For years, I’ve been collecting videos from all over the internet for my student’s music lab time.
This has resulted in four major sets of videos that are available for FREE here on Piano Pantry:
Access all of these via the menu under “Resources.”
To go along with each of these video series, I’ve created corresponding tracking sheets (available in the shop) that can be used to assign videos during students’ off-bench music lab time.
Both the Christmas and Halloween video sets are a little more in-depth listening guides that include fun facts and information about the piece, and reflection questions.
Find details on those in these blog posts:
Christmas Music Videos Listening Activity
Halloween Music Videos Listening Activity
In this post, I’ll share more details on the tracking sheets available for the other two series: music theory videos and fun music videos.
Music Theory Video
The Music Theory Videos series is a compilation of the best videos I’ve found online that teach music theory concepts.
While most of these videos teach individual music theory concepts, I was simply looking to use them as a way to reinforce what students have already learned in lessons.
Here’s a sneak-peak at some of the videos included:
Comprised of 48 videos, they have been divided into four sets based on a rough/general order in which concepts are introduced in most piano methods. The order may not line up exactly, but you can assign videos based on what the student has already been taught in their lesson time.
From my own experience, I find it doesn’t work well to assign just one video at a time. Switching between multiple lab assignments/programs during off-bench time is not ideal (especially since the student is generally doing it on their own).
Curious for more details on how I run my music labs? Check out the Music Labs Made Easy eBook in the shop.
It’s much easier to save up until they can spend an entire lab time on the music theory video assignments. Thus, they might only do this lab every few months as they progress through new concepts.
Please know that the list of videos is in no way exhaustive. That is, there may not necessarily be a video available for every music theory concept.
View the Music Theory Video series here.
Corresponding Music Lab Sheet
Since students weren’t doing this lab every week, I needed a way to track which videos they had watched. Thus, the corresponding music lab sheet!
The lab sheet includes directions to the student, a place for teachers to “assign” which videos to watch, the video name, who it is from, its length (so they know if they have enough time during their lab to complete it), and space for the student to check-off once they watched it.
Add this lab to your cart now, or find it (along with other music labs in the shop).
Fun Music Videos
The fun music video series is a compilation of a whole lot of…you guessed it… fun (and inspiring, I might add!) music videos. 🙂
When I started including weekly music lab time, one thing I found is that while there are a lot of apps and programs out there, sometimes you simply run out of things for them to do!
There were two main reasons I found this happening on occasion:
- Students can actually accomplish quite a bit in a 30-minute lab time.
- With younger students especially, there are only so many lab assignments you can give when they are beginners. Not only are they limited in the musical concepts they can play games for, but any assignment with too much reading and writing is just too difficult for kindergarten, first, and even second graders to do on their own.
P.S. For a bit more talk on how to handle music lab time with younger students, visit this post.
Thus was born the Fun Music Videos lab series!
Comprised of more than 60 videos, the series is organized into 8 sets:
- Classical Music Fun
- Inspirational
- Musical Humor
- Unique Instruments
- Playing with Popular Tunes 1
- Playing with Popular Tunes 2
- Music History
- The Evolution of the Piano
You could even use these videos as a fun way to end (or start!) a group class.
Find the Fun Music Video series here.
Corresponding Music Lab Sheet
My students were enjoying these videos a lot, but I needed a way to track which ones they had watched. I wasn’t necessarily assigning the lab week after week until they finished the entire lab; I was only assigning it every once in a while and using it as a “filler.”
Thus, the corresponding music lab sheet!
The goal was to keep it simple.
Yes, I was using it as a “filler” lab assignment, but I also didn’t want it to just feel like “busy work.” Not only that, but it had to be something I could assign to students of all ages – especially younger students. As I stated earlier, any assignment with too much reading and writing is just too tricky for kindergarten, first, and even second graders to do independently.
Thus, the lab sheet includes directions to the student, the “set” name, the video name, the length of the video (so they know if they have enough time during their lab to complete it), and areas to rate the video and openly reflect/comment.
While I would love for it to include more background information and reflection questions (maybe someday I’ll create a more in-depth version for older students), my main goal was an easy lab that students of any age could use and enjoy.
Be aware that students have been known to continually go back and watch some of their favorite videos several times when they’re supposed to be watching new videos. Don’t say I didn’t warn you! 😉
Add this lab to your cart now, or find it (along with other music labs in the shop).
Music Labs Made Easy eBook
Curious for more details on how I run my music labs? Get this 15-page eBook that is chock full of all kinds of “pro tips.”
We’ll talk about scheduling, set-up, and organizing labs. Laid out in an easy-to-read format, this book will answer all your questions regarding music lab time!
More Music Labs
If you’re interested in checking out more of the music labs available, there are ten in the Piano Pantry shop. For more detailed information on each, see the posts linked below.
1) Essentials of Music Theory
Details here: My Favorite Computer-Based Program for Music Lab Time
2) Fun Music Videos
Details here: More Than 100 Videos for Your Music Lab
3) Holiday Lab – Halloween
Details here: Halloween Music Videos Listening Activity
4) Holiday Lab – Christmas
Details here: Christmas Music Videos Listening Activity
5) Music Theory Videos
Details here: More Than 100 Videos for Your Music Lab
6) Piano Inspires KIDS
Details here: A Music Lab for Piano Inspires KIDS
7) Rhythm Cat HD
Details here: Favorite iPad Apps for Music Lab time
8) Rhythm Lab
Details here: Favorite iPad Apps for Music Lab time
9) Staff Wars
Details here: Favorite iPad Apps for Music Lab time
10) Waay
Details here: Favorite iPad Apps for Music Lab time
you don’t download it directly online; you must purchase the CD-ROM and upload it to your computer. While this feels antiquated, I still find the program a valuable addition to my music labs, as it is one of the most complete and comprehensive theory lesson programs out there.
