BandLab for Education - free, collaborative music production platform built for schools

BandLab for Education is a free, collaborative music production platform built for schools. Here's a quick overview video of it. It was launched about a year and a half ago, and currently has teachers in over 40 countries using it.

BandLab for Education is a music creation and collaboration platform allowing students and teachers to work together on any web-based tablet or computer. With features inspired by professional software tools but designed for everyone, BandLab for Education opens access to award-winning music technology at no charge to educational institutions.

BandLab for Education’s creation tools put the focus on student-generated content, in line with the 2014 Recommended US Music Standards – which emphasise Creating and Responding to music as key learning goals alongside Performance.

The web-based platform allows students and teachers to:
- Start making music rightaway ​with over 100 built-in virtual instruments including keyboards, synths, drum pads, strings, wind instruments, and more. Students can get up and running immediately, with or without physical instruments.

- Build their understanding of music production principles.​ BandLab for Education’s Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) is easy to use for beginners, and offers familiar features for students who want to dive deeper.

- Make their school workflow seamless. ​BandLab for Education supports all file formats including mp3, .wav, .acc, or .ogg. It also works with Pro Tools, Logic, Ableton, Garageband and more. Importing or exporting tracks has never been easier.

- Track progress easily.​ The teacher-only interface view allows educators to clearly set, manage, track & grade assignments. Students can track and submit their work via the cloud anytime, anywhere.

- Work in a safe COPPA and FERPA-compliant learning environment.​ BandLab for Education’s closed environment is COPPA and FERPA-compliant. The teacher is always in control of the virtual classroom with oversight of what’s happening - whether that’s 1-1, in small groups, or across multiple classes.

BandLab for Education plans to include integrations with learning management systems such as Google Classroom in the near future.

Check it out here: https://edu.bandlab.com/ 

Related:

Resources for Music in Education 

Soundtrap - make music online from any device!

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Soundtrap - make music online from any device!

Soundtrap is a new site that lets you make music online, from any device, with your own instruments or the virtual ones on the site. The free version offers 5 projects, 750 loops, 151 instruments and sounds and lots of other features. There are premium levels with more features and less limits.



Soundtrap works on Mac, Windows, iPad, Android tablets and phones, Linux and Chromebooks. It allows you to start, edit and collaborate on your recordings wherever you are. 

You can collaborate with others and even share your music on Facebook, Twitter and SoundCloud, as well as iTunes.

You can sign in with Office 365, Google, Facebook or an email account. 

This is a great tool that schools can use to help students learn and explore music. 

The Education version is in a walled garden and COPPA compliant and has different pricing than the consumer version. With this version, students and teachers are in their own private area and can more easily collaborate. Pricing is based on number of users - Starter Pack is $249/year for up to 50 users. You can use the online calculator to find pricing for more users. 

A great resource for schools, especially with all of the cuts to music an arts. 

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