One of the Best Elementary Music Education Apps

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Podcast Title and Presenter

One of the Best Elementary Music Education Apps by Jessica Peresta

Podcast Outline

Introduction

Hello, I’m Jessica Peresta. the host of the Teaching with Tech in K12 podcast and you’re listening to episode 3. Today I’ll be talking about one of the best elementary music education apps available. This app is called “My Singing Monsters” and can be used with your 1st-3rd grade music students. Finding technology resources that can be used both at school and at home, while also being able to be accessed from any device can be tricky. But, the “My Singing Monsters” app is able to do this while making learning music fun and relevant for your students.

Topic # 1- What is My Singing Monsters

My Singing Monsters is an app that can be used in any elementary music classroom. It’s a great tool to use in the classroom, for asynchronous or synchronous learning, or even for the students to practice musical concepts from home. Since it’s an app, students can see their monsters come perform various rhythms, beats, and melodies while using different tempo and dynamic markings. The monsters are engaging and it’s fun seeing them make music. Students can choose different monsters and if they’re on different devices, the monsters can create music together at the same time.

For grades 1-3, there are various lessons that teach towards different musical objectives. The free lesson plans go hand in hand with the app and contain everything you need as the teacher to successfully teach the lessons to your students. What makes “My Singing Monsters” unique is that each lesson contains a different monster that represents a different concept, like steady beat and rhythm has a green monster for example. Students can then find the corresponding monster on the app and follow along from their home or school. You as the teacher can follow the lesson plans as is or modify them to fit your teaching style.

Topic # 2- Best Teaching Practices

As a music teacher, you plan lessons based around the objectives and concepts your students need to know. If you’re focusing on steady beat with your first grade students, for example, you can use the “My Singing Monsters” app to go hand in hand with the other lessons you’re already planning to do with your students. The app can be used as a small group, partner activity, for whole group instruction, or even for at home practice. The app can also be used as part of a centers activity or a rhythm unit. You can also assign just the steady beat monster or create a lesson plan for your students whether you’re teaching virtually or in person.

While using the app with your students, you can have them create their own rhythms or melodies, then share it together with the class. If students have access to their own devices, let each class decide what monster you’ll use, what melody he/she will play, and what the tempo marking is. Next, have students decide on dynamic markings. Assign roles to the students in each group and decide how you’ll assess the students as well. After using the app, then students can add in classroom instruments underneath the monster melody composition. Think about how you want to create lessons using the “My Singing Monsters” app with your particular group of students.

Conclusion

Although there are many amazing websites and apps to use in the music classroom, “My Singing Monsters” is one of my favorites. It’s engaging, fun, exciting, and a great way to keep students interest in music making. For students who may not enjoy singing, movement activities, or listening lessons, using technology is a fantastic way to bring music education to these students. I hope by listening to this podcast, you got ideas you can use with your own students. Thank you for listening in today and I can’t wait to bring you another episode real soon.


Audio Cue List

Time Line

Desription of Audio Cue (dialogue/music etc)

Intro

Play “West” transition before intro and “A Clue” after intro

Topic 1

Play “A Clue” after topic 1

Topic 2

Play “A Clue” after topic 2

Conclusion

Play “West” transition after conclusion


Other Relevant Links:

Resources

Peresta, J.  (n.d.).  One of the best elementary music education apps.  The Domestic                     Musician.  https://www.thedomesticmusician.com/elementary-music-education-apps/

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