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Interactive Music Activities on the Computer for Elementary Students

Computer music activities are becoming more common in schools, with several aimed at elementary-aged students. While most computer games require you to purchase the software, the benefits of these games often outweigh the costs. These games have uses in classroom settings or for tutoring at home. Children often respond well to computer games of any sort, making these musical games ideal learning tools.

Sibelius Student


Sibelius Student is a complete course in basic music theory. It starts from the beginning with naming musical notes and includes handouts, quizzes, references, and tests. The students can follow along on their computers in class and move notes to see how changing the position of the note affects the pitch level. This course is fantastic for an advanced music class or to help prepare beginning students to learn about musical notation and theory.

Sibelius Instruments


Sibelius Instruments is an inexpensive program that teaches kids about the instruments of the orchestra. Music students can click on an instrument to hear how it sounds in different ranges and learn its history. There are quizzes and tests that allow the teacher to evaluate the students' ability to hear instrument timbres as well as identify techniques such as pizzicato and flutter-tonguing. Students learn to appreciate music on a deeper level when they know the individual instruments by ear.

DSO Kids


DSO Kids offers several online activities for use as a class or individually by students; these include history lessons in which the students listen to a narrative about a composer or historical period and then answer questions based on the lesson. Teachers can also allow students the opportunity to play the educational music games on the website as an award or activity for students that finish a classroom task early.

Interactive Classics


Interactive Classics create materials designed to aid teachers and parents in the teaching of basic musical concepts such as form, melody, phrasing and instrument identification. These games do not aim to make students into musicians; the goal is to provide students with the tools necessary to learn to appreciate and understand classical music in an intelligent manner. The games also come with handouts, quizzes and tests for teachers to use in connection with the computer activities.
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