Mobile Apps for Music
Educational apps designed for the Gr.4 music student
Welcome to the Grade 4 Music Site for the 2014-2015
About Me
Ms.Briones
Email: bbriones@ualberta.ca
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/ualberta.ca/bethanybriones/
Location: University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Phone: (111)111-1111
Curriculum
Alberta Education Music Curriculum for Grade 4
· understand that beats may be grouped in 4s
· understand that tuned instruments can combine to make
harmony
· understand that musical instruments have distinctive tonal qualities and may be grouped according to families
· identify major and minor chords
· respond to changes in tempo, dynamics and mood while
singing
· develop skill in writing rhythm patterns
· notate and perform original compositions (does not have to be formal notation)
-(Alberta Education, 2011)
MOBILE APPS
What is it? It is a “pocket workout” for students in different levels (beginner, intermediate, or virtuoso), and it quizzes them on notes from different clefs (Treble, Alto, Tenot, and Bass) against a clock ("Note Perfect!", n.d.).
Learning Outcome? This will allow the student to be better at being able to “notate and perform original compositions” (Alberta Education, 2011). As students get better at recognizing notes, they too will be able to place the notes on the staff, and thus develop their ability to read and write music.
App#2: Rhythm Cat
What is it? It is a fifteen level game that introduces a relatively harder and new music symbol, such as a rest, each level, and provides further information as to what the symbol if needed ("Rhythm Cat", n.d.). When the game starts, there is a line of notes and rests that someone has to tap a green button to as the music plays ("Rhythm Cat", n.d.).
Learning outcome? Rhythm Cat ensures that the student “develop skill in writing rhythm patterns” (Alberta Education, 2011). As students complete the levels and earn points, they will eventually be able to count beats and rests to other types of songs and music they are learning in class.
App #3: Ear Trainer
What is it? Ear Trainer is an app with more than 230 exercises on intervals, scales, relative pitch and melody, and chords and is made for all levels (from beginner to advanced) ("Ear Trainer", n.d.). There is also a virtual keyboard/piano with a note view ("Ear Trainer", n.d.). The questions change each time, so you can do the exercise countless time, and there is also statistics available to check one’s progress ("Ear Trainer", n.d.).
Learning outcome? The Ear Trainer app achieves the learning outcome of having students being able to “identify major and minor chords” (Alberta Education, 2011). The numerous amounts of examples for students to hear and respond to will then carry on to the student’s ability to hear major and minor chords in other types of music.
App #4: My Musical Friends
What is it? This app plays the sounds of different instruments, and includes a “Fun Fact” and “Did you know?” information on the instrument that one chooses ("My Musical Friends", n.d.).
Home Screen
Example of a Musical Family
Ex. of Instrument
Learning outcome? The student will be able to “understand that musical instruments have distinctive tonal qualities and may be grouped according to families” (Alberta Education, 2011). Since the game categorizes instruments to five families, the student will have a better understanding of how the instruments relate or differ based on how they sound and actual information provided for them.
App #5: GarageBand
What is it? GarageBand is an easy way to create, play, mix, record, and share songs ("GarageBand ", n.d.). There are virtual instruments provided, so you do not have to use a real one, and it also provides the aspect of a real recording studio ("GarageBand ", n.d.).
Learning outcome? As the students create music and blend them together in a way that sounds pleasant to them, they will be able to “understand that tuned instruments can combine to make harmony” (Alberta Education, 2011).
App #6: Staraoke
What is it? This app is similar to karaoke, but is targeted for mainly children, and there can be up to four players. ("Staraoke", n.d.). Kids can choose a song, theme and a character and then as the music play they have to sing the words as they come on the screen ("Staraoke", n.d.). Through the player’s voice, the character either stays on the path and win points or gets off the path and lose points ("Staraoke", n.d.).
Learning outcome? The student will be able to “respond to changes in tempo, dynamics and mood while singing” when they have to speed up their singing or slow it down when the character that they are controlling with their voice is on path or off path (Alberta Education, 2011).