When people look for music teaching software they generally want to find either free music teaching software or paid online music teaching software. So let’s take a look first at free music teaching software or free online music teaching software as it is also known. A quick word of warning though: when looking for online music teaching software such as this you will come across many websites offering similar sounding products for free but these sites are only trying to get you to sign up to fairly expensive courses.
Online music teaching software is really taking off in the last few years with more and more professional teachers offering online lessons to a growing school of clients. There are thousands of options out there for instructors. This blog post looks specifically at online music teaching software that are free for your students. I’ve scoured the internet for software that will help you teach efficiently and easily.
Skype
Teaching music via Skype is getting popular these days. More and more teachers find it a convenient and accessible way to teach music lessons, especially when they aren’t able to teach lessons in-person. Skype offers an endless number of possibilities for music teachers to share their expertise and music enthusiasts to learn about their passion.
Teachers can teach their students at home without ever having to leave. All you need is a stable internet connection and a laptop or computer with a webcam. Be sure to update your Skype to the latest version to minimize any technical difficulties and benefit from the latest features and updates.
Zoom
Zoom has many fresh and innovative features to help you teach online. You can record lessons and share them with your students. Other features include being able to chat and use videos. In addition, it can also handle more than one user at a time.
However, if you need to connect to a student for more than 30 minutes, you’ll need a paid account. You can give your student a link so they can join and voila, you can start teaching right away! Make sure your students register their email and name if it’s their first time using Zoom.
Lynda
Lynda is the name of a project started by LinkedIn, the popular social media platform many use for their career progression. Lynda features courses that help you progress in your field and let you learn in the comfort of your own home by taking them online.
From the Ukulele to playing the drums, there are over 10,000 music related lessons on the website, meaning that there are at least a few that can help you out.
Almost all of the courses are taught by different teachers who take their own approach regarding the matter at hand.
While there are simple tutors that teach you how to play an instrument, like Grammy award winning ukulele player, Daniel Ho, who teaches you how to play the ukulele using tips and tricks that he himself uses, while also going at a pace that even beginners will be more than comfortable working with.
There are also lessons for different instruments like guitars, while there are also some that discuss and define music for what it is. This leaves you with loads to choose from.
Learning Music (Beta) – Ableton
By the company best known for the Push Controller and Live Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), Ableton’s Free Learning Music web platform is perhaps the most holistically comprehensive beginner’s guide to experiential music learning out now.
While many platforms offer more advanced or specialized knowledge, the foundational elements of music are often assumed to be understood prior to the user finding the resource. From identifying sounds, recognizing the patterns and groupings of notes the user finds compelling, to arranging chord progressions, basslines, and melodies, users can now make musical choices from the very beginning.
Music Play Online is an interactive music website for elementary school. This program was created by Denise Gagne, an elementary music expert, and has a free trial available for teachers to use with students.
I enjoy this program a lot because it uses authentic and quality song materials. It’s also sequentially driven for optimal instruction.
My kids love it because it’s fun and has some online music games for kids. This is more useful as a resource to ask kids to check out rather than a platform for delivering instruction itself.
However, everything about this is engaging and intentional for music instruction.
Flat.io
Flat.io is a browser-based online notation program. This means you and students don’t have to have any programs downloaded on their desktops.
Many students learning from home now only have access to Chromebooks, tablets, and other similar devices. Some notation programs won’t work as well on these.
Flat is designed for this. They have their browser program as well as Apple and Google apps available.
I’ve used them for years myself and with my students, so I know how easy and intuitive the program is.
Best of all, Flat also has their education program for hosting online lessons. This is based on the Google Classroom model.
In fact, it integrates seamlessly with Google Classroom!
You can import students from Google Classroom into Flat for Education. When creating an assignment in Flat (where you also have the power to share scores directly into the assignment), this assignment will post directly into Google Classroom as well.
Students have the ability to even create scores in Flat and submit them as their assignment.
Flat has a 90-day full Flat for Education trial right now as a help during this time. The pricing is reasonable if you wanted to continue using this after the trial was over as well.
Soundfly
With courses ranging from Unlocking the Emotional Power of Chords, to Modern & Advanced Mix Techniques, this platform stands out for the depth and quality of its learning materials as well as for its unique mentorship model.
While they offer free access to a number of online courses, investment in one of their Mentored Courses will land you a friendly, knowledgeable musician-coach to guide you through the content, share feedback on your work, and create a goal-based learning plan customized to your personal needs. Their Headliners Program may be their most unique offering, allowing students to customize their own learning experience to reach their creative goals.
edX Berklee
You no longer need to travel to the esteemed Boston music school to take Berklee classes anymore! In collaboration with edX, Berklee College of Music offers course content in multiple languages and subject areas online for free, including Creativity and Entrepreneurship, Vocal Recording Technology, and Music for Wellness.
As is the case with other edX partners, users have the option to earn a Verified Certificate for $49, though unfortunately these badges do not translate to college credit.
Masterclass
Masterclass is one of the most renowned websites when it comes to lessons online. This is mainly due to one thing, which is the fact that they have some of the best professionals from specific professions to provide you with classes that will help you, in the same way that they helped them.
When it comes to music, Masterclass have some of the best, for example world famous composer, Hanz Zimmer who has won multiple awards for his great work on the soundtracks of many a few films.
They also have more than few other big names, such as famous singer Usher and violist Itzhak Perlman, along with others.
These famous artists will take you on a journey of your own while also familiarising you with the things that got them to where they are now.
Along with this, there are also conveniences such as the ability to view the lessons no matter where you are through your phone, desktop or TV. There is also a workbook associated with each lesson.
ArtistWorks
ArtistWorks is a website that features musical classes from musicians that are experts at what they do.
They have some very recognizable names on their list of lessons, for example they have well known American guitarist Paul Gilbert, as well as many other famous musicians, for example Noam Pikelny, the popular banjo player and the co-founder of Punch Brothers.
There are a variety of different lessons for a variety of different instruments, and what makes things better is the fact that they have different classes for each instrument to suit players of different levels.
Their beginner courses allow you to learn the instrument that you want at your own place, as long as they have a lesson available for said instrument, which is rarely ever a problem.
You will be familiarized with the instrument that you are trying to learn and you will be able to get a better understanding of how to play it, improving your skills for the long term. Advanced players will also be able to learn at any pace they like.
SmartMusic‘
SmartMusic is a web-based music education platform that connects teachers and students. Teachers have access to an unrivaled library of music from which to create individualized assignments for every student. Students receive immediate feedback as they practice each assignment. Their best performances are sent back to the teacher for grading and additional guidance. Plus, built-in notation tools allow teachers to import, edit, and create music, producing custom content for their students.’
Udemy
Featuring a large quantity of lessons from people all over the world that have been qualified as experts when it comes to playing their respective instruments, Udemy has more than enough courses for you to choose from and fulfil your learning needs.
For example, one of their lessons allows you to get familiar with the methods and tools used to by top guitarists all over the world, something that can drastically help you if you are a beginner guitar player.
The mentioned lesson allows you to develop your own method of playing with the guitar, allowing you to create your own unique voices as you play.
Some guitar classes will also let you identify different chord functions, along with how to fully utilize them. Some will teach you about music theory.
This allows you to read music using techniques that have been proven to be effective while letting you work on the tempo of your playing, along with how to play rhythms in an accurate manner. Similar to these, there are lessons made for most instruments.
Conclusion:
If you’re here, you probably want to know about some of the best music teaching software for beginners…and no, that’s not entirely false. You’re right in thinking that there are many different types of software out there, and you need to be careful because it would be downright confusing if you purchase the wrong one.