Recommended List of Music Software
for Music Teaching and Learning

Compiled by Peter Webster and David Williams
(Copyright © 2000-2008 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), SoundTree (www.soundtree.com), and Kelly's Music and Computers (www.kellysmusicandcomputers.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
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 5, Peak Pro 5 BIAS $129-599 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 9, Sound Forge 9 Sony Media $59-$299 Win
Series of digital audio editors. Supports plug-ins. CD burning. Several effects and file saving options, depending on level of software package.


Creator Suite 10 (Win), Toast 8 (Mac) Roxio $79
Create, master, and burn CD and DVD formats.


 

MULTITRACK: DIGITAL AUDIO

Deck LE 3.5, Deck 3.5 BIAS $300 (Deck LE comes as a 5-pack) D MacX
Records multiple tracks of digital audio. Also offers editing, processing, and mastering capabilities.

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

ProTools 7 M-Audio or Digidesign $300 (Often bundled with hardware purchase) 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

GarageBand Apple Computer Free/$59 MacX
Software comes as part of the iLife series with Macintosh computer purchase. Can be bought separately, together with several extra loops. 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)

ACID American Idol, ACID Music Studio, ACID Pro 6 Sony Media $49/$375 Win
Music Studio 6, or ACID Pro 6 Family of looping software products with various capabilities. For some products, loops may need to purchased separately.

Live 7 Abelton $199 D MacX/Win Hybrid
Pattern-based composition and performance software based on MIDI and digital audio loops. (MIDI keyboard recommended)


 

MIDI/DIGITAL AUDIO SEQUENCING

SONAR Home Studio Version 4 XL, SONAR Producer 6 Cakewalk $149-$490 Win
MIDI and digital audio sequencers with loop-based composition tools. Has some MIDI and digital audio effects processing and plugins. Includes a General MIDI soft synth. (MIDI keyboard recommended)

Logic Express/ Logic Pro Apple Computer $149-$399 MacX
Professional-level sequencer in two versions. A number of plugins are included. (MIDI keyboard recommended)

Cubase SE3, Cubase Studio 4, Cubase 4 Steinberg/Yamaha $149-800 Hybrid
Cubase 4 Professional-level sequencer in multiple versions. A number of plugins are included. (MIDI keyboard
recommended)

PowerTracks Pro Audio PG Music $49 D Win
Inexpensive sequencer that does digital audio and sequencing. (MIDI keyboard recommended)


Tracktion 2 Mackie $80 D MacX/Win
Cross-platform, full-featured sequencer with simple one-window design for accessing all features from mixer, tracks, plug-ins, audio editing. (MIDI keyboard recommended)

Digital Performer 5 Mark of the Unicorn $400 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 Propellerhead $400 Hybrid
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 Garritan $189 Hybrid
Set of virtual orchestral instruments. Support as a plugin resource for standard sequencers and notation programs.


 

NOTATION and MUSIC SCANNING

NotePad, Allegro, Print Music, Finale 2008 MakeMusic Free-$249 Hybrid
Music notation programs that combines powerful printing with sequencing in real-time. Printing is very elaborate, allowing user much freedom in placing graphics. Newest version of Finale includes many digital sounds from the Garritan sound library. Offers an expandability capability with plug-ins. Supports the creation of teaching materials. Files can be saved to be used in SmartMusic. PrintMusic! and Allegro are less expensive and less capable versions. Scanning capabilities included (SmartScore Lite). NotePad (free) provides limited capability. (MIDI keyboard recommended)

SmartScore 5 (several versions) Musitek $99-$300 Hybrid
Scanning software that works for both Finale and Sibelius. Supports MusicXML. Various levels of capability.

Sibelius Student Edition, Sibelius 5 Sibelius $79-$249 Hybrid
Strong competitor to Finale as a notation package that is designed to offer high-end features. Kontact and Garritan instrument sounds. Expandable with plugins. Latest version includes space for saving composition ideas. Excellent Supports the creation of teaching materials. SCORCH plug-in for playing and viewing Sibelius files on the Web. Includes some digital sounds. Strong scanning options (Photoscore Lite). Sibelius Student Edition is limited to 8 staves. (MIDI keyboard recommended)

Photoscore Ultimate 5 Neuratron $49-$249 D Hybrid
Scanning software that works for both Finale and Sibelius. Supports Music XML.

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

Protege, Notion Notion Music $69-$499 Hybrid
Advanced notation program with excellent sound support.


 

COMPUTER-AIDED INSTRUCTION: Drill and Practice

Auralia 2 (Mac) 3 (Win) Sibelius $95-$119
Basic aural skills with a nice interface and sound effects. Best for junior to senior high.

Musition 2 Sibelius $99 Win
Compliments Auralia with more drill and practice exercises.

Essentials of Music Theory (Volumes 1-3) Alfred Publishing $49 Win
Interactive series of lessons and exercises for music theory.

COMPUTER-AIDED INSTRUCTION: Flexible Practice

MacGAMUT 2003 MacGAMUT $35 Hybrid
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 Hybrid
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 Hybrid
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 $39-$130 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. Sold as single volumes or sets of four.


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 $30 Hybrid
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 $57 each Hybrid
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).


Super Duper Music Looper 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, and Playing Music Creatingmusic.com $35 each Hybrid
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 music
performance.


SmartMusic MakeMusic $20-$90 D
Intelligent accompaniment for vocalists and instrumentalists. Over 5,000 titles available. Scores can be created using Finale 2008. Newest version has advanced assessment and online management capabilities. Subscription basis: $90 single; $20 after 3 student subscriptions.


Singing Coach Unlimited Carry-a-Tune Technologies $90 Win
Pitch tracking software that helps teach accurate singing using interactive graphic representation. Software also includes tutorials about singing.

Band-in-a-Box 2008 (Win), Band-in-a-Box 12 (Mac) PG Music $50 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. Band-in-a-Box is the flagship program from PGMusic, but the company also markets a
collection of interactive CDs 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 $139 Hybrid
Collection of lesson plans tied to national standards. Additional resources for teachers.


Sibelius Instruments Sibelius $100 Hybrid
Interactive CD that features information on and digital audio for instruments and ensembles .Also includes a 500-item quiz database on content.