Posts Tagged ‘chords’

Free Online Songbook!

October 20th, 2012

Hi! It’s Saturday, October 20, 2012 and time for Music at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:

The Fabulous Songbook 

Age Range:  All Ages (Parents should preview content before sharing with children.)

This website offers a terrific, free songbook with printable pages to use at home, on-the-go, or ’round the campfire. Don’t let the lackluster look of the website deceive you – because as free online songbooks go, this one is very useful for parents, teachers, youth group leaders, and singers everywhere.

When you get to the site you’ll see a lot of introductory text. Scroll below it to the songbook menu where you’ll find an amazing variety of choices that include:

  • Ballads
  • Blues & Standards
  • Call & Response
  • Campfire Songs
  • Circle Games
  • Classic Kids Songs
  • Foreign Songs
  • Gospel Tunes
  • Hand Games
  • Holiday Songs
  • On And On Songs
  • Part Songs & Rounds
  • Patriotic Songs
  • Protest, Political, & Social Commentary Songs
  • Sea Shanties & Pub Songs
  • Silly Songs
  • Singalongs
  • U.S. Folk Songs

There are even songs By Indie Artists and Metal, Hard, Grunge & Progressive Rock groups.  (Again, parental discretion advised.)

The songs, many of which were collected by the author for use with her Girl Scout group, are categorized by type as well as by first line. For example, some are “Make ‘em Up” – which would be the ones that you make up as you go along, such as “Down By the Bay.” Others are activity games, such as “London Bridge is Falling Down,” which are fun to play with a group of children. Then you have “Call and Response,” wherein a person or group repeats after a caller, such as “Are You Sleeping” or “Bear in the Woods.”

Many (but not all) songs include activities, mp3′s, sheet music, and chords. The songbook is  updated occasionally, and suggestions for additions/improvement are welcomed.

Free, Fun Music Theory & Games!

September 22nd, 2012

Hi!  It’s Saturday, September 22, 2012 and time for Music at ClickSchooling!  

Recommended Website:

PracticeSpot.com

Age Range: All (with parental supervision)

This commercial website offers free music theory, lessons, drills, and games.  When you get to the site you’ll see some of the highlights of what is offered in this free section, and then a menu that includes:

*Practice Spot’s Rhythm Gym – Get interactive practice in counting rhythm and time signatures in written music. Click on “Quarter Note Quest” or “Eighth Note Challenge” and then follow the instructions that will take you through each exercise until you gain proficiency.  You’ll see a piece of music. The idea is to clap out the rhythm correctly.  Once you do, you can listen to a midi file and hear it played correctly.  You can also print out the music and practice on a keyboard offline. Once you’ve completed all of the exercises satisfactorily, you can print out a certificate of achievement.

*Music Crosswords – Have fun solving these puzzles that test your knowledge of music and musicians.

*Sightreading Genie – Get over 100 exercises to test your music sight reading ability.

*Chord Wizard – This interactive guide helps you find and learn all of the chords by displaying them on a keyboard.

*Note Reading Wizard – Choose between treble or bass clef, select space or line notes, and then test your skill.

There are more offerings, including “Scales Chef” – a tool to help you learn all 24 major and harmonic minor scales. Unfortunately, the “Scales Chef” wasn’t working properly when I visited the site. Nevertheless, you’ll find plenty of free content that is operating properly that will help music students and teachers alike.

Free Video Guitar Lessons for Homeschoolers!

May 19th, 2012

Hi!  It’s Saturday, May 19, 2012 and time for Music at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
Youtube Guitar Lessons

Age Range: 8 and up (approximately, with parental supervision)

At this website you will find free beginning to intermediate guitar lessons provided through videos with musician Brian Roughton, who happens to be a homeschool dad. I learned about this site from Brian who wrote…

“I am a homeschooling parent who has taught guitar for the past 14 years. Recently I created a website to serve as a free teaching resource for homeschooled students who are interested in learning to play guitar.

It is intended to guide a student from the earliest stages to an intermediate level without the need for outside assistance. I will be adding more lessons over time in order to cater to students who are more advanced.”

When you get to the site you’ll see an introduction.  Use the horizontal menu above it to access the lessons that include:

*Basic Chords – Enjoy guitar video lessons that teach you how to play basic chords.

*Strumming – Learn the best techniques for strumming the guitar.

*Bar Chords – Take video lessons to learn how to play bar chords.

You’ll also find tips for practicing guitar and you can watch videos of Brian’s students playing guitar. Read the “About Me” section to review Brian’s impressive qualifications to teach guitar.

The information and lessons are presented in a very user-friendly format. The material is well-organized and easy to understand.  This is a terrific resource for those who want to  learn to play guitar.

 

Music Theory Lessons & Activities

February 12th, 2011

Hi!  It’s Saturday, February 12, 2011 and time for Music at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
MusicTheory.net

Age Range: 6 and up (with parental guidance; non-readers will need assistance)

At this deceptively simple site you can learn music theory and more for free!  If you have a passion for music or just want to get the hang of it, you’ll enjoy the activities, many of which contain audio clips to enhance learning.

When you get to the site you will see tabs for “Lessons,” “Exercises,” and “Tools.”  Choose the “Exercises” tab to jump right to the activities and quizzes where you can learn and/or test your knowledge about:

  • Notes
  • Key Signatures
  • Generic & Specific Intervals
  • Chords
  • The Keyboard
  • The Fretboard
  • Interval, Scale, & Chord Ear Training

Each exercise can be set to the most basic level or customized to your preferred level.  Take the quizzes to test what you know. For example, try and identify the scales by ear.  If you get too many wrong answers on the quizzes, you can go to the lessons and study to learn more. Then try the quizzes again.

Music students of all ages will enjoy the ”Tools” section that lets you create music pieces and then run an analysis to tell you what you have done.  Fun stuff!

Enjoy!

 

Diane Flynn Keith
for ClickSchooling
http://www.ClickSchooling.com

Interactive Music Games & Quizzes (CSAW)

April 17th, 2010

Hi!  It’s Saturday, April 17, 2010 and time for Music at ClickSchooling!
 
Recommended Website:
Music Tech Teacher

What a find! This website provides over 100 free interactive music games and quizzes that teach music theory (including the names of music notes and rhythms) and the names of musicians and composers.

When you get to the site you’ll see the extensive menu that includes:

*Music Information: Theory – Learn the names and sounds of instruments, musicians, composers, music terms, scales, treble and bass clef note reading, rhythms and rests, and more.
 
*Flash Piano Practice – Use your keyboard to practice playing Chopstix, Twinkle, Twinkle, Ode to Joy and more.

*Quizzes – Select the right notes on the keyboard to help Mighty Music Man move a piano, play instrument scramble, do a music word search or hangman puzzle, or test your knowledge of instrument “families.” Discover what you know about music terminology, tempos, and technology. Match composers with compositions, learn some jazz music trivia, play a game of musical “Jeopardy,” and fill in the missing notes on popular musical pieces. Test your sense of rhythm and your knowledge of music intervals, scales, and chords. You won’t believe the selection!

*Music Mazes and Puzzles to Print – Enjoy a selection of printable music-themed mazes to print out and do offline, along with all kinds of free music theory worksheets.

This is an amazing resource for music students and teachers alike, and earns a ClickSchooling Award for excellence.

Free Downloadable Kids Music

October 17th, 2009

Recommended Website:
Free Kids Music

This website offers an archive of FREE, legal, high-quality children’s music MP3 downloads that you can play on your computer, MP3 player, or burn to a CD for personal use. (Great for Carschooling!)

Many of the songs you’ll find on this site are from talented, independent children’s music artists. These are complete songs — not samples. As the website explains, the artists post free music downloads here to introduce you to their music with the hope that if you like what you hear, you’ll book them for a gig or buy their album.

When you get to the site you’ll see the featured tunes in the center of the screen. (Careful, this is a Google Ad supported site, and the ads are woven throughout the text. It can be a little confusing and you may wind up clicking on an ad, instead of a song for download. This is a minor inconvenience – just hit the back button to return to the home page.)

Use the menu on the right side of the page to view:

  • Contemporary — Use the alphabetical listing of artists to find songs by them that you want to download. Again, you may not recognize the names of these artists or bands (for example, Oren and the Hiccups) – but you’re sure to have fun getting to know them and their music. :)
  • Traditional — Select classic children’s songs by title to download, such as “The Alphabet Song,” “Do Your Ears Hang Low,” “Found A Peanut,” “Frere Jacques,” “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” “Kumbaya,” “This Little Light of Mine,” and many more.

In either category, pick a song title and a new page opens where you can read the lyrics and chords and download the MP3.

Oh, and if you happen to be a children’s music artist, click on “For Artists” and find out how to get your music featured on this site.