So…none of us like this, none of us are happy, but here we are. I’ve compiled a huge list and I will update as I find more. Some of this is my normal emergency sub plans, some is recent findings. I will also link to some things that I have either made free or discounted in my store that will work for distance learning. My Music or Not games are half off. Pasta or Composer, Opera or Cheese and City or Song all have more information on the composers, operas and songs. I will work to update other files and I will be uploading free worksheets that you can send to students so they can guess at home before they move on to each slide. Please know that these are some of my best selling items so while I wrestled with making them free, I believe that would be unfair to the many people who have bought them. If you post anything online, please post it in a place that is not public and that only your students/their parents have access to. I greatly appreciate it.
Find discounted items in my store for this situation by clicking HERE.
Find a new product completely free in my store HERE.
I’ve put together some ideas, worksheets, parts of a few composing files that are timely (spring and musical instruments), lines and spaces, and my major scales worksheets for you which deal also with sharps and flats, enharmonic and building the major scale. Some of this is from files currently in my store that will work if you send to kids, others are new pages I made this week. I’ve also included a link to the lists on a student friendly page (No blog links, no picture of me, etc.) All of the following links can be found on a student friendly page that can be found by clicking HERE.
Websites with games, activities, videos
- AstroWhacker https://www.classplash.de/en/astrowhacker/
- Rockalingua – Spanish Language Site with some music https://rockalingua.com/?fbclid=IwAR1tgNJH4nzZ0JSufMlMJCH66tXUl-2NikfLiyGvTGjwoFm9f1mqtW5WtT4
- Paint Composer https://danielx.net/composer/
- The Rhythm Randomizer http://www.rhythmrandomizer.com
- New York Philharmonic Kids https://www.nyphilkids.org
- Classics for Kids www.classicsforkids.com
- Chrome Music Lab Song Maker https://musiclab.chromeexperiments.com
- Incredibox www.incredibox.com (There is an app but it isn’t free.)
- Berlin Philharmonic Digital Concert Hall https://www.digitalconcerthall.com/en/home
- Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra (Carnegie Hall) https://listeningadventures.carnegiehall.org
- Groove Pizza
https://apps.musedlab.org/groovepizza/?museid=rJ4qysk8I& - Music Tech Teacher Games http://www.musictechteacher.com/music_quizzes/music_quizzes.htm
- PBS Kids Music http://pbskids.org/games/music/
- PBS Learning Media – Music https://dptv.pbslearningmedia.org/subjects/the-arts/music/
- Music K8 Fun Stuff http://www.musick8kids.com/html/funstuff.php
- DSO Kids (Dallas) https://www.mydso.com/dso-kids/ (Check out Listen and Learn or Activities.)
- Interactive Orchestra https://www.animatedscience.co.uk/animations/orchestra/orchestra.htm
- Perfect Pitch (Baseball Music Game) http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/interactives/perfectpitch/
- 52 Instruments to Make at Home https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/Music-Instruments-for-Kids-to-Make
- The Music Podcast for Kids https://www.themusicpodcastforkids.com
- Go Classical for Kids http://classicalkusc.org/kids/
- Composers for Kids (Preschool-2) http://www.starfall.com/n/level-b/music/load.htm?
- Yamaha Music Games http://www.playintimeadvantage.com/games/
- PBS Kids Pattern Maker http://pbskids.org/cyberchase/math-games/cyber-pattern-player/
- Isle of Tune (2nd up) http://isleoftune.com
- Tone Savvy https://tonesavvy.com/music-practice-exercises/
- Rhythm Trainer http://www.therhythmtrainer.com
- San Francisco Kids http://www.sfskids.org
- Brain Pop https://www.brainpop.com/artsandmusic/
- Drum Machine https://www.onemotion.com/drum-machine/
- Whack a Note http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/interactives/steprightup/whackanote/
- Arts Alive – National Arts Centre of Canada http://artsalive.ca/en/mus/index.asp
- Piano Puppet http://toytheater.com/piano-puppet.php
- Classical MPR For Kids https://www.classicalmpr.org/topic/classical-kids-storytime
- Global Jukebox (Need to create free login) https://theglobaljukebox.org
- Beethoven’s Jukebox https://www.starfall.com/h/ftr-music/beethoven_jukebox/?t=289576895
- Staff Wars (Desktop versions are free, small fee for app) (3rd up) http://www.themusicinteractive.com/downloads.html
- Concerts from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra https://livefromorchestrahall.vhx.tv/browse
- Genre Sampler
https://datadragon.com/education/genres/ - Music In the Movies
https://musicinthemovies.weebly.com - Tiny Dest Concerts on NPR
https://www.npr.org/series/tiny-desk-concerts/ - Amidons Stories & Music Activities for Children
https://amidonmusic.com/workshops/workshop-notes/stories-and-music-activities-for-children/?fbclid=IwAR2o4jE6Wm4MkUuHSS39u1AsoEnDVH4wDFa9uOJCEIxFtjKkQYvF4ggejl8 - Get Started Making Music https://learningmusic.ableton.com/
Instrumental Music Students
- Instruments From a Distance – USNavy
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgVW2dNuDrZ3GsnD1HjYgriBL8pm6gqVX&fbclid - Vic Firth Rudiments https://vicfirth.zildjian.com/education/40-essential-rudiments.html
- The Shed – Rudiments https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLl9zRBzFO1UL2px-Hs_HQz24c-ly4kO6b
- FJHMusic Channel – Scroll WAY down for instrument how to videos https://www.youtube.com/user/FJHmusic/videos?view=0&sort=dd&shelf_id=1
- Youtube Playlist – Cleaning Your Instrument https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbbQd-x3wgCRJN5sM1-3lnPX6ODtRc4ai&fbclid=IwAR03mKxJfSxzhpDO6sBLTjlfXgZ4BlZ2SHfyB0X2Ikw44Z4gf19vIoIqLCU
- Dallas Brass Resources – Not just brass! https://www.dallasbrass.com/resources
- Army Band Introduction to the Instruments https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCTeSjpDsIs
- Less Common Instruments https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v62YjjV-Roo
- Four Chord Ukulele Videos https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe0cRIz5FfLcrIi6eE5566GKgoCoTau8Z&fbclid=IwAR0H25VKPrYidbR_2NTdY_N8HGjI4TfJ1Nb2wRgGp42uHTAs6kC6I4t_uUM
Videos to move to – good for younger students
- Ants Go Marching https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pjw2A3QU8Qg&list=RDPjw2A3QU8Qg&start_radio=1
- One Green Jellybean https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNAvN0dcuWY
- Shake Your Sillies Out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwT5oX_mqS0&list=RDPjw2A3QU8Qg&index=3
- Move it to the Sounds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JvkWXBY2eY
- Boom Chicka Boom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b6axyuaKcY
- Shake Yo Foot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59_j0CjY75U
- Maximo’s Hokey Pokey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVAnoqxKAAc
- Head Shoulders Knees and Toes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuqvGiZi0qg
- If You’re Happy and You Know It https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71hqRT9U0wg
- Move & Freeze https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=388Q44ReOWE
- Freeze Dance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UcZWXvgMZE
- 3 Songs to Move to (2 use scarves!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLwRr03nWPo
- Do the Swim https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0P2NdPKcAQ
- Hand Jive Dance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHNeWSoLQZA
- I am the Music Man https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22kqia2ibVU
- Just Dance Videos http://bit.ly/justdancekidsRR
- Lee & Sandy Paley Videos https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwsJ3YF6TkhjYqOcFcHHbdg
Videos to Move To – Older Students
Learn to…
- Play the Spoons https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ERU7Vl4LGM
Great videos about music on YouTube
- Peter and the Wolf (Disney version)
- Army Band Introduction to the Instruments https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCTeSjpDsIs
- John Williams – The Maestro’s Finale – The Rise of Skywalker – A featurette about JW and the music for Rise of Skywalker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g2LNSUowHc
- Less Common Instruments https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v62YjjV-Roo
- Star Wars Throne Room – Live Orchestra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dydhnAi0A3E
- VOCES8 – Spaséñiye, sodélal (Salvation is Created) by Pavel Tschesnokov https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8BwsZqTyr0&fbclid
- Ted Yoder – Bach Cello Suite No 1 – Prelude – Hammered Dulcimer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Om3OAVh34nk
- Falling – Hammered Dulcimer and Cello https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J606mBNlCL8
- George Meets the Orchestra (Preschool-1st) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0Jc4sP0BEE&fbclid=IwAR3C4sQifMexfJ3ggpt7szG8WcO3omcyfgnLYlwaKWEXxnrec2WOlhyD5Zc
- Unheard of Instruments in the Saxophone Family https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-b6I1ihh2s&t=11s
- Vince Guaraldi – The Man Behind the Music of Peanuts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9mnL6QGebs&fbclid=IwAR10Q19kHqog4tnFjbnaX-DaP9C5qc8vZZmruGRMGOltuyX1Kiveiyi_-AA
- From Clavicord to Modern Piano https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uCCw_hmILA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9IaE2i-DmA
- Antonio Vivaldi: Recorder Concerto RV 443 / Maurice Steger, Cappella Gabetta https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hggISFswKcw&feature=emb_logo
- Whirlwind for Percussion Ensemble by David Gillingham https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv3Ds-2h2WY&feature=emb_title
- Beat Boxing 101
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0MCXDy0J0g&t=139s - 40 Fingers – Disney Medley (Guitar Quartet) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6hYcSvYQkA
- 40 Fingers – Last of the Mohicans https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VIH0QIrqdE
- 40 Fingers – Star Wars https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZT6KYMBTD80
- Second Suite in F – Gustav Holst – One kid learned all the parts and made a virtual band with himself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=thzSUYG-7J0&app=desktop
- Alma Deutscher https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvECZ_ZXGqs
- Visit an Irish Dance Academy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UklnEUrfW7w&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3uN7I1kSJJZKyhi2658nVUqpLGUIfUgxQ7rVCpSbbpzr_BoRZeB7wHeRE
- Making of a Steinway Piano https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAInt7hIZlU
- Baby Shark in 10 Styles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9hM7HsXI0w&fbclid=IwAR3cwq7CdXf_AeAkmmpYQLuutTbrlcLjuF4xh8vpJhCHaWhAvgY3UrB5g0g
- The Bremen Town Musicians https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AINuftr5Raw
- 1812 Overture – Full https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUpuAvQQrC0
- Harvard Thud – Boomwhacker Ensemble – Star Wars Medley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcAliLg14Ks
- History, Science, and Music of the Pipe Organ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzpZRV9Cmac
- Wintergaten – Marble Machine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q
- Flashmob 1 – Ode to Joy – Starts with recorder https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a23945btJYw
- Flashmob 2 – 1812 Overture https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NJRCCgK_AM
- Flashmob 3 – Bolero https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsF53JpBMlk
- Flashmob 4 Beethoven Symphony No 9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lNaajK3Scc
- Gershwin playing “I’ve Got Rhythm” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrhZp7N2pVg&feature=emb_logo
- Yamato – The Drummers of Japan – Taiko Drums https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqTJoo-0dbw
- The Okee Dokee Brothers (3rd up) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kO5pH7E_A1M&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2q35JrDslj6q2RCSLOA9XJWGUwj29-httLmICu2oljLIGLyKpQTPui1tY
- STOMP with the Harlem Globetrotters https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YhQwsw03yk
- Why is There No Saxophone in Orchestra? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsfPS7pXg1E&fbclid=IwAR2VcHCh5JLDqPLLOsKAuyof7KAaV5SWTLNXoe9jT5hkRAZvTQx_XBlWvPI
- Taiko Drums https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enywvYwj3M4
- The Carnival of the Animals https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2RPKMJmSp0
- Sakuting – Filipino Native Dance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAc-tyl-8H4&fbclid=IwAR1XJPZh7lMjCx9BOF4BbNp6xqf_rhK3xR1xn-TFftWa-cyKO0JB39WHGMY
- Kids Meet an Opera Singer https://www.facebook.com/watch/?ref=saved&v=258500124799754
- Didgeridoo Meets Orchestra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLu9GmV2vF0
- Mary Jo Barron on Mr. Roger’s https://www.misterrogers.org/episodes/a-visit-with-mary-jo-barron/
- Froggie Went a Courtin (Smithsonian Folkways) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XIT_xMHKJI&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR3vU–RTQldyPj7QnvdLQ7ckzapqWTPmap57aDddlZXw6rqlHZBF4w5IXw
Musical Books Online
- Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
- Ah! Music
- A Soup Opera
- Jenny Jenkins
- Kitty Alone
- The Other Day I Met a Bear
- Old McDonald Had a Zoo
- Father Grumble
- The Bear Went Over the Mountain
- The Derby Ram
- The Crabfish
- My Aunt Came Back
- Risseldy Rosseldy
- The Tailor and the Mouse
- Journey of the Noble Gnarble Part 1
- Journey of the Noble Gnarble Part 2
- Never Play Music Right Next to the Zoo
- There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
- Marsupial Sue
- I Got Two Dogs
- Tubby the Tuba
- Before John was a Jazz Giant
- When Louis Armstrong Taught Me to Scat
- The Really Awful Musicians
- Bello the Cello
- The Old Lady Who Wasn’t Afraid of Anything
- Jazz Fly
- Jazz Fly 2
- Jazz Fly 3
- We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
- The Remarkable Farkle McBride
- Abiyoyo
- Follow the Drinking Gourd
- Port Side Pirates
- Carnival of the Animals (John Lithgow)
- Over in the Meadow
- There’s a Hole in My Bucket
- Because
- Me Llamo Celia
- Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin
- The Story Orchestra: The Nutcracker
- Ella Fitzgerald
- Miguel and the Grand Harmony
- Violet’s Music
- This Jazz Man
- Allegro
- The Music In Me
- Don Gato
- The Bear and the Piano
- Little Melba and Her Big Trombone
- Giraffes Can’t Dance
- I Got the Rhythm
- Ella, Queen of Jazz
- Musical Stories & Stories About Sound Read Aloud YouTube Channel
Great YouTube Channels
- FaceTime With the Composers Playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLW8pHAgesF6eqjxv8kZifw1I6FL5_iOlm&fbclid=IwAR2T8H6WL-feAryOvOHNY2lmuzpPgHgzC5kVO7qKiZiwPIf_u8tjfjFjIz8
- Smithsonian Folkways YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWgEWXnFFFeoXMJ766CfDLw
- Visuals of Classical Music Youtube Channel – animated renderings that show duration and pitch (2nd up) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2zb5cQbLabj3U9l3tke1pg
- Little Kids Rock https://www.youtube.com/user/littlekidsrock
- Prodigies Music Lessons https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR_6C8MGPmasS-4QMKclRGw
- Julie’s Green Room (Julie Andrews!) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLkCY300Oya6g4QTIE_wO3A
- Barefoot Books
https://www.youtube.com/user/barefootbooks - Lee & Sandy Paley Videos (Preschool/K) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwsJ3YF6TkhjYqOcFcHHbdg
- The Singing School
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1DFlISnNESQaY6oYz5-lTQ - Royal Irish Academy of Music https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdPQ41M5d0jkwurLN3rREvg
- Four Chord Ukulele Videos https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe0cRIz5FfLcrIi6eE5566GKgoCoTau8Z&fbclid=IwAR0H25VKPrYidbR_2NTdY_N8HGjI4TfJ1Nb2wRgGp42uHTAs6kC6I4t_uUM
- Lyon Bros – Band Kids having fun with music from video games, memes and more https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4kqAGHdAW2yxzhAQgcrOBw
- E-Learning Playlist for PK & Elementary – so many songs! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkhQd8hWKneJyi9XvnV_kzJECYeBMZcDb
- Dr. Selfridge Music – Learn How to Band https://www.youtube.com/user/MrSelfridge
- Visual Musical Minds
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjUxQg9cHiOYqaRdtZ6pfoQ
Teacher Tools
Not listed on www.mrsstouffersmusicroom.com/musicathome. Some of these have free subscriptions currently to help teachers out.
- Digital Music Room Tutorial
- Carnegie Hall
- Met Opera – Nightly livestreams at 7:30PM EST
- Kodaly Today https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChi80hm_84B6E-WHjEZRF_w
- Keeping Instruments Clean – From West Music
- SmartMusic
- Noteflight – Online music composition software – any device
- Music First – Noteflight’s parent company offering several more services
- Flat.io – Google App that allows for music writing
- Band Lab – Like Garage Band
- MusicTheory.net
- Compare/Contrast of Platforms for Virtual Teaching – Includes several tips for virtual teaching
- Kahoot – Online learning games with free premium right now
- Zoom – Video conferencing, screen sharing
- FlipGrid – Online system for recording videos
- Midnight Music – 50 Ideas for Chrome Music Lab lessons
- Staff Paper Dry Erase Board background (for using with Zoom) – Go to the bottom of the page in the left corner “Dry Erase board with ledger lines”. There are also instructions.
- Teacher’s Tech – Lots of tutorials for some of the most common tech (and less common) including Microsoft Office, Google products, and lots more things like videos, pdfs, screen recording…go check it out!
- Unusual Instrument Lesson Plans from Midnight Music Teacher
- FolkCloud – Interactive map of folk music
- Chrome Extensions for Struggling Students and Special Needs
- Ted Talks on Music
I will continue to update as I find new things. Good luck friends. If there is something I can do to help out or you feel an item in my store is going to make your situation easier but you are facing financial issues, please contact me.
Looking for more? Check out my post on Digital Music Rooms.
Thank you so much for sharing this. It really helps when planning for my kids and makes a difficult task seem manageable. I really appreciate it and know that I speak for others when I say that. Thank you.
Thank you for taking the time to compile these useful resources. It’s most generous of you to share your preparations with all of us. It’s been helpful for lesson planning and the children are enjoying them!
Thank you so much! I was able to share so many of these resources with my students! <3
WOW! What an amazing list. Thank you so much for going to such trouble to make it easier for us!
Keep safe and well.
Thank you so much for going through the effort of putting together this list. There is a lot of interesting stuff here. Even though this has been a tough time for a lot of people, it has also been a perfect time to discover all the learning opportunities that exist online. This will probably be a really handy list even after this crisis!
Thanks so much! I’m glad this was helpful! And I agree – there are always going to be people on carts and I wish I had known some of this when I started!
Question, I’m wanting to do some of the books you have listed, but I am unsure on copyright laws for them. Do you know anything about this?
Hi – So I’ve linked to read alouds that are on YouTube. I did not create any of them. The best I can say is that I can assume that if it is on YouTube that the teacher who posted it has the permission to do so. I also specifically sought out established channels for education where applicable.
This is an amazing list! Thank you for sharing.
So happy to help!
Melissa,
Thank you for this wealth of music resources! This will be really helpful when we start back to school with distance learning! Thank you for sharing.
So happy this has been helpful for you!
Please don’t take this as criticism, just a “heads up”. Thank you very very much for the resource you have provided. Music is so challenging to do remotely. Your resources are really appreciated. Sadly, several great sites have been rendered unusable because Adobe Flash seems to be no longer supported. Will you be doing a revision at some point or was this mainly a site for 2020? Again, not complaining in any way, just wondering if you will be updating. Thanks so much for your hard work!
Yes! I’m glad it was helpful. I will be updating this page this summer. It is near the top of my to do list.