How Integrating Tech Can Make the Lessons More Fun

In our day, we had whiteboards, overheads, and a music teacher sitting at the front of the classroom playing piano accompaniment for an hour. However, the times have changed and technology is integrated into kids’ lives more than ever. 

For this reason, it’s important that music educators consider implementing technology in the classroom to make lessons more exciting, engaging, and relevant.

Of course, you might feel a bit overwhelmed by the idea of implementing something new like technology into your lessons, which you’ve so carefully developed over your time as a music educator. 

Luckily, we’re here to help.

Below, we’ll go through a few ways that you can incorporate technology into your classroom setting. 

Make Use Of Video

There are so many ways to use video in your classroom settings, and the ability to make video recordings has become much easier over the past decade. Here are a few ways that you might consider using video in your class:

• Provide assessment and feedback about a performance or practice session

• Create tutorial videos

• Record and watch student performances

• Look on YouTube to find performances to inspire students

All you need to create videos is a smartphone or a DSLR camera!

Use Online Quiz Tools

Rather than go the traditional route with quizzes and use paper and pencil, consider using tech-based, online quizzes. 

The advantages to these kinds of quizzes are that you can re-use them, they’re rich with media, and they’re extremely engaging. 

Some of our favorite online quiz tools include Playposit, Plickers, and Kahoot.

Get Rhythmic!

With the growing number of free music creation websites and simple online drum sequencers, it’s easier than ever to create fun and flexible drum patterns online. 

There are many ways you can utilize these types of programs in the classroom, including:

• Exploring drum rhythm basics

• Creating unique metronomes

• Teaching about various styles of music

Check out some of our favorite pieces of technology for making rhythms, including Garageband, which is available for iOS, and Groove Pizza.

Record and Compose With Digital Audio Workstations

The amount of things you can do with recording software in your class is endless. Plus, there are so many DAW and software options to pick from, including:

• Ableton Live

• Pro Tools

• Logic

• BandLab

• Garageband

• And more!

It can be a bit overwhelming to think of ways to incorporate these kinds of tools in your classroom, simply because there are so many ways. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Create scores for your students’ favorite movies or video games

• Dissect the elements in popular music

• Create backing tracks for popular songs

• Teach them how to compose and record their original music

Compose With Notation Software
Long gone are the days of writing scores by hand. The good thing is that there are plenty of high-end notation software options to choose from, which your students will have a blast with. Some of the most popular notation software options include:

• Flat.io

• Noteflight

• Finale

• Sibelius

• Notion

• Dorico

There are plenty of unique ways to use notation software with your students. Some ideas that come to mind include:

• Creating arrangement

• Creating drills or warm-ups for specific instruments

• Learning about 12-bar blues

• Composing simple rhythms and melodies

• Learning about various symbols in music notation

Ear Training

One of the most crucial elements of music lessons is ear training. The software can be a huge help when it comes to ear training, as there are many high-quality apps that you can use in your classroom.

One of our absolute favorite ear training apps for students is Perfect Ear. This Ear Trainer app gets plenty of praise from music educators and is available for free download on Android and iOS. There is also a desktop website that goes hand-in-hand with the software called Tone Savvy, which features an inexpensive teacher subscription. 

There are plenty of topics covered on this site, including:

• Scales

• Key signatures

• Rhythms

• Chords

• Intervals

• Note Names

You can also use this software to test out your student’s pitch. We’ve found that many young students embrace this technology during their practice. It’s a wonderful way to make teaching aural skills and music theory a bit more interesting. 

Final Thoughts

There has never been a better time to implement technology in the classroom than now. We hope that we’ve been able to inspire you with some of these ideas so that you can make your music lessons more relevant and engaging for the younger generation.