Apps and Links
Musician's Toolbox
There are certain things that an advancing musician can't do without - essential tools that help them along. In the last few years, many of these resources have become available for free or inexpensively, by way of the internet or mobile apps. The following list includes some of our favorites.
Metronomes
A metronome helps you keep a steady pulse as you play. Some are very simple, some have lots of features. There are LOTS of options available completely for free!
Websites:
iOS:
Android:
Tuners
Tuners help you precisely adjust your instrument's pitch, and learn the tendencies of certain notes. There are not as many free options as metronomes.
Websites:
iOS:
Android:
Music Dictionary
The Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary - This site looks a bit dated, but is a surprisingly useful resource for learning the meaning and pronunciation of all sorts of musical terms. Very handy if you come across a word in your music that you don't know.
Music Theory
Music theory is essential to learning to read and understand written music. These sites offer lots of tutorials and practice.
Websites:
Other Cool Stuff!
iNudge.net - A fun music creation tool
DM1 - A drum machine app for iPad. Customizable and intuitive to understand. $4.99
Electrum Drum Machine - A drum machine app for Android. You can download additional sound packs. $3.99
40 Essential Snare Drum Rudiments - Help with the basic snare drum rudiments. EXCELLENT when preparing for honor band or all-state!
Vic Firth Education Resource Center - All sorts of tutorials on a wide variety of drumming.
Theory Websites:
Music Theory.net
Music Theory by Students for Students
Music Racer
eMusic Theory
Music Theory Web – Teoria
G Major Music Theory
Music Theory Flash Cards
Online Music Theory Game
Music Theory Minutes
Music Theory Help Site
LCS Productions Music Theory Help
Theory for “Normal” People
Rhythm Training and Metronome
Online Metronome
Free Rhythm Trainer
Sight Reading and Notation Programs
Practice Sight Reading
Noteflight (online notation program)
Finale Notepad
Dictionaries and Definitions
Music Symbols and Definitions
Virgina Tech Online Music Dictionary
Ear Training Sites
Dictation Practice
Ear Toner
Ear Training Online
GNU Solfege
Functional Ear Training
Tete Ear Training
Good Ear – Free Online Ear Training
Earplane
Ear Beater
Other
US Army All-American Marching Band
Composer’s Datebook
Music Theory
Noteflight.com (Composition - class page)
www.jamstudio.com
musictheory.net (Theory Lessons and Exercises)
www.musicalintervalstutor.info (Ear Training)
Vocabulary
dictionary.onmusic.org (Online Music Dictionary)
Music History
artsedge.kennedy-center.org (Smithsonian Music Resources)
www.classicsforkids.com/composers/composers_period.asp (Composers by Period)
musiced.about.com (About.com Music Education Resources)
Modern Music
www.nga.gov/kids (National Gallery of Art)
www.dsokids.com
www.npr.org/music/ (NPR Music Page)
www.rockhall.com (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
countrymusichalloffame.org (Country Music Hall of Fame)
Performance
www.vicfirth.com/education/rudiments.php (Percussion Rudiments)
Music Reference and Fun Stuff
Woodwind Fingering Guide
Brass Fingering Guide
Vic Firth’s Percussion Education Resources
Music Theory Online
Print Your Own Staff Paper
The Breathing Gym: Daily Exercises
Flute Trainer
Oboe Trainer
Bassoon Trainer
Clarinet Trainer
Brass Trainer
Music Dictionary
Musician's Toolbox
There are certain things that an advancing musician can't do without - essential tools that help them along. In the last few years, many of these resources have become available for free or inexpensively, by way of the internet or mobile apps. The following list includes some of our favorites.
Metronomes
A metronome helps you keep a steady pulse as you play. Some are very simple, some have lots of features. There are LOTS of options available completely for free!
Websites:
- metronomeonline.com - a free, basic metronome
iOS:
- Pro Metronome - a good, free metronome
- Tempo Metronome - Full featured metronome, $1.99
Android:
- Mobile Metronome - Free. Not much visual interest, but accurate and easy.
- Metronome Beats - Free. Good metronome with visual elements.
Tuners
Tuners help you precisely adjust your instrument's pitch, and learn the tendencies of certain notes. There are not as many free options as metronomes.
Websites:
- Seventh String Tuner - Reasonably accurate, but not as accurate and easy to use as most iOS and Android apps.
iOS:
- iStroboSoft - With a traditional strobe tuner appearance, it is very accurate and easy to read. $9.99
- Tonal Energy Tuner - A good tuner with some other interesting features. $3.99
Android:
- Tonal Energy Tuner - A good tuner with some other interesting features. $1.99
- gStrings - Free and accurate tuner. Looks like a traditional needle dial. You can pay for an ad-free version.
- DaTuner Lite - Free and accurate tuner, with a more digital interface. You can pay for an ad-free version.
Music Dictionary
The Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Dictionary - This site looks a bit dated, but is a surprisingly useful resource for learning the meaning and pronunciation of all sorts of musical terms. Very handy if you come across a word in your music that you don't know.
Music Theory
Music theory is essential to learning to read and understand written music. These sites offer lots of tutorials and practice.
Websites:
- Musictheory.net - VERY full-featured site, with practice exercises, tutorials, even brass fingering trainers!
- Vic Firth Speednote Reading - geared towards mallet percussion players
- Rhythm Practice - Interactive rhythm practice; tap the rhythm correctly
Other Cool Stuff!
iNudge.net - A fun music creation tool
DM1 - A drum machine app for iPad. Customizable and intuitive to understand. $4.99
Electrum Drum Machine - A drum machine app for Android. You can download additional sound packs. $3.99
40 Essential Snare Drum Rudiments - Help with the basic snare drum rudiments. EXCELLENT when preparing for honor band or all-state!
Vic Firth Education Resource Center - All sorts of tutorials on a wide variety of drumming.
Theory Websites:
Music Theory.net
Music Theory by Students for Students
Music Racer
eMusic Theory
Music Theory Web – Teoria
G Major Music Theory
Music Theory Flash Cards
Online Music Theory Game
Music Theory Minutes
Music Theory Help Site
LCS Productions Music Theory Help
Theory for “Normal” People
Rhythm Training and Metronome
Online Metronome
Free Rhythm Trainer
Sight Reading and Notation Programs
Practice Sight Reading
Noteflight (online notation program)
Finale Notepad
Dictionaries and Definitions
Music Symbols and Definitions
Virgina Tech Online Music Dictionary
Ear Training Sites
Dictation Practice
Ear Toner
Ear Training Online
GNU Solfege
Functional Ear Training
Tete Ear Training
Good Ear – Free Online Ear Training
Earplane
Ear Beater
Other
US Army All-American Marching Band
Composer’s Datebook
Music Theory
Noteflight.com (Composition - class page)
www.jamstudio.com
musictheory.net (Theory Lessons and Exercises)
www.musicalintervalstutor.info (Ear Training)
Vocabulary
dictionary.onmusic.org (Online Music Dictionary)
Music History
artsedge.kennedy-center.org (Smithsonian Music Resources)
www.classicsforkids.com/composers/composers_period.asp (Composers by Period)
musiced.about.com (About.com Music Education Resources)
Modern Music
www.nga.gov/kids (National Gallery of Art)
www.dsokids.com
www.npr.org/music/ (NPR Music Page)
www.rockhall.com (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
countrymusichalloffame.org (Country Music Hall of Fame)
Performance
www.vicfirth.com/education/rudiments.php (Percussion Rudiments)
Music Reference and Fun Stuff
Woodwind Fingering Guide
Brass Fingering Guide
Vic Firth’s Percussion Education Resources
Music Theory Online
Print Your Own Staff Paper
The Breathing Gym: Daily Exercises
Flute Trainer
Oboe Trainer
Bassoon Trainer
Clarinet Trainer
Brass Trainer
Music Dictionary
Instrument Videos and Recordings
Flute Fundamentals
Understanding the Oboe
Bassoon Basics
What NOT to do: Clarinet Repair
Clarinet Articulations
A Trumpeter’s Resource
Horn Playing: Past and Present
Trombone Players Guide
The Complete Percussionist
Tuba and Euphonium: Individual and the Ensemble
Articles
Brass: The Case for Buzzing
More Than One Way to Win
Audition Information for Live or Recorded Performances (Percussion focus but applies to all)
Practice Advice from CSO Perfomer Chris Martin
Advice to a College Music Student
So You Want to Major in the Arts
Is Music the Key to Success?
Functions of an Effective Student Leadership Team
Why I Teach Music
Why Study Music
7 Deadly Sins of Playing a Live Gig
Careers in Music
Vic Firth Educational Videos (Percussion)
Keynote Magazine – general articles about music and performing
Top 10 Ways to Make Money While Making Music
Dealing with Heat and Humidity
Flute Fundamentals
Understanding the Oboe
Bassoon Basics
What NOT to do: Clarinet Repair
Clarinet Articulations
A Trumpeter’s Resource
Horn Playing: Past and Present
Trombone Players Guide
The Complete Percussionist
Tuba and Euphonium: Individual and the Ensemble
Articles
Brass: The Case for Buzzing
More Than One Way to Win
Audition Information for Live or Recorded Performances (Percussion focus but applies to all)
Practice Advice from CSO Perfomer Chris Martin
Advice to a College Music Student
So You Want to Major in the Arts
Is Music the Key to Success?
Functions of an Effective Student Leadership Team
Why I Teach Music
Why Study Music
7 Deadly Sins of Playing a Live Gig
Careers in Music
Vic Firth Educational Videos (Percussion)
Keynote Magazine – general articles about music and performing
Top 10 Ways to Make Money While Making Music
Dealing with Heat and Humidity