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Creation / Composition

Music is the electrical soil in which the spirit lives, thinks, and invents.
Ludwig van Beethoven
German composer

Articles

Music Teacher Adds Podcasting to Curriculum
Learn about podcasts by sixth graders on ancient rhythms from different regions of Africa.

 

Tools

Music Paper - University of Virginia Library - Digital Media Center
http://people.virginia.edu/~pdr4h/musicpaper/
Print your own blank music papers in PostScript and PDF formats. All are for 8 1/2 x 11 paper (portrait orientation).


Software


Band in a Box
"The award-winning Band-in-a-Box is so easy to use! Just type in the chords for any song using standard chord symbols (like C, Fm7 or C13b9), choose the style you'd like, and Band-in-a-Box does the rest. Band-in-a-Box automatically generates a complete professional quality arrangement of piano, bass, drums, guitar and strings in a wide variety of popular styles. (Jazz, Pop, Country, Classical and more.)"

Garage Band
This software is part of Apple's iLife package. It comes installed on new computers, but can be purchased for older computers (needs System X.3). "GarageBand turns your Mac into an anytime, anywhere recording studio packed with hundreds of instruments. ... It's the easiest way to create, perform and record your own music whether you're an accomplished player or just wish you were a rock star. Easy enough to be used by elementary students.

Looplabs Online Mixer
 This award winning site has an online mixer that allows you to manipulate up to 32 separate sound channels. You can load your mix onto the server and let anyone who accesses the site listen to your creations.

Cubase
Music production system. Visit the site to learn more about Cubase and Steinberg's other products for music production.

Audacity
This is open source software that can be installed on a computer. It allows you to record your students' creations. They can edit, add tracks and publish them as mp3 files.


Notation Software


Finale Notepad
Not OSS but free, this is an introductory version of music notation software.

Online Tools

Kisstunes
KissTunes is a great web tool that lets you make some music and lets you give it a name and describe it. Then, you get a url address for your creation where others can then leave comments. You don’t even need to register!

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