By: Mindy Scirri
If you are a lucky parent, you are musically inclined and have no difficulty finding ways to teach music to your children. For the rest of us, online resources can save the day. We have found some great online music lessons for kids that you may want to try. Read below to find not only a variety of free online music lessons for kids (including lesson plans for music history and music theory), but also ways to download music for free, learn an instrument, and play games with music
Stream or Download Music for Free
You and your children can learn about music simply by listening to a variety of genres. Here are some sites where you can stream and often download music:
Amazon Music
Stream or download many different genres of music, including soundtracks, educational music, and more. Free with ads.
Free Music Archive (FMA)
Stream or download any track in the FMA collection. “We welcome all creators around the world to search, find and use music from our websites in their projects.”
Jamendo
“Jamendo is a community of independent artists and fans boasting about half a million songs, all available to download for private use. In addition, it also has about 250,000 tracks available for multimedia projects.”
Live Music Archive
This is a collection of live recordings—not studio recordings—especially for those not-so-easy-to-find artists.
Musopen
“We provide recordings, sheet music, and textbooks to the public for free, without copyright restrictions. Put simply, our mission is to set music free.” This site has a lot of symphonic pieces, much of which is in the public domain and can be used without copyright issues.
NoiseTrade
Stream or download music by providing your email address and zip code for each artist.
Pandora
Free stations and music streaming.
ReverbNation
Find the music of new and upcoming artists here, as well as the music of some established artists. You can stream all the music and download some of it.
SoundCloud
“Save tracks, follow artists and build playlists. All for free.” SoundCloud has a large collection of music. You can stream or download some full songs, but sometimes you can only access a sample.
Spotify
Listen to thousands of sounds and artists for free.
Walt Disney Records
Stream music from top Disney movies and shows.
Music History
One of the standard ways to learn about music is by studying its inspiring and often exciting and controversial history. Here are some free online music lessons for kids to help develop their background knowledge about what they hear on the radio:
Edison Invents the Phonograph
Thomas Edison created many inventions, but his favorite was the phonograph. Learn all about this important invention. A free history lesson.
A Guide to Frederic Chopin’s Music (Musopen)
Find information about Chopin’s solo piano works, Cello Sonata, solo piano variations, piano sonatas, piano trio, solo songs, piano concertos, and more. Free history lessons.
Musical Automata: The Project on Recording Mechanical Music 1980-2018
From the collections of the Phonogrammarchiv of the Austrian Academy of Sciences come these charming instruments. You may have seen some like these in merry-go-rounds. A free history lesson.
Teach Rock
An online educational resource presented by Steven Van Zandt’s Rock and Roll Forever Foundation and offered free-of-charge to educators, students, and individuals everywhere. “Registering gives you free access to the 200 lesson plans at TeachRock, and we’ll keep you posted on new material and fun TeachRock events.”
Music Theory
Students of music need to learn about how musicians and composers make music, known as music theory. Here are some free music lessons for kids about music theory:
Berklee College of Music MOOCs
“Berklee Online is the online extension school of Berklee College of Music, delivering access to Berklee’s acclaimed curriculum from anywhere in the world…. Browse free online courses in a variety of subjects. Berklee College of Music courses… can be audited free or students can choose to receive a verified certificate for a small fee.” Self-paced courses include Introduction to Music Theory, Introduction to the Music Business, Vocal Recording Technology, and Music for Wellness. Some courses available in Spanish.
Berklee Online: Free Music Resources
A collection of free music lessons from Berklee Online, the award-winning online extension school of Berklee College of Music. Watch, read, download, and share this free and open resource for the world’s music community. Lessons include Collaborative Songwriting, Music Theory 101, Critical Listening 1, and more.
Understanding Basic Music Theory: Online Music Theory Course
A comprehensive insight into the fundamental notions of music theory: music notation, rules of harmony, ear training, etc. It covers most of the topics needed to understand and develop your musical skills – with your favorite training tool EarMaster of course. There are free and paid versions of the app for Macs and PCs.
Musicards: Online Music Theory Flashcards
“These music flashcards can be used by beginning music students who are becoming acquainted with key music rudiments, all the way up to intermediate and advanced students who wish to fill in gaps here and there or increase fluency with existing knowledge.”
Music Advisor: Music Notes
Learn about various music notes by reading and watching short videos. All free.
Name that Chord
Learn chords with these free fun lessons. There are 34 lessons, a practice section, and a one or two player game.
Music Lesson Plan Collections
Some online resources even contain whole collections of music lesson plans for kids that cover a range of topics related to music. Here are some lesson plan collections for you:
Classroom and Teaching Materials (Music Teachers.co.uk)
Find lesson materials here for students aged 4 plus, aged 14 plus, and aged 16 plus. There are also some general lessons on instrumental study.
Free Lesson Plans and Resources (Teachers Pay Teachers)
Check out these free downloads for lesson plans and other instructional resources related to music education.
Lesson Plan Ideas for K-5 General Music Classes (National Association for Music Education)
“Music not only has the power to stimulate the mind, enrich the heart and soothe the soul; it also helps you meet educational objectives and learning outcomes for your students. The following lesson plans are examples from other music educators of practical, effective, and fun activities for grades K-5 to help you teach the basics of music to your students!”
Lesson Zone™ Elementary Music Lesson Plans from MakingMusicFun.net
“Get lesson plans for the music classroom that are sure to send the fun into overdrive!” Find lesson plans about steady beat, pitch, musical form, music from diverse cultures, and many more topics.
Music Education Lesson Plans (teachnology)
Find lesson plans arranged by category (composition, drama/theater, songs, subject matter, and vocal) or by grade level (K-2, 3-5, middle school, and high school).
Music Lesson Plans and Activities (The Teacher’s Corner)
“The Teacher’s Corner provides music lessons around colors, literature, and more. Find resources to help your students hit the right note.”
Music Lesson Plans and Activities (sharemylesson)
Access music lesson plans divided into grade levels: preschool, elementary (K-2), elementary (3-5), middle school, and high school.
Popular Music Lesson Plans, K-5 (TeacherVision)
“Incorporate music into your curriculum, with these printables. You’ll find plenty of activities to keep your students interested and engaged while they sing songs, play instruments, and learn about musical genres. We have lessons that compare current music to music from the past, lessons that connect science and music, lessons about rhythm and pitch, and lessons incorporating music traditions from a variety of cultures.”
Learn an Instrument
Many traditional schools offer instrument lessons on-site, and you can always get pay for private lessons. What about online music lessons for homeschoolers who want to learn an instrument? Those resources exist, too! Here are several:
16 Resources for Learning an Instrument on Your Own (Joy Tunes)
“If you’re just starting off learning how to play music on your own, it’s not always so easy to find the right tools to help you figure out how to learn an instrument fast. While there are tons of resources out there, it can be hard to find the right ones for you.”
Beginning Band Course
This free course is intended for a Music Teacher, or anyone with a musical inclination, who is brave and selfless enough to lead Beginning Band. Other than instruments, there is nothing to buy – for you or your students. This free course is distributed as a .pdf. All necessary teaching and student material can be printed as you need it. Everything is included.
Danman’s Music Library and Music School Online
“If you’re a music student – use my library to take lessons. If you’re a music teacher – use my library for lesson plans and curriculum”. Dan Lefler, Danman’s Music School…. A Music Lessons Library for teachers, students and lovers of music with curriculum for the Guitar, Piano, Flute, Violin, Bass, Drums, Ukulele and more! Hundreds of method books, exercise books, and technique books. Large selection of classical literature and folk songs. Original scores too.” There are plenty of free materials, and you can subscribe for access to more resources.
FiddleQuest
“Songs, skills, and learning tools that help teachers develop students into versatile violinists.” Always free for teachers. Students choose FiddleQuest Free or FiddleQuest Complete. An interactive community of violin instructors, other students, and those with whom you wish to share your tunes.
Let’s Make Music! Classroom Recorder Course
“Music Teachers and Classroom Teachers and Parent Teachers and Student Teachers can all use this course effectively. Other than recorders, there is nothing to buy – for you or your students. All necessary teaching and student material can be printed as you need it. Everything is included. This sixty-five page course is free.”
Musopen Music Education
Find resources for learning to play the guitar, piano, flute, clarinet, oboe, saxophone, bassoon, and trumpet. The site also has student and teacher apps to track practice goals, practice time, etc.
Music and Learning
How does music work in the brain? And how are math and science related to music? Check out these resources to find out more:
The Magical Mathematics of Music
Such musical notions as octaves, chords, scales, and keys can all be demystified and understood logically using simple mathematics.
The Musical Brain
How come one person can carry a tune and another cannot? How come you like some music and not others? Find out about music’s relationship with the brain here.
The Science of Music
Explore the science of music with us, through these online exhibits, movies, and questions. Along the way, you can compose, mix, dance, drum, experiment, and above all—listen.
Music Games
Music can be fun all by itself, but music games are even better. Here are some sites where you can find games that can help your kids learn about music:
Agame.com: Music Games
Check out games like Music Simon, Perfect Piano, Music Rush, Karaoke Resort, and DJ Sonic Mixer. Many more.
Art and Music Games for Kids
“A great way to open children up to the possibilities of the arts. Art and music are essential in expanding the horizons of children beyond the everyday, and children that are exposed to art and music early on are known to do better and go farther in life than they would have without it. Introducing the arts in the form of games is a great way to start them out with a love for art and music.”
Crazy Games: Music Games
Find numerous music games here like Virtual Drum, Repeat the Melody, Princess Rock Band, Beat Dropper, and more.
Music Teachers.co.uk: Fun Stuff
Try to stop notedrops from falling on your head or keep the one-armed rhythm bandit at bay. Discover some music games here from our friends across the pond.
PBS Kids: Music Games
Find fun games for music education here, including Music Maker, Music Shop, Spin & Sing, Sandbox Symphony, and more.
Free Music Games
83 Free music games for you to use.
Other Homeschool Music Education Resources
Be sure to check local homeschool support groups and co-ops for homeschool music education programs.
*below items are not free*
HomeSchool Music Association
“HSMA exists to make an excellent music education in ensemble performance available to homeschooled students and to give desiring students the best possible foundation for the furtherance of their music education beyond the high school level.” Join bands, orchestras, choruses, and other homeschool music groups through this Christianity-based network. Find out about performances or add yours to the list.
Music Teachers National Association: Websites for Kids
“While the myriad links and searches produce hundreds and hundreds of results, the following sites represent a researched sampling of the musical, youth-oriented websites on the Internet today. Many sites offer areas for teachers and parents. In addition, we have listed some good search sites.”
FAQs
How can I learn music at home for free? ›
- Find an online music teacher for the instrument you're interested in. ...
- Watch instructional videos and play along. ...
- Take a free online course or complete tutorials on topics that interest you. ...
- Download a learning app and practice at home. ...
- Read up on theory and then teach yourself!
- Keep it short and sweet. Children are notorious for having short attention spans. ...
- Rely on themes. ...
- Use music your students enjoy. ...
- Encourage interaction. ...
- Introduce friendly competition. ...
- Always stay positive.
4-7 Years Old
The ages 4-7 are usually the most ideal for starting to learn an instrument. Not only are kids' hands and minds functional enough to play, but they can actually begin to understand the basics of music.
- Start group music lessons. When he is about 18 months old, find a group music program for your child.
- Get into the rhythm. ...
- Dance to the music. ...
- Draw what you hear. ...
- Read music books. ...
- Start private music lessons between the ages of five and seven. ...
- Find an ADHD-friendly instrument. ...
- March in the morning.
- Actively Listen to Music. I'm sure you've heard this over and over again from teachers, online, at workshops, etc., but it's probably the most important thing you can do when learning how to play an instrument. ...
- Visualize. ...
- Sing. ...
- Meditate. ...
- Exercise.
Our brains process music hundreds of times faster than it can ever be explained by words and symbols. So it takes a long time to explain. There's always overlap, more than one way to do or describe something. There's no right or wrong in music, just what your audience expects, by contrast, music theory appears rigid.
What is the easiest instrument for a child to learn? ›- Flute. The flute is an exciting aerophone or woodwind instrument that produces sound as air flows across the shaft and through the openings. ...
- Drums. ...
- Piano. ...
- Xylophone.
Generally speaking, the piano and drums are the best instruments for younger kids to start learning first. These instruments don't have to be held and can teach young musicians basic skills like chords, musicality, and rhythm.
Which instrument should I learn first? ›The instruments that we typically notice the quickest progress on are drums and piano (since you eliminate the factor of having to support/hold them) followed by guitar, bass and ukulele. For band and orchestra instruments, it can take significant time to learn basics.
How do I know if my child is musically inclined? ›- You Catch Them Humming/Singing Tunes Constantly. ...
- They Spend Long Periods of Time On An Instrument.
- They Notice When A Song or Instrument Is Out Of Tune. ...
- They Seem To Have An Understanding of Rhythm, Tunes, and Songs. ...
- Often Listen To or Talk About Music. ...
- Conclusion.
What is the easiest musical instrument to learn to play? ›
UKULELE. No list of the best musical instruments for beginners would be complete without the ukulele. It's seen a big rise in popularity over the last few years because it's even simpler to learn than the guitar.
Should my child learn piano or violin? ›It should be understood early on, that should a child learn any instrument, it will vastly enrich their life. However, when the goal is to nurture a musicality within a child and allow them the easiest point of entry into understanding the fundamentals of music theory then the piano is preferable over the violin.
What music helps with ADHD? ›Music genres like classical, 8D, or binaural beats are options to consider, as research suggests they might help manage these types of ADHD symptoms.
Are people with ADHD good at music? ›There is some evidence to suggest that students with ADHD can excel at music, as they can possess the ability to totally focus on something (like a piece of music) if it really interests them.
What is the best instrument for an autistic child? ›- Ukulele. Strumming strings on this instrument helps develop motor control, and it has four strings compared to a full-sized guitar with six strings. ...
- Recorder. ...
- Xylophone/glockenspiel. ...
- Trumpet. ...
- Bongos.
If you have the urge to make music but never had lessons as a kid — or quit before you got any good — don't despair. Sure, most professional musicians started when they were young. But neuroscientists and music teachers alike say it's never too late.
Is it possible to learn music online? ›Online courses are one of the best ways to learn about music. Courses can come to you in a variety of ways, from being primarily text-heavy, to including illustrations and diagrams, to having step-by-step tutorials, or even a semester-long course taught by a university institution.
How long does it take to learn music? ›To understand and apply music theory, it takes around 6-12 months to learn basic rudiments, and then approximately 3-4 years after that to learn intermediate and advanced concepts. Enrolling in a music school, taking an online course, or investing in private lessons will help speed up the process.
How do you practice music effectively? ›- Create atmosphere. Get the right set-up for you. ...
- Warm up. Like a physical workout, a warm-up is essential. ...
- Have a goal. ...
- Be realistic. ...
- Identify and overcome the problems. ...
- Being a musician is so much more than just playing the notes. ...
- Write on your music. ...
- Record yourself.
- Private Lessons. In private lessons, a student gets one-on-one training and lessons from their instructor. ...
- Semi-Private Lessons. Semi-private lessons offer the same attention from an instructor but with a few friends added! ...
- Rock Band. ...
- Retreats & Camps. ...
- Self Study. ...
- Jam Sessions.
Which instrument is good for brain? ›
Learning the piano from a young age has an impressive effect on the brain development; amazingly, it has the effect of making a person's brain more symmetrical.
Which instrument is hardest? ›- FRENCH HORN. French Horn is a brass instrument, and you'll need to have a proper amount of air so you can play it properly. ...
- VIOLIN. Violin belongs to a string family and what makes the violin hard to play is that the finger placement is very tricky.
- ACCORDION. ...
- DRUMS. ...
- OBOE.
Children Age 7-10: 30 minutes, 3 times per week.
If you don't schedule specific times to practice it will simply not happen. At this age, scheduling a specific time to practice piano daily is crucial. Depending on how busy your child's life is: schedule three 30 minute practice sessions per week at a minimum.
Piano – the best suited instrument for the female body.
What is the top 10 easiest instrument to play? ›- Ukulele. The ukulele is the ultimate instrument for kids and beginners of all ages. ...
- Recorder. Hundreds of years ago, the recorder was so popular that leading composers would write concertos for it. ...
- Electronic keyboard. ...
- Piano. ...
- Guitar. ...
- Drums. ...
- Bass guitar. ...
- Xylophone.
Overall, the guitar is easier to learn than the piano. If you consider the layout, learning songs, the ability to self-teach and a few other things, it is an easier instrument. However, it's the easiest on average for everyone. This means for people of all ages.
What instrument is most in demand? ›- Electric Bass. Many people assume that playing bass is easy if you already know how to play guitar, but playing bass well is easier said than done. ...
- Drums. ...
- Keyboards. ...
- Oboe. ...
- Bassoon. ...
- Violin. ...
- Viola. ...
- Double Bass.
Researchers generally agree that both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the broader realization of music ability, with the degree of music aptitude varying, not only from individual to individual, but across various components of music ability within the same individual.
Are musicians born or made? ›Recent research in the field of music cognition has found that we are all born with some level of music aptitude, suggesting that anyone can become a musician, but some are born with a better potential.
What are the characteristics of gifted children? ›- Ability to comprehend material several grade levels above their age peers.
- Surprising emotional depth and sensitivity at a young age.
- Strong sense of curiosity.
- Enthusiastic about unique interests and topics.
- Quirky or mature sense of humor.
What is the quickest instrument to learn? ›
1. Piano or Keyboard. The piano is arguably the easiest musical instrument for kids to learn and there's a ton of easy songs to learn. It's a great way to introduce children to music, mostly thanks to the simple, logical layout of the keys.
Is it easier to play bass or guitar? ›In Conclusion. So to conclude, as a beginner it is almost universally accepted that the bass is easier than guitar. You will be able to play famous songs much quicker and mistakes should come about less often.
Is keyboard same as piano? ›The main differences between a piano and a keyboard are:
A 'piano' is an acoustic instrument with weighted keys whereas a 'keyboard' is an electric instrument (requiring a power source) with unweighted (lighter) keys than a piano. Each instrument has its own unique benefits and features.
An instrument's level of difficulty to learn is a significant consideration when choosing a musical instrument. The violin is harder to learn than the piano as the player must learn to play in tune with a pleasant sound. With the keyboard, pitch, and fundamental aspects of sound quality, are built-in.
What is the best age to learn piano? ›The best age to start piano lessons is typically between the ages of 6 and 9-years-old. While older students may have an easier time learning to play, students as young as 6-years-old can also learn since the keys of the piano are easy to operate.
What instrument is good for 5 year old? ›Hand Percussion
Think shakers, hand drums, bells, rattles, etc. These instruments are ideal; young ones can easily pick up these with their hands and start making music instantly. Benefits to children include coordination and learning how to keep rhythm.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders affecting children.
Is ADHD a disability? ›Yes. Whether you view attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as neurological — affecting how the brain concentrates or thinks — or consider ADHD as a disability that impacts working, there is no question that the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) covers individuals with ADHD.
Why does white noise help ADHD? ›Conclusions: The positive effect of white noise is explained by the phenomenon of stochastic resonance (SR), i.e., the phenomenon that moderate noise facilitates cognitive performance. The MBA model suggests that noise in the environment, introduces internal noise into the neural system through the perceptual system.
What is brown noise ADHD? ›“What the brown noise is supposed to be doing is subtly raising that arousal, thus making people with ADHD more alert and more focused,” he says. There's also some science that suggests brown noise could help anyone—not just people with ADHD—stay focused.
What is ADHD Stimming? ›
Self-stimulatory behavior, often called “stimming,” is when a child or adult repeats specific movements or sounds as a way to self-soothe or remain engaged in a situation, often referred to as “fidget to focus.” Many people assume that only individuals with autism engage in self-stimulatory behaviors.
Why do people with ADHD love music so much? ›Research shows that pleasurable music increases dopamine levels in the brain. This neurotransmitter — responsible for regulating attention, working memory, and motivation — is in low supply in ADHD brains.
Can autistic kids play music? ›In conclusion, music is a wonderful tool that can positively affect your autistic child's communication, socialization, emotional, and cognitive abilities. You can encourage your autistic to listen to music, join a dance class, or start playing a musical instrument to enjoy the benefits of music.
Is piano good for ADHD? ›How can Piano Lessons Help? Individuals with ADHD are hyperactive, so playing the piano or making music together in either an unstructured or a structured manner with a trained music therapist can provide these individuals with obligatory time to release their creative energy in a very positive way.
Can playing an instrument help autism? ›Playing musical instruments stimulates the autistic brain to make new connections and strengthens existing ones; this can result in improved mental health and increased cognitive ability for people with autism engaging in musical play activities.
Is it possible to learn music online? ›Online courses are one of the best ways to learn about music. Courses can come to you in a variety of ways, from being primarily text-heavy, to including illustrations and diagrams, to having step-by-step tutorials, or even a semester-long course taught by a university institution.
How can I study music online? ›- Soundfly. ...
- edX Berklee. ...
- Learning Music (Beta) - Ableton. ...
- LessonFace. ...
- Busy Works Beats. ...
- MusEDLab @ NYU.
Whether it is Mozart you want to play or Bollywood numbers, we have a course that is just right for you. Our Western Classical Piano and Electronic Keyboard courses will help you learn lessons step by step, learn to master techniques and then go on to play classical or contemporary pieces.
How can I compose a song? ›- Compose a catchy melody. ...
- Use all types of chords. ...
- Create a memorable rhythm. ...
- Build your song around a riff. ...
- Write a song you can play live. ...
- Step away from your instrument to write. ...
- Get ambitious with song structure.
Practice playing notes, chords, and scales on your instrument. After you've mastered the concepts of notes, chords, and scales, learning how to produce these sounds with your instrument is the first step to learning how to play music. Start by practicing notes first, then move on to scales, and finally to chords.
How long does it take to learn music? ›
To understand and apply music theory, it takes around 6-12 months to learn basic rudiments, and then approximately 3-4 years after that to learn intermediate and advanced concepts. Enrolling in a music school, taking an online course, or investing in private lessons will help speed up the process.
Is violin harder to learn than guitar? ›The consensus is that guitar is an easier instrument to learn than violin, and that it takes more practice time to get to a performance-worthy level for the violin than the guitar. Violin is more difficult because of its lack of frets and its complexity in playing techniques.
What are the best online music courses? ›- Timbaland Teaches Producing and Beatmaking. ...
- Deadmau5 Teaches Electronic Music Production. ...
- Coursera Electronic Music Production Specialization (via Berklee College) ...
- Coursera Music Production Specialization (via Berklee College) ...
- Udemy Music & Audio Production in Logic Pro X.
- Piano Courses.
- Guitar Courses.
- Music Theory Courses.
- Digital Music Courses.
- Music Production Courses.
- Audio Engineering Courses.
- Songwriting Courses.
- Ableton Courses.
The top number tells you how many beats are in a measure, the space between each vertical line (called a bar). The bottom number tells you the note value (the length) of each beat. In the example above, the time signature is 4/4, meaning there are four beats per bar and that every quarter note gets one beat.
What are the 7 classifications of musical instruments? ›- Bowed Strings.
- Woodwind.
- Brass Instruments.
- Percussion instruments.
- Keyboard instruments.
- Guitar family.
Learning a musical instrument not only sustains and feeds the brain, but it also improves so many other cognitive and physical aspects of the human body. It's been widely studied and proven that learning a musical instrument improves memory; it not only improves your cognitive memory but also muscle memory as well.
Can anybody write a song? ›Writing a song is simply a matter of arranging thoughts, phrases and words in a particular order so , yes, anybody can write a song, but whether that song resonates with other people depends on things like charisma, insight, intelligence, delivery, attitude, inclusivity, empathy, musical knowledge, language skills etc.
Can I make music on my phone? ›Music Maker Jam is one of most popular applications for making music on Android. This one lets you create your own tracks using various loops and beats. It features more than 100 music styles (hip hop, dub-step, rock, funk, trap, drum & bass, techno, etc.)