No matter what grade level you teach, finding music notation software you like is important because chances are, you'll be using it...a lot! In this blog post, I'm going to share the most commonly recommended programs that elementary music teachers use and love.
5 Music Notation Software Recommendations
Noteflight
This one is my personal favorite because it's web-based and easy for teachers and students to use. They have a free version with limited features but it's more than enough to get you started. If you do need more, Noteflight Premium can be purchased for $7.95/month, $49/year, or $299 for life!
Noteflight Learn is specifically designed with music education in mind and allows students to create, compose, edit, record, and collaborate on musical scores right from any device (including Chromebooks and iPads). It integrates with Google Classroom too so the teacher can assess. Their free 60-day trial will let you test the waters before purchasing.
Musescore
MuseScore is a free and open-source music notation app, making it an excellent option for elementary music teachers on a tight budget. As a teacher, it has everything you need to arrange music and unlike other software, there aren't limitations or a paid option.
If you want students to use Musescore, however, you may have to have your tech team involved to download the app onto their Chromebooks or iPads as many school districts don't allow unapproved downloads on student devices.
Finale
Finale is a professional-grade music notation software commonly used by composers, arrangers, and educators. While it offers a higher learning curve than some other options, Finale has an extensive range of features that can benefit music teachers who want more control and customization. With Finale, you can create intricate scores, orchestral arrangements, and complex compositions.
Sibelius
Similar to Finale, Sibelius is a professional-level music notation software known for its powerful capabilities. It has an intuitive interface, making it easy to input notes and create sheet music. Sibelius also offers additional tools for educators, like worksheet creation and music theory exercises. With its library of sounds, you can create realistic playback for compositions.
They have both free and paid access, depending on the features you need but there's also a free trial of Sibelius Ultimate.
Flat.io
Flat.io is a cloud-based music notation software designed to be user-friendly and accessible. It offers a range of collaborative features, allowing teachers and students to work together in real-time. Students can write a score from scratch or complete a teacher-created template, independently or in a group, and you can provide feedback or support remotely as needed! You can also make music theory worksheets and quizzes that are graded automatically!
The software integrates with Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams, Clever, Canvas, Moodle, Schoology, and other educational tools so that student data stays protected and using Flat is seamless.
Notate right in Google Docs
While the above music notation software is great for the intricate work we do in music education, sometimes, I just want to throw some music notation straight into a Google Doc without cropping images from internet searches.
That's why I was so excited to learn that Flat.io actually has a Google Workspace Add-on called Music Snippet that does just that! Click here to see it in action.
These are just a few of the most popular music notation software for music teachers but there are many more out there! Have a favorite that you didn't see on the list? Leave a comment below!
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