There’s an App for That! – Music Therapy Ed Course

This past summer we bought an iPad for my business.  I was so thrilled!!!   At the same time I was terrified!  Technology and I have not always had the best relationship but I knew how much my clients would benefit from using an iPad within sessions.   Because I had never used an iPad or iPhone before, I had no idea where to start.  Thanks to the awesome team at Music Therapy Ed and their 2 iPad courses, I have become much more comfortable using the iPad! Bonnie Hayhurst of The Groovy Garfoose has put together two amazing courses detailing over 150 apps, best practices of how to use the iPad appropriately in sessions, tips on keeping your iPad in tip top shape, and ideas on how to choose the best apps for your clients! Within the courses Bonnie has divided the apps by category.  So whether you are looking for an app to support sensory needs, expression, motor development/planning, instruments playing, or nearly anything else, Bonnie shows you that there is certainly an App For That!  Bonnie walks you through how Read More

Apps I Love – Dust Buster

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts (DoReMemory, Piano Monkey, and Apps I love For Teaching), sometimes my students need a little extra help comprehending and practicing what we are learning in lessons.  I use the iPad at the end of lessons both as a reward for doing good work and as an reinforcement of what we worked in the lesson. Dust Buster is an app both my students and myself love.  Unlike the other apps I have posted, Dust Buster feels a little more like a game, uses full songs, can be used with or without a keyboard, and can be played by students who are not yet reading the staff. When you view the home screen you have the choice of using either an on-screen touch piano or using a real piano/keyboard. You will then be guided to a screen where you can chose from the simple “Germ Attack” game or the more advanced “Staff Master” game. In “Germ Attack” mode, the notes fall from the top of the screen on to the key that needs to be played. Read More

My Favorite Apps – Piano Monkey

My students love new ways to use the iPad in our sessions. I like finding ways to keep them engaged while learning new things. That’s why I so many educational apps. One of the apps I have been using recently in Piano Monkey! Piano Monkey tests students’ knowledge of notes on both treble clef and bass clef, giving them three options to choose from. If you select the correct note, the note will be played and the monkey will smile, giving you the opportunity to move on to the next note. If you select the incorrect note, the option will be blacked out and you will be given a second chance to select the correct answer. The game only test you on 10 notes at a time.  At the end of the ten notes you are given a score and a the time which to took you to complete the ten notes. You also have the option to test on bass or treble clef.  If you touch the white “i”  in the lower right corner of the screen, you will Read More

My Favorite Apps – DoReMemory

I am always on the hunt for interactive, educational apps that will help my clients meet there goals. This simple, straight forward app focuses on learning notes on treble and bass clef as well as the difference between high and low. You can choose whether your student should work on bass clef or treble clef. The screen will prompt you with the note name. You then tap the correct placement on the note on the staff. If you select the correct placement, a green note will appear with a check mark in the upper right-hand corner. If you select incorrectly, a red not will appear in the correct placement with an “x” in the upper right-hand corner. The app will also ask to for high C, Middle C, and C so that the client has to know the difference between all three on both the keyboard and staff. Each round is only 12 notes long. At the end of the 12 notes the app will give you a score and ask if you want to keep practicing. If you have Read More