Resources
Use the resources below for help with practicing, homework and to play games.
Practicing
Metronome - to keep a steady beat when practicing.
Practice Sightreading - This will generate music for you to play similar to my "counting rhythms." Set it to level 1 (simple) to get started.
Sightreading Factory - exercises for sightreading and sightsinging practice
Virtual Piano - This is a virtual piano which is especially helpful for percussionists to practice mallets if you don't have a bell kit or keyboard at home.
Dubstep Creator - A Dubstep beat creator. Great for making background tracks to perform on top off. Also great practice by playing to the steady beat you create. Don't forget to push the "Sync" button after adding a beat to get them back in sync.
Learning Jazz - The best site ever for learning to play jazz tunes!
Rhythm Counter - Do you have a tricky rhythm that is bugging you? You can go here and type in the rhythm and it will tell you how it should sound.
Percussion Rudiments - Vic Firth's resource to learn and master any of the 40 essential rudiments.
Composing
Blank Sheet Music - Create and print staff paper for writing your own songs.
Noteflight - Noteflight is a free web based music notation program to make and print your own professional looking music. This is great for composing your own songs....try it, it's easier than you think. You don't even have to download a program. They do require an email to log on. You can put in notes and the program will play back the tune you are writing so you can change it if you want it to sound different. When you're done go ahead and print it out and have some friends at school try to play it with you.
Equipment and Sheet Music
JWPepper - This is where I select band music for you to play during the school year. Did I miss a cool tune you think we should play? Let me know. You can listen to the tunes on the site. They are divided by categories such as jazz band, marching band, concert band, pop, etc...
Sheet Music Plus - Another website for music purchase. Sometime has harder-to-find music that you may not find on Pepper.
Marshall Music - this is our local supplier and repair tech. Based in Lansing, but the satellite store is in Traverse City.
Woodwind & Brasswind - Great online resource for equipment, accessories and new (and used!) instruments.
Games and Fun
Drum Kit - online drum kit to play around with beats.
Music Trainer - Great games for general musicianship.
Music Racer - Great games for naming notes and learning fingerings for your instrument!
Music Games - music learning games geared toward elementary students.
Ms. Riley's Music Class - personal website of Ms. Riley's music class and links to online music games.
PBS Kids - Public Broadcasting Station website with games geared toward elementary students.
Ultimate List of Online Music Games - blog post with links to many, many music games.
Music Dictionary
Virginia Tech Online Music Dictionary - searchable online music dictionary
OnMusic Dictionary - searchable online music dictionary; more specific and geared toward more experienced musicians.
Theory
MusicTheory.net - online lessons to help with theory understanding.
Music Tech Teacher - online theory lessons, quizzes and worksheets
Circle of Fifths - Interactive site to help with key signature understanding
Quizzes - fun quizzes to test theory knowledge
Free Sheet Music
ChoralWiki - Choral Public Domain Library
Art Song Central - Solo voice sheet music
Aria Database - More solo voice sheet music
Sheet Music Archive - Piano and instrumental sheet music
Take Lessons - Piano and guitar sheet music
8notes - Piano, guitar, instrumental and vocal sheet music