, students parents sponsored by the West Mesa Music Teachers Association in New Mexico.

 

http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/CrissCrossSetupForm.asp  Create crossword puzzles on any topic.  You input the words and clues, and the site will arrange them into a crossword puzzle format that can be printed out.  Ideas for puzzle topics: Musical Italian, Composers and their works,  Dynamics, Tempos, etc.

 

FREE TEACHING AIDS TO PRINT OUT

* http://www.practicespot.com Practice Spot is a wonderful spot with resources for all. Everything from free manuscript paper to print out, to practice hints, also sight reading drills, rhythm games, motivational ideas . . .  on and on!  Good for parents as well.  All ages

 

http://www.musictechteacher.com/musicquizzes.htm  Print your own staff paper—all clefs, sizes, etc.

 

http://cnx.org/content/m11636/latest  Scales That Aren’t Major or Minor

 

* http://www.musicmattersblog.com/  Teacher Natalie Wickham has an extensive blog and links to her posts on Youtube showing some of her studio activities.  Her website subtitle: “Creative, Practical, and Up-to-Date Resources for the Independent Music Teacher”

 

* http://www.composecreate.com/wendys-piano-studio  Teacher Wendy Stevens offers a rich assortment of ideas and aids with special focus on composing with students. She also edits a composing newsletter to which people can subscribe.

 

** http://www.susanparadis.com/catalog.php?group=teachingmaterials Music, teaching materials and ideas for piano teachers by teacher Susan Paradis.  Attractive, colorful worksheets, elementary music, composing activities, games, her blog, etc.  All useful, all free!

 

http://printables.familyeducation.com/tv/tvsearch.php?keywords=music&sitesearch=1&in=fe_printables&type=printable&go.x=26&go.y=8  Print out flash cards, puzzles, music-related projects.

 

FREE MUSIC GRAPHICS & CLIP ART

http://www.geocities.com/musicgraphicmania/ Music clip art

 

http://www.renaesroom.com/Fonts/Available/FunFonts/Music/MusicFonts.html Music-themed fonts

 

FREE ONLINE STUDENT ACTIVITIES

http://www.musictheory.net/   Ricci Adams Music Theory Online.  Wide variety of theory exercises, beginner to advanced

 

http://www.musictechteacher.com/index.htm  Music Tech Teacher offers dozens of online games to play for learning music reading and theory basics,  musical quizzes, information on a music tech lab

 

* http://www.classicsforkids.com/ Classics for Kids.  Wide variety of games, information, activities for parents/teachers/students from a public radio station in Cincinnati. 

 

* http://www.dsokids.com/2001/dso.asp?PageID=460 Dallas Symphony Orchestra Website for Kids  - Musical Periods/Composers Time Machine; Teacher Resources also available

 

* http://www.sfskids.org  This is a site from the San Francisco Symphony for elementary students—lots of activities that are similar to the Music Ace software in our lab.  Fun!

 

http://emusictheory.com  Some free theory games; can sign up for more.

 

http://www.gmajormusictheory.org/  G Major Music Theory includes music fundamentals, harmonic dictation, music humor. Teacher lesson plans available as well.

 

 

 http://www.good-ear.com/  I don’t like all the pop-up ads that appear on this site, but if you can get past them, you can get great practice on intervals

 

http://www.ossmann.com/bigears/index.html  Online ear training for identifying intervals.

 

http://www.stevenestrella.com/composers/index.html  An online dictionary of composers. Not great detail, but probably enough for most students.

 

http://smu.edu/totw/toc.htm   Theory on the web: A self-review/teaching website at many levels.  Pick and choose your interest to learn or brush up theory knowledge. 

http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/  An online musical dictionary by Virginia Tech

 

http://www.essentialsofmusic.com/ Great music history summary for eras and composers created by Norton Publishers: Eras, Composers, Glossary.

 

http://www.doremifasoft.com/frpiinandex.html Photos and help for proper piano posture, hand position, etc.  Very visual for beginners.

 

http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/2217/  The unofficial Chopin Homepage.

 

*http://www.pianonet.com/  Teoria: Music Theory on the Web has articles and exercises for theory and ear training.  

 

http://www.pianonet.com/  QSP Music is a monstrous compendium of websites on every conceivable music topic.

              

 

RESOURCES TO SHARE WITH PARENTS

http://blog.musicnoodle.com/   Practice tips for kids, great advice for parents

 

http://www.marthabeth.com/pedagogy.html  The Parent section contains a myriad of topics such as determining lesson readiness, choosing an instrument, handling recitals and competitions to practicing.

 

http://www.ptg.org/index.php

The Piano Technicians Guild website includes information of piano care and a listing of piano competitions and certified tuners as well as other resources.

 

http://www.jonschmidt.com/catalog/ed_pianoteachers.php Jon Schmidt has developed an unusual “speed reading” approach and offers that and his arrangements of many pieces for a free download.

 

http://aheadwithmusic.com/  Notecard is note reading software for starting musicians to download for free onto a computer.  

 

FREE PIANO MUSIC TO DOWNLOAD/PRINT (a few of hundreds)

www.sheetmusic1.com/NEW.GREAT.MUSIC.HTML  Downloads for piano with practice aids, note spellers, misc worksheets.

 

http://www.freepianostuff.com   Offers a variety of free music to print out; also includes some free online piano lessons at the site.

 

http://dme.mozarteum.at/mambo/index.php  This site is in German, but makes available all music of Mozart for free in high quality editions.

 

http://www.mfiles.co.uk  Free sheet music and midi files.

 

http://icking-music-archive.org/ByComposer.php Huge quantity of free music to download and copy.

 

http://www.music-scores.com/free/freesheetmusic.php Non members may download up to three pieces per day of piano and other instrumental music

 

http://www.musicaviva.com/index.html Free sheet music downloads for piano, flute, violin, etc., plus an encyclopedia of music

 

http://www.samecoff.com/ Sam Ecoff is a teacher and composer who shares his pieces for free.

 

http://www.8notes.com  Offers a huge free music database

 

http://www.musicstudents.com Free sheet music to download with online play-along files to accompany student performances

 

http://www.igracemusic.com/hymnbook/hymns.html  Online hymns to print out, harmonize, and play 

 

http://www.easybyte.org/ Dozens of free sheet music titles to print out.  All pieces are in the public domain by well-known composers, arranged by William Wallace.

 

http://www.findfreesheetmusic.com/pages/Piano            A large directory of sources for free music, mostly from non traditional or unknown contemporary composers

 

http://www.noelnoelnoel.com/leadsht/shtmx.html  Favorite Christmas carols with melody line, lyrics and chord symbols

 

http://www.gmajormusictheory.org/Freebies/freebies.html Piano classics and folk songs

 

http://www.freepdfsheetmusic.com        Free public domain music

 

NOT ENTIRELY FREE,  BUT WORTH A LOOK

http://www.musicteachershelper.com  Here is a way for teachers to use technology creatively for both business and all sorts of traditional pedagogical topics in the age of technology. 

 

*http://www.musiclearningcommunity.com  Hundreds of online games for students in studio or at home are accessible by teacher subscription to Christine Hermanson’s creative approach to teaching.  Some free examples are available.

 

http://www.sheetmusic1.com/NEW.GREAT.MUSIC.HTML Free download of some standard student music in public domain, along with many to purchase.

 

http://linkwaregraphics.com/about  Some free music graphics, plus design services for musical themes.

 

*http://www.piano-pal.com This is a site selling music, but it is helpful because it lists all the pieces found in various collections from major and some minor publishers.  There is a search feature so that a specific title can be entered and located. Includes a selection of music for one hand.

 

http://www.finalemusic.com/NotePad  Download music notation software for $9.95.

 

http://skdesigns.com/internet/music/images/backgrounds  Music backgrounds and images—a few are free.

 

As of October 1, 2009

Compiled by Karen Koch, kk@musicedmarket.com

www.musicedmarket.com