Selecting apps for your music program is an exciting and somewhat apprehensive process as you see the enormous potential many apps provide in (re)presenting music concepts and skills. There are equally as many apps that lack in substance and don’t provide the longevity and/or skills that you’re aiming for. This sheet presents to the educator a variety of musical lenses to evaluate the potential of an app, especially in areas of music that are abstract for the students.
I find it useful to play with an app in numerous, short sittings, to validate its use and value. I notice that after further exploration, my opinion will sometimes change after discovering something I missed, or rushed through. It’s equally valuable to invite students to try free apps at home/school and give their opinion. This activity provides so many extensions for students to understand the app-making process from a musical, artistic, and a technological perspective. (more)