Recommended List of Music Software
for Music Teaching and Learning

Compiled by Peter Webster and David Williams
(Copyright © 2000-2009 by P.R. Webster & D.B. Williams)

We know that each of the titles below has been used in educational settings and each is well regarded by the musicians that use them. Other titles not included here may also be effective for music teaching and learning but simply have not been evaluated by us. Please send us your recommendations. We have no financial relationship with any of the companies or vendors mentioned here. Check for current pricing, educational lab packs, and more details.

Possible Sources for Purchase. McCormick's (www.mccormicksnet.com), MusicBarn.com (formerly AABACA) (www.musicbarn.com), Lentine's (www.lentine.com), Academic Superstore (www.academicsuperstore.com), Kelly's Music and Computers (www.kellysmusicandcomputers.com), Musicians Friend (http://www.musiciansfriend.com), and Amazon (www.amazon.com).

How to Use This Listing. We have created several categories of software dependent on use. These categories conform to the organization of sections from our text, Experiencing Music Technology. Many of the the titles here are presented in described or highlighted in the text. The title in bold is followed by the publisher with a website link to determine the latest versions and detailed information. Prices are highly variable so shop around! Online price might not be the lowest.

"D" means that the software may be downloaded from the publisher's site. If there is a fee for the software, online cost might not be the lowest compared to other vendor prices.

The last column indicates the computer operating system as of the latest version we have checked.

A short description is included.

Please contact us if we have incorrect information or if we should consider adding other titles to this list.
Click on the following to go right to the categories of interest to you.

DIGITAL AUDIO MANAGEMENT AND EDITING
MULTITRACK: DIGITAL AUDIO (primarily)
MULTITRACK: LOOPING
MIDI/DIGITAL AUDIO SEQUENCING
VIRTUAL SYNTHS, SAMPLERS, AND INSTRUMENTS
NOTATION and MUSIC SCANNING
COMPUTER-AIDED INSTRUCTION: Drill and Practice
COMPUTER-AIDED INSTRUCTION: Flexible Practice
COMPUTER-AIDED INSTRUCTION: Guided Instruction
COMPUTER-AIDED INSTRUCTION: Game-Based and Creative
COMPUTER-AIDED INSTRUCTION: Teacher Resource

DIGITAL AUDIO MANAGEMENT AND EDITING

iTunes Apple Computer Free D MacX/Win
Manages digital audio and video files on computer and supports external devices such as the iPod series. Creates iMixes, playlists, podcasts, and audio CD burning. Links to iTunes Store.

Audacity SourceForge Free D MacX/Win
Digital file editor with a selection of special effects. Allows layering separate tracks of audio. Saves files in standard formats (mp3 requires added free resource). Open source software.


Peak LE 6, Peak Pro 6 BIAS $99-495 D MacX
Series of digital audio editors. Supports plug-ins. CD burning. Several effects and file saving options, depending on level of software package.


Sound Forge Audio Studio, Sound Forge 9 Sony Media $59-$195 Win
Series of digital audio editors. Supports plug-ins. CD burning. Several effects and file saving options, depending on level of software package.


Roxio Creator 2009 (Win), Toast 10 (Mac) Roxio $79 D
Create, master, and burn CD and DVD formats.


 

MULTITRACK: DIGITAL AUDIO (Primarily)

Audition 3 Adobe $149 D Win
Records multiple tracks of digital audio. Advanced mastering and editing features including creation of audio CDs. Supports many plugins and surround sound. MIDI files can be integrated.

Pro Tools|HD • Pro Tools LE • Pro Tools M-Powered M-Audio and AVID/Digidesign $300 and up D ( often bundled with hardware purchase from M-Audio or Digidesign) MacX/Win
Industry standard multiple track digital audio software. ProTools is most often paired with hardware purchases. Software supports the integration of MIDI files. Many options for routing of digital audio recording and supports many plugin options.


 

MULTITRACK: LOOPING

ACID MusicStudio 7, ACID Music Studio 7, ACID Pro 7 Sony Media $55/$300 D Win
Software that starting much of the interest in looping software. Family of looping software products with various capabilities. For some products, loops may need to purchased separately.

GarageBand Apple Computer Free/$71 D MacX
Software comes as part of the iLife series with Macintosh computer purchase. Can be bought separately. Several extra loops and other resoureces can be purchased in the form of Jam Packs from Apple. Supports digital audio tracks with software instrument sounds and MIDI tracks, as well as looping capabilities with many built-in loops. Notation possible. Compositions can be saved in several formats and can be imported to iTunes. Useful for creating podcasts. (MIDI keyboard recommended)

Sequel 2 Steinberg $70 Win
Music looping and special effects included. Additional loops and other resources sold separately.

Abelton Live LE, Live, Suite, Abelton $140-699 D MacX/Win
Pattern-based composition and performance software based on MIDI and digital audio loops. (MIDI keyboard recommended)


 

MIDI/DIGITAL AUDIO SEQUENCING

SONAR Home Studio 7, XL, SONAR 8 Studio Cakewalk $79-$399 Win
MIDI and digital audio sequencers with loop-based composition tools. Versions have different levels of support for loops, plug-ins, and special effects. Includes a General MIDI soft synth. (MIDI keyboard recommended)

Logic Express 9/ Logic Pro 9 Apple Computer $149-$399 MacX
Professional-level sequencer in two versions. A number of loops, plug-ins and special effects are included. Reads Apple GarageBand compositions and loops. (MIDI keyboard recommended)

Cubase Essential 4, Cubase Studio 5, Cubase 5 Steinberg $74-299 MacX/Win
Professional-level sequencer in multiple versions. A number of plugins are included. One of the only cross-platform MIDI/Digital Audio Sequencing programs available. (MIDI keyboard recommended)

PowerTracks Pro Audio PG Music $39 D Win
Inexpensive sequencer that does digital audio and sequencing. (MIDI keyboard recommended)

Digital Performer 6 Mark of the Unicorn $329 MacX
Professional-level sequencer with digital audio. Many advanced features and, for many, an industry standard. (MIDI keyboard recommended)



VIRTUAL SYNTHS, SAMPLERS, AND INSTRUMENTS

Reason 4 Propellerhead $239 MacX/Win
Virtual recording studio with simulated transport controls, mixers, samplers, sequencers,granular-analog-digital-modeling synthesizers available as virtual devices for creating and managing music creation and recording. Teaching with Reason is a more limited version with multiple installs (10) and includes lesson plans for teaching electronic music design.

Garritan Personal Orchestra 4 Garritan $149 D MacX/Win
Set of virtual orchestral instruments. Support as a plugin resource for standard sequencers and notation programs. New downloadable version.


 

NOTATION and MUSIC SCANNING

 

Noteflight. Noteflight Free (for indivdiual use, fee-based for use with classes). MacX/Win
Online music notation program with flexible sharing features for use on the Internet.

NotePad, Print Music, Allegro, Finale 2010 MakeMusic $10-$219 D MacX/Win
Music notation programs that combines powerful printing with sequencing in real-time. Printing is very elaborate, allowing user much freedom in placing graphics. Includes many digital sounds from the Garritan sound library. Import (recording) and export of digital audio supported. Offers an expandability capability with plug-ins. Supports the creation of teaching materials. Files can be saved to be used in SmartMusic. NotePad, PrintMusic! and Allegro are less expensive and less capable versions. Scanning capabilities included (SmartScore Lite). Finale Viewer (free) provides a way to view and play Finale files. (MIDI keyboard recommended)

SmartScore X (several versions) Musitek $79-$299 D MacX/Win
Scanning software that works with Finale. Supports MusicXML for working with Sibelius and other notation programs. Various levels of capability.

Sibelius First, Student, Sibelius 6 Sibelius $82-$219 D MacX/Win
Strong competitor to Finale as a notation package that is designed to offer high-end features. Kontact and Garritan instrument sounds. Expandable with plugins. Excellent supports the creation of teaching materials. SCORCH plug-in support for playing and viewing Sibelius files on the Internet. Playback tempo control from QWERTY or MIDI keyboard. Support for linking notation files to other music software with ReWire technology. Scanning options (Photoscore Lite). Sibelius First and Student are less expensive and less capable versions. (MIDI keyboard recommended)

Photoscore Ultimate 6 and AudioScore Ultimate 6 Neuratron $249-369 D MacX/Win
Scanning software that works directly with Sibelius and supports MusicXML for working with Finale and other music notation programs. AudioScore scans audio files and returns notation.

NoteAbility Pro 2 Opus 1 Music $225 (Canadian) D MacX
Alternative notation program with features that match Finale and Sibelius.

Protege, Notion 3 Notion $69-$499 D MacX/Win
Advanced notation program with excellent sound support.


 

COMPUTER-AIDED INSTRUCTION: Drill and Practice

Ricci Adams' MusicTheory.net musictheroy,net Free MacX/Win
Online tutor for music theory. Also available as a complete archive to download and use off line. Several options for traditional theory lessons as well as aural skills trainers.

Auralia 2 (Mac) 3.5 (Win) Sibelius $95-$119 D
Basic aural skills with a nice interface and sound effects. Best for junior to senior high.

Musition 3.5 Sibelius $99 Win
Compliments Auralia with more drill and practice exercises.

Essentials of Music Theory 2.0 (Volumes 1-3) Alfred Publishing $38 MacX/Win
Interactive series of lessons and exercises for music theory.

COMPUTER-AIDED INSTRUCTION: Flexible Practice

MacGAMUT 6 MacGAMUT $40 D MacX/Win
Comprehensive aural skills program that covers intervals, scales, chords, and melodic dictation. Recommended for college-level. (MIDI keyboard recommended.)

MiBAC Music Lessons I and II MiBAC Software $93-$123 D MacX/Win
Interactive tutorial and drill programs for music theory and ear training fundamentals (Lessons I) and chords and harmony skills (Lessons II)
(MIDI keyboard recommended.)

Practica Musica 5 ArsNova $100 D MacX/Win
Many drills and multi-levels. Excellent system for customizing dictation melodies. Alternative tuning systems for computer sound offered. Good for junior high through college. Newest edition features Internet server options and file export. (MIDI keyboard recommended.)


TimeSketch Editor, TimeSketch Editor Pro
ECS $90-$400 D MacX/Win
Allows students and teachers to create bubble charts that show form of a composition. Charts can be labeled and act as hot spots for playback. Editor Pro allows Internet use.

 

COMPUTER-AIDED INSTRUCTION: Guided Instruction

MIDISaurus Series Town4Kids Yearly subscription. D MacX/Win
Several volumes (12) of interactive CDs that each the fundaments of music to children ages4-10. Guided instruction is used to help children solve simple tasks. The "Composers","Notation", "Instruments", and "Rhythm" (Volumes 9-12) are recommended.


MusicAce I, II, Maestro Harmonic Vision $35-$89 Hybrid
Guided instruction software for music fundamentals. Designed in units that progress from simple to complex. Has a "Doodle Pad" for experimenting with composing. Maestro version combines both I and II. Multiple user versions available.


COMPUTER-AIDED INSTRUCTION: Game-Based and Creative


Thinkin' Things I and II Riverdeep/Edmark $69 D MacX/Win
Levels I and II each contain music modules that are entertaining for children, ages 4-10.Drills pitch, rhythm and the ability to remember patterns. Basic-level sequencing skills. Additional creative tasks as well.


Groovy Music: Groovy Shapes, Jungle, and City Sibelius $69 each D Mac/Win
Combination of music training exercises and music loop sequencer design with visual metaphor for young children. Groovy Shapes (5-7 years), Jungle ( 7-9 years), and City (9-11years).


Jam Trax Sony Media $20 Win
Looping software program for young children in the heritage of the ACID software series. Software includes several loops.


Subotnick's Making Music, Making More, Hearing Music, Playing Music, World Music (Beginner), and World Music (Advanced) Creatingmusic.com $39 each D MacX/Win
Making Music and Making More Music are free-form drawing program that allows children to create polyphonic musical gestures and manipulate them freely. Stores compositions. Hearing Music is a set of pattern-based games and Playing Music stresses experimentation with playing music. World Music explores sounds from world music cultures and explores their use in composition. Each title contains a variety of activities.


SmartMusic 2010 MakeMusic $30-$130 Yearly subscription. D MacX/Win
Intelligent accompaniment for vocalists and instrumentalists. Thousands of titles available. Music includes solo and ensemble literatures. Scores can be created using Finale 2010. The version for teachers include gradebook management via the Internet. Student and teacher versions include powerful assessment tools for student practice.


Singing Coach Unlimited Carry-a-Tune Technologies $50 Win
Pitch tracking software that helps teach accurate singing using interactive graphic representation. Software also includes tutorials about singing.

Band-in-a-Box 2009.5 PG Music $129-699 D MacX/Win
Music accompaniment program for improvisation. Computer creates an ensemble of instruments that accompanies improvisation. Many music styles are available and user can generate custom styles. Cost depends on the breath of resources desired. Band-in-a-Box is the flagship program from PGMusic, but the company also markets a collection of resources that feature different music styles such as latin or jazz piano, jazz guitar and other offerings. (MIDI keyboard recommended)


COMPUTER-AIDED INSTRUCTION: Teacher Resource

Starclass Sibelius $159 D MacX/Win
Collection of lesson plans tied to national standards. Additional resources for teachers.


Sibelius Instruments Sibelius $119 D MacX/Win
Interactive CD that features information on and digital audio for instruments and ensembles. Also includes a 500-item quiz database on content.