Ed. note: App of the Week picks are now being curated by the editors of Common Sense Education [1], which helps educators find the best ed-tech tools, learn best practices for teaching with tech, and equip students with the skills they need to use technology safely and responsibly. Click here [2] to read the full app review.
Bandimal [2]
What’s It Like?
Classroom teachers can use Bandimal in an iPad station or with one-to-one iPad devices as a way to introduce electronic music creation to kids age 5 and younger. Music teachers can use it with classes as an electronic ear training tool for teaching steady beat, high and low sounds, rhythm clapping, and movement to music. Mirror it onto an interactive whiteboard to get the whole class involved with the visuals and dancing along with the animals. For a fun group activity, try working with small groups of three and let each kid select an animal and its notes to create a collaborative composition.
Price: $3.99
Grades: PreK-K
Rating: 4/5
Pros: Minimalist design helps young musicians quickly create their own music.
Cons: No export function for saving music in other formats.
Bottom line: For iOS-infused preschool and kindergarten classrooms, this could be an excellent intro to electronic music.