iPads in the Elementary Music Room: Apps used by Elementary Music Teachers

Today, the elementary music educators in my class ended the course by teaching a lesson that utilized the iPad. These lessons were wonderful! They were planned and taught well. I was very proud of all of their diligent work.

Here are the apps that were used in the lessons today:

Ratatap Drums – This app was used in two lessons so the students could perform and record their guided rhythm patterns. Price: Free

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Tap & Sing Storybots – This app was used to warm up students on solfege and to create vocal patterns using solfege. This app was a big hit with the class this week. The music educators knew that this app would be loved by their students. Price: Free

Blob Chorus – This was used as an ear training assessment in the lesson performed today. We loved this app, however, we wished that the King Blob would sing before the other pitches instead of afterward. Price: Free

Screen Chomp – This app was used for students recording their writing and performing of rhythm patterns. Price: Free

Loopy HD – This app was used to record a song that contained an ostinato and three additional parts. One needs to get used to this app as it is not self-intuitive. However, once you get used to it, you realize the potential to use this app to create loops, record parts of songs, teach harmony, and more. Price: $3.99

GarageBand – GarageBand, as Dr. Watson has stated in his courses, can do it all. This was was used to create a song together and it involved loops, an audio recording, and critical listening skills. Price: Free

Staff Wars and Flashnote Derby – These apps were used for note reading assessments. Some new items I found out about Flashnote Derby were: 1) You can email the preset game to the parents 2) You can end the game early
by tapping and holding down your finger on the screen. Prices: .99 for Staff Wars and $2.99 for Flashnote Derby.

More apps were used such as Explain Everything for screen recording, ikoto for a Japanese unit, SoundBrush to create singing warmups, Sticky to create a student presentation, and Too Noisy, which is a decibel meter. Too Noisy shows when your students are performing too loud because when the meter goes too far to the left, the little smiley face begins to cry. It is a great visual to remind your students to perform at a good level.