Interactive
Music Theory

Music theory.net: Keyboard Trainer

For Students 9th - 10th
A fantastic resource for music teachers and students learning to play the piano. This online quiz can be customized to test students on specific keys. Students can click "Toggle helpers," to check answers along the way.
Unit Plan
PBS

Pbs: Jazz and Math: The Fibonacci Keyboard

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Teach a lesson about the piano keyboard using the Fibonacci Sequence. Explore with your students the various relationships the Fibonacci Sequence has with music.
Graphic
University of Michigan

U.michigan: Keyboard Temperament Analyzer

For Students 9th - 10th
Features a downloadable spreadsheet for analyzing keyboard temperaments. Requires a bit of physics knowledge.
Graphic
Yale University

Yale Collection of Musical Instruments: Keyboard Instruments

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about keyboard instruments from the collection of Yale University in this image gallery with descriptions of each piece, including pianos, harpsichords, and organs.
Website
Other

Piano Music Sight Reading Practice

For Students 9th - 10th
Actually this clever site drills pianists on note names and note placement on the keyboard. Kids can access this site at home for practice. Both treble and bass clef are used.
Unit Plan
Other

Piano Nanny: Piano on the Net

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides extensive piano lessons, utilizing helpful guides complete with audio. Detailed information on the computer configuration needed for this site is given, as well as a 12 note keyboard.
Handout
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Piano

For Students 3rd - 8th
Read about keyboard instruments and the piano in particular. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to hear the piano alone and with the orchestra.
Interactive
Fun Brain

Fun Brain: Piano Player

For Students 3rd - 5th
Interactive game where musical notes are shown on a scale and you have to choose the piano key that matches the note. Choose from four levels of play, from beginner to virtuoso.
Website
Other

What Are Historical Keyboard Instruments

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides information about historical keyboard instruments such as the clavichord, harpsichord, fortepiano and organ.
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Music for Kids: Piano Playing Basics

For Students 1st - 9th
Kids learn the basics of playing the piano on this site. Find information about the keyboard, middle C, position, and practice.
Website
Other

Tb on Web: Alternate Temperaments Theory and Philosophy

For Students 9th - 10th
Explanation of various keyboard tunings, and why modern Western music uses "equal temperament."
Website
Canada Science and Technology Museum

Canada Science and Technology Museum: Electronic Music

For Students 9th - 10th
Look into the collection of electronic and electrical musical instruments from the Canada Science and Technology Museum's collection, some artifacts dating as far back as the late 1800s. The collection is divided into two main groupings:...
Handout
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Harpsichord

For Students 3rd - 8th
The harpsichord looks a little like a piano, but there are enough differences to place them in two different instrument groups even though both use keyboards. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to hear the harpsichord.
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Comparing Vocal Ranges: How High and Low Can You Go?

For Students 3rd - 5th
What is the highest note you can sing? How about the lowest? Do you think males and females can reach the same notes? How about children and adults? Find out the answers to all these questions in this "note"-worthy science fair project.
Website
PBS

Classics for Kids: Musical Instruments

For Students 3rd - 8th
An A-to-Z directory of all the instruments and tools of the orchestra. Each entry includes a description, a picture, and a sound sample.
Handout
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: Organ

For Students 3rd - 8th
A concert hall organ can have as many as four keyboards, 244 keys, 32 pedals and 4,535 pipes. Use RealAudio or Windows Media Player to hear the organ alone or with the orchestra.
Interactive
New York Times

New York Times: Crossword Puzzle: Musical Instruments

For Teachers 9th - 10th
An interactive and printable crossword puzzle developed by the New York Times Learning Network. The theme of this puzzle is Musical Instruments.
Interactive
Music Theory

Music theory.net: Interval Trainer

For Students 9th - 10th
This online quiz is a fantastic tool to check your knowledge of intervals. Keeps score, and can be customized to fit specific lessons (augmented intervals, diminished intervals, double accidentals.)
Interactive
Music Theory

Music theory.net: Phrases and Cadences

For Students 9th - 10th
An explanation of phrases and cadences with illustrated examples. Also provides audio clips, and a printable chart at the end of the lesson. By MusicTheory.net.
Interactive
Music Theory

Music theory.net: Steps and Accidentals

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides an explanation of half steps, whole steps, flats, and sharps. Illustrated examples accompany these definitions.
Interactive
Music Theory

Music theory.net: Introduction to Chords

For Students 9th - 10th
A thorough description of chords, roots, and triads. Provides illustrated examples as well as audio clips to supplement this lesson.(You may need to download Flash Player to view this site.)
Interactive
Music Theory

Music theory.com: Introduction to Chords

For Students 9th - 10th
A description of augmented and diminished triads/ chords. Provides illustrated examples with highlighted vocabulary words,a printable chart, and audio clips to supplement the lesson.
Interactive
Music Theory

Music theory.net: Generic Intervals

For Students 9th - 10th
A thorough description of generic intervals with a printable chart at the end of the lesson. MusicTheory.net provides illustrated examples, and highlighted vocabulary terms. (You may need to download Flash Player to view this site.)
Interactive
Music Theory

Music theory.net: Diatonic Triads

For Students 9th - 10th
Descriptions of diatonic triads: major, natural minor, and harmonic minor. Provides animated illustrations, and a printable chart at the end of the lesson.