Solfa Guide
Online Resources & Digital Tools
Websites
| ABRSM Classroom 200 | Classroom 200 is a free online resource for school teachers working with students up to the age of 14, worldwide. It is featured in the National Plan for Music Education. Featuring 200 recordings of inspiring music in a range of styles, plus accompanying lesson plans, Classroom 200 is all about bringing music to life in the classroom. From Berlioz to Bob Marley, Rutter to Rag’n’Bone Man, there’s so music to discover. Classroom 200 celebrates the diverse musical worlds of folk, classical, jazz, world, rock, pop, musicals, film and TV, and more! It’s about what links music together, not what sets it apart. |
| ABRSM Classical 100 | Access to recordings of a range of classical music pieces for listening, with information about the composers and the story behind each piece of music. It is free to create an account. |
| BBC Teach: Music | Access a range of classroom resources, videos, teacher guides and initiatives for music teaching in Primary school. Resources are split into ages 5-7 and 7-11. |
| BBC Teach: Ten Pieces | Selected pieces of orchestral music recorded alongside short animated films and orchestral performances to introduce children to classical music. Lesson plans and other resources are available to go with each piece. |
| Chrome Music Lab | A collection of fun, hands-on experiments that allow children to explore sound using music technology, reinforce music concepts and stimulate creativity. |
| Glasgow CREATE YMI Blog | Created by the Glasgow CREATE Youth Music Initiative team -access a range of musical activities to support music making in the Primary classroom and at home, including resources for school music groups including Choir, Ukulele and Samba. |
| Into Film | Provides resources, including lesson plans and presentations, for using film to engage children in learning across the curriculum. Many of the resources are linked to music through discussion and activities focused on film sound tracks. |
| NYCOS YoutubeChannel | The National Youth Choir of Scotland playlists ‘NYCoSDaily’ and ‘Sing & Smile (5-8)’ feature a series of songs, musical games and activities to develop musicianship skills and have fun. |
| The Boy and the Bunnet
www.theboyandthebunnet.com |
Cross-curricular resources to go with the Scottish story ‘The Boy and the Bunnet’. Introduces children to Scots language and musical instruments. |
| Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra
https://brittenpears.org/explore/benjamin-britten/music/young-persons-guide/ |
Based around Benjamin Britten’s composition The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, this website features a recorded and filmed performance of the piece, an interactive score, listening and composition games and information about all the instruments of the orchestra. |
| YouTube | Access videos for demonstrating examples of people playing instruments, groups of musicians (e.g. the orchestra) and music of different genres and cultures. |
Apps
Carnival of the Animals*
Naxos
An orchestral recording of Saint-Saens’ Carnival of the Animals including 14 movements, each representing a different animal. This app includes information about the composer, rhyming verses and colourful animated illustrations of the animals to go along with each track.
Suitable for: Early and First Level
Cost: £3.99
A Jazzy Day*
The Melody Book
An interactive story that introduces the jazz band and instruments. Featuring sounds from real acoustic instruments and games to identify instruments such as Bass, Drums, Guitar, Piano, Alto Saxophone etc.
Suitable for: First Level
Cost: £3.99
Beanie’s Musical Instruments*
Naxos
A simple introduction to musical instruments. Tap the curtains to reveal Beanie the bear playing a different instrument each time. Children hear what each instrument sounds like and what it is called.
Suitable for: Early and First Level
Cost: £1.49 (lite version available free)
Fun Folk*
Flo-Culture
An introduction to Scottish traditional music, song, stories and ceilidh dancing with interactive activities, animations and films. Includes material in both Gaelic and Scots languages.
Suitable for: Early and First Level
Cost: free
A Jazzy World*
The Melody Book
This animated and interactive world map provides an introduction to world culture/music, featuring USA, Brazil, Ireland, Spain, Egypt, Kenya, India, Russia, Japan and Australia. Includes quizzes for each country.
Suitable for: All Levels
Cost: £4.99 (lite version available free)
GarageBand
Apple
GarageBand can be used to record, create, edit and share music. Virtual or real instruments can be explored, recorded, edited and layered together to create an audio track.
Suitable for: All Levels
Cost: free
*These apps may not be approved for use on Glasgow City Council’s ‘Connected Learning’ iPads
