Composition Apps
The following list are apps which can be used in music class rooms to further extend teaching to students. They are mostly helpful with composition and can be used on iPad's.
1. Symphony Pro-
This is an app that let you experiment with different kinds of compositions ranging from orchestrations, lead sheets, chord charts, and even guitar tabs. It can be used on your iPad as well you can listen instantly back.
This app lets students learn how to compose music through not only normal scores but also chord charts ad even guitar tabs. They can also experiment with their compositions on how fast or slow they want to set the speed, or even which instrument they want to use for the composition. I think this app would be most useful for High School students since it would require for them to have a wider knowledge of theory in order to compose.
This is an app that let you experiment with different kinds of compositions ranging from orchestrations, lead sheets, chord charts, and even guitar tabs. It can be used on your iPad as well you can listen instantly back.
This app lets students learn how to compose music through not only normal scores but also chord charts ad even guitar tabs. They can also experiment with their compositions on how fast or slow they want to set the speed, or even which instrument they want to use for the composition. I think this app would be most useful for High School students since it would require for them to have a wider knowledge of theory in order to compose.
2. Singing Fingers-
This app essentially lets you incorporate music with art. This app allows you to finger paint while at the same time it makes a sound. This drawing then is saved as both a painting and a musical composition.
I feel that this app would be more specifically for students in elementary school, although mature students could also try this out. I think this app would let the students think about what kind of music they want to make while at the same time drawing pictures which they find are interesting.
This app essentially lets you incorporate music with art. This app allows you to finger paint while at the same time it makes a sound. This drawing then is saved as both a painting and a musical composition.
I feel that this app would be more specifically for students in elementary school, although mature students could also try this out. I think this app would let the students think about what kind of music they want to make while at the same time drawing pictures which they find are interesting.
3. Soundrop-
This app is somewhat similar to the previous in the sense that there is an artistic element to it. The app works by drawing different lines and seeing how they turn into sounds, eventually leading to another musical composition.
I feel that this app could be targeted for older students in the elementary grades as well as high school students. This app could possibly help with coming up with a melody or even to get a taste of simple music composing. I think this app would not only help with music but also with visualizing the structure of a song. Although some might argue with this, I also feel that it develops their creative thinking and makes them think more musically when relating it back to line patterns.
This app is somewhat similar to the previous in the sense that there is an artistic element to it. The app works by drawing different lines and seeing how they turn into sounds, eventually leading to another musical composition.
I feel that this app could be targeted for older students in the elementary grades as well as high school students. This app could possibly help with coming up with a melody or even to get a taste of simple music composing. I think this app would not only help with music but also with visualizing the structure of a song. Although some might argue with this, I also feel that it develops their creative thinking and makes them think more musically when relating it back to line patterns.
Improvisation Apps
The following list of apps can be used in music classes to further expand improvisational skills to students.
The following list of apps can be used in music classes to further expand improvisational skills to students.
1. VoiceJam-
This app is like a loop microphone where you can record multiple voices or different rhythmic patterns. It basically lets you record a song you like or a musical pattern with just your voice or by doing vocal percussion.
I think this is a good app for the types of students who like to experiment with harmonies in songs. I feel like this might let them explore the different types of patterns they can do or even create by using this app.
This app is like a loop microphone where you can record multiple voices or different rhythmic patterns. It basically lets you record a song you like or a musical pattern with just your voice or by doing vocal percussion.
I think this is a good app for the types of students who like to experiment with harmonies in songs. I feel like this might let them explore the different types of patterns they can do or even create by using this app.
2. CUBE JAM-
This app lets students "mess around" with songs from their own playlists and lets them play along with the track, improvise, record a solo or even adjust the tempo and pitch. The end result is almost a cover of the song but with a twist depending on how much the student changes, or even sometimes a completely different song from what the beginning product was.
I feel that this app gives students the liberty to change the song to the point where they feel that they have obtained the end result of the starting product. It not only lets them somehow rearrange the song, but it also lets them improvise along with the track to make it into their own composition and improvised work.
This app lets students "mess around" with songs from their own playlists and lets them play along with the track, improvise, record a solo or even adjust the tempo and pitch. The end result is almost a cover of the song but with a twist depending on how much the student changes, or even sometimes a completely different song from what the beginning product was.
I feel that this app gives students the liberty to change the song to the point where they feel that they have obtained the end result of the starting product. It not only lets them somehow rearrange the song, but it also lets them improvise along with the track to make it into their own composition and improvised work.