Incorporating Technology into Music Education: Tools and Strategies

Children are growing up with technology in a way most of us could never fathom when we were young. Even doctors visits and interviews are commonly held on Zoom. People regularly work from their home computers. It may sometimes feel daunting to try to figure out the best way to incorporate this new technology into teaching music when teachers have to also remember a list of other things like internet safety, age appropriateness, and lesson planning according to state standards. This article will list some ideas on how to successfully incorporate technology into your music classroom.

1. Educational Music Websites
Educational music websites like this one can be easily incorporated into your lesson plan. They are often focused specifically for educating a certain age group and topic. You can use these free websites to supplement your lessons on music theory, sound-mixing, music history, or a number of other subjects.

2. Music Software Programs
There are many music software programs available now which can be a resource for music teachers to incorporate into their lessons. Students who have their own tablet or laptop can compose a song on GarageBand or Audacity. MuseScore is a notation software app that can be used in classes to notate music. 

3. Online Assessments
Websites like Quizlet can help you make music assessments fun. You may be able to find flashcards and quizzes online which are already prepared, but if you want something specific to your students needs, these websites are very user friendly. You'll be able to make your own quiz in no time for your specific group. There are also websites which can produce crossword puzzles and word searches for you. All you have to do is plug in the vocabulary terms.

4. Online Rehearsal Platforms
This is a technology which is being used more and more. Band members can now connect via the internet. My experience with some of these spaces has been that they are better quality in close proximity and can be difficult to set up, but if you are a tech savvy music teacher, you may be able to use these rehearsal platforms. It may not be appropriate for most classes, but could be a great tool for remote students or hybrid music classes.

Whether we like it or not, technology is here to stay and kids are very comfortable with using it. Using technology in the music classroom can help you better connect with students who have that interest. Start by incorporating one thing into your lesson and aim to add something else every year. Before you know it, you will be using technology with ease.