So, you’ve discovered that your school has decided to roll out Chromebooks to students. How can they be used in your music classroom? What exactly can you do on a Chromebook anyway? Show
Chromebooks are laptops that are a little…well…different. They are inexpensive to purchase, they are fast and are designed to be used primarily while connected to the internet. The major point of difference between a Chromebook and a “regular” laptop is that it runs on the Chrome OS (operating system) – not the Windows or Mac OS – which means that the applications you use on a Chromebook must be online or cloud-based. This comes as a surprise to some teachers who then realise that they can’t install the software they might have used in the past, such as Sibelius, Finale, Audacity, GarageBand, or Mixcraft. The good news is that nowadays there are many online music applications available and improved internet speed at schools makes the Chromebook a viable device option for students, especially at the elementary and middle school levels. What exactly is a Chromebook?
Good things about Chromebooks
Be mindful of the following…
The bottom lineChromebooks can be a fantastic addition to your music classroom. It’s all about awareness: understand what the device can and can’t do, what the strengths are and how it can do to enhance what you do. As with all technology, make sure you have a contingency plan if anything goes wrong! How can you utilize Chromebooks in class?Students can use their Chromebooks to work on documents, compose music notation, record audio and MIDI, demonstrate learning, take quizzes, create videos, perform, read music, drill notes of the staff, learn music theory and more. Types of “apps” you can useThe term “app” is used quite loosely these days and can be used to refer to any of the following:
Some basic tipsIf you’re going to get started using Chromebooks in your music class, here are a few tips:
What NOT to doSome things to avoid:
I was using GarageBand/Sibelius/Finale…now what?Many teachers discover the apps they’ve been using for years don’t work on Chromebooks. This means you can’t use things like GarageBand, Mixcraft, Sibelius, Finale, Audacity and the other “download and install” software programs you’ve used in the past. Instead digital audio workstations like GarageBand, Mixcraft, Acid, or Studio One try:
Instead of Sibelius, Finale, MuseScore (and other notation apps), try:
Best apps for Chromebooks in the music classroomSo what are the best Chromebook apps for music teachers? Following is a list of great options in a range of categories. Creative interactive music websitesGreat options for creating quickly and easily.
Related: Free lesson plan – Teaching Beatboxing Basics with Incredibox Related: 50+ Lesson Ideas For The Chrome Music Lab Related: Website of the week: Isle of Tune Learning notes of the staffIf your Chromebooks can install Android apps, these options for learning notes of the staff are available in the Google Play store:
Related: 30+ Fun Ways To Teach The Notes of The Staff Using Technology Digital Audio WorkstationsCompose and arrange by recording audio and MIDI or by using existing loops.
Related: 22 Ways To Use GarageBand or Soundtrap in Music Education part 1 and part 2 SongwritingCompose chord progressions and melodies and analyse songs.
NotationCompose and arrange using notation.
Record and/or edit audioRecording and editing of audio files.
Practice helpers & toolsMake practice time more effective and check in on student progress.
Related: MTT21: Speed up student learning and assessment with Smartmusic Music Theory & Ear-TrainingTeach and reinforce theory and ear-training concepts.
VideoCreate tutorial videos, capture student learning and record performances.
Documents, spreadsheets & presentationsCreate presentations and teaching materials.
Listen to musicAccess your audio music library via a streaming service.
Digital portfolios and sharing of multimedia contentShare student work, set assignments, collaborate and create multimedia content.
Related: MTT33: Interactive music posters, word walls and brainstorming with Padlet AssessmentCreate quizzes, surveys, exit tickets. Gather students responses and have the software do the marking for you!
Related: MTT03: 4 Fun formative assessment tools for music educators
More useful Chromebook music education links
Want more help? Chromebook lesson plans and online coursesHello! I’m Katie Wardrobe – an Australian music technology trainer and consultant with a passion for helping music teachers through my business Midnight Music. I’m a qualified teacher but no, I don’t currently teach in a school. I help teachers through my online professional development space – the Midnight Music Community – where there are tutorial videos, courses, links and downloadable resources. I like to focus on easy ways to incorporate technology into what you are already doing in your music curriculum through a range of creative projects. I also run live workshops and have presented at countless conferences and other music education events. If you want simple, effective ideas for using technology in music education, I would LOVE to help you inside the Midnight Music Community. How do I take restrictions off my Chromebook school?Change settings for all sites. On your computer, open Chrome.. At the top right, click More. Settings.. Click Privacy and security. Site Settings.. Select the setting you want to update.. How do I listen to music offline on Chromebook?Watch offline
YouTube Music for Chromebook doesn't support offline playback. To listen to music offline, you need: The YouTube Music Android app. A YouTube Premium subscription.
Does Chromebook have a music app?With Chromebook, you can stream or play music that's available locally or from a streaming service. Select the Apps ⚪ menu in the bottom-left corner.
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