New Website Offers Free Resources for Teaching Elementary Music

Confucius once said, "Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without." However, as budget cuts in education have continued to increase, more and more districts are cutting music programs, especially at the elementary school level. The benefits of teaching music to students early in life are numerous, but most teachers are not professional musicians. What then, is a desperate elementary school teacher or homeschooling parent to do? Turn to the internet, of course! More specifically, head to www.makingmusicfun.net, a great new website with free resources for helping students learn music.

It seems that everything in music education seems to cost money. From instruments to sheet music, teaching a child music can get expensive. MakingMusicFun.net offers FREE printable sheet music. Yes, you read correctly; the printable sheet music at MakingMusicFun.net is absolutely free, with no strings attached! There is a huge index of quality printable piano music, which has been hand selected by a professional children's music teacher. In addition, there are free printable sheet music selections for woodwind and brass solos, simple sheet music with chord symbols, and classroom tested printable Orff orchestrations. For the very beginning music student, they offer free printable sheet music for the recorder.

Homeschooling families will definitely appreciate the printable music worksheets available on MakingMusicFun.net, such as "Meet the Composer" worksheets, interval worksheets, note naming worksheets, and manuscript paper. In addition, a non-musician homeschooling mom or dad will LOVE the free video lessons. Since private music lessons can cost a bundle, starting with some freebies is definitely a savings.

The free printable worksheets, as well as the printable award certificates, are also great for use in an elementary or even junior high music class. Elementary school teachers, especially those with a limited background in music, will definitely appreciate the variety of free music lesson plans offered in "The Lesson Zone" section of MakingMusicFun.net. The lessons are written in a clear, step-by-step format, and each music lesson plan begins with a realistic objective, based on the National Standards for Music. The lesson plans have built in accommodations for students with learning disabilities, utilizing cooperative learning and visual aids, and they also reach all the modalities. Lessons like "Slap Happy Music Math" integrate music and math together, and administrators will love seeing the interdisciplinary lessons in the classroom.

Since the tide of education is turning more and more to using technology in the classroom, the free online arcade game "Oliver the Octopus" is sure to be a big hit with teachers and students. This free online arcade game helps students learn music theory in a fun and creative way.

In addition, theMakingMusicFun songbook has children's song lyrics, so you can find the words to that song you seem to have forgotten since childhood. The cute free desktop wallpaper has several cute options available for free download. Finally, if you are not finding what you need on the website, there is a link to help you find a private teacher. Best of all, these great music education resources are completely free!