Music appreciation
Textbooks, courses, and readers:
People and Music: An Appreciation and History (OER textbook)Rich Freese, Univ. of Wisconsin-Superior, published by Open Education Network Manifold Community, 2024. "An open textbook for Appreciation & History of Music, focusing on the elements of music and European-influenced classical music, with explorations into music from around the world and American-influenced popular music." Organized into 10 chapters, plus a glosary and listening list. Online format. CC BY (Creative Commons Attribution) license. Eligible for Print on Demand if materials are compiled into a print-ready format.
Resonances: Engaging Music in Its Cultural Context (OER textbook)Esther Morgan-Ellis, University of North Georgia, 2020. "Although this book is intended primarily for use in the college music appreciation classroom, it was designed with consideration for independent learners, advanced high school students, and experienced musicians. That is to say, it includes enough detail that expert guidance is not required and is written using broadly-accessible language. At the same time, it addresses advanced topics and positions music as a serious object of study." Organized into 6 units, with 13 chapters. PDF format. CC BY SA (Creative Commons - Attribution-ShareAlike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
Music Appreciation: History, Culture, and Context (OER textbook)Bonnie Le, et al., LOUIS: The Louisiana Library Network, 2022. "This course is about the musical imagination. It’s how to think about music, but it’s also about music as a mode of thinking." Created for dual-enrolled students. Organized into 6 main sections, with 17 chapters, with a focus on musical foundations, history of music, and musical genres. Online (Pressbooks), PDF, EPUB, and Common Cartridge formats. CC BY (Creative Commons Attribution) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
Music Appreciation (OER textbook)OER textbook created by Ronda Neugebauer, 2014. Heavy focus on elements (rhythm, harmony, timbre, tempo, melody, etc.) up front, and historical periods of music at the end. PDF, EPub, and ZIP file formats under the “Get This Book!” button at the top. CC BY (Creative Commons - Attribution) license.
The Basic Elements of Music (OER textbook)Created by Catherine Schmidt-Jones, 2013. Organized into 3 main sections: Time Elements, Pitch Elements, and Combining Time and Pitch. PDF, EPub, and ZIP file formats under the “Get This Book!” button at the top. CC BY (Creative Commons Attribution) license.
Music Appreciation (OER textbook - GALILEO)OER textbook developed by music instructors at Georgia Gwinnett College, 2017. Heavy focus on elements and fundamentals of music, with 5 modules/chapters in total: Universals; Instruments; Rhythm; Melody, Harmony, and Texture; and Form. Available in Accessible PDF and Word for whole text, or PDF versions of specific modules. CC BY NC ND (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial - No Derivatives) license.
Understanding Music: Past and Present (OER textbook)A Music Appreciation textbook co-authored by music faculty across Georgia, 2015. "The text covers the fundamentals of music and the physics of sound, an exploration of music from the Middle Ages to the present day, and a final chapter on popular music in the United States." Includes links to YouTube videos as examples throughout, and each section has a mini-glossary. Accessible PDF files available for full textbook and individual chapters. CC BY SA (Creative Commons - Attribution - ShareAlike) license.
Music Appreciation (OER course)OER course from Lumen and currently hosted by LibreTexts.Includes multiple modules of elements/theory before going into modules of major historical periods and types of music (heavy on the classical). Includes PowerPoints for each module. Online and PDF formats. CC BY SA (Creative Commons - Attribution - ShareAlike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
Supplemental tools and materials (incl. games, lessons, videos, exercises, etc.):
Music Appreciation videos - Films on DemandTip: You may need to log in with your TCC portal credentials to view this content. Shortcut link to view and browse Music Appreciation videos available through the TCC Library's Films on Demand database subscription. Includes Elements of Music, Music for Stage & Screen, Music Industry, Musical Styles, Performance & Instruction, and Survey: Music Appreciation categories. Easily embed these videos into your Canvas course.
Music theory
Canvas course shells:
Basic Music Theory (OER Canvas course)To view: First, log into your TCC Canvas faculty account, then click on the Canvas Commons link/icon in the global navigation menu, and then finally click this link to view this Canvas course content. OER Canvas course shared in 2019. Integrates videos and freely available online music lessons and activities. Organized into 6 modules, with assignments, discussions, and quizzes. Public domain license.
Textbooks, courses, and readers:
A Practical Approach to Understanding Music Theory (OER textbook)Charles Brooks, University of North Alabama, 2022."[A] textbook designed for the non-music performance major ... The material is designed around a spiral learning model in which a very simple straightforward concept is introduced, defined and explained." Organized into 5 sections: Basics, Melody, Harmony, Rhythm, and Putting It All Together. Online, PDF, and ebook formats. CC BY-NC (Creative Commons - Attribution-NonCommercial) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
Multimodal Musicianship (OER textbook)Victoria Malawey, Macalester College Library, 2024. "An open educational resource for learning music theory and ear training. The content engages concepts related to tonal harmony, suitable for a two- or three-semester music theory and ear training curriculum in a liberal arts college or other higher education setting. This collection of materials offers multiple modes of engaging content—with text, musical examples, audio examples, video content, application activities, and links to supplemental content—designed for users to learn and reinforce their knowledge according to their learning styles and needs." Organized into 49 sections; appendices of answers to selected exercises and supplements; and indexes of exercises, videos, playlists, and more! Online format. CC BY NC SA (Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial ShareAlike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
Foundations of Aural Skills (OER textbook)Timothy Chenette, Utah State University, 2022. Designed for first-year students. "The first seven chapters provide thorough instruction in aural fundamentals, allowing students to build their foundations from a variety of starting points. The following chapters address the traditional tasks of sight-reading and dictation, but also improvisation, mimicking music you hear (“playback”), transcription, and ensemble skills. The final two chapters add some basic form- and chord-listening skills. Every section includes creative activities that learners can try out on their own or do in class. Embedded playlists for practicing listening skills include a diverse range of music that will connect with students’ preferences and allow them to experience music they haven’t worked with before." Organized into 15 chapters. Online (Pressbooks), PDF, and EPUB formats. CC BY SA (Creative Commons - Attribution-ShareAlike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
Foundational Sight Singing (OER textbook)Tobin Stewart, Montana State University, 2022. " It is a text for developing proficiency in reading and sight singing that can be used in a variety of contexts from individual practice to choral or instrumental ensemble rehearsals to college ear training courses. Multiple exercises are provided for drilling and practice at each level throughout the text to grow the students’ fluency and proficiency in reading and performing pitch and rhythm." Organized into 10 chapters. PDF format. CC BY-NC-SA (Creative Commons - Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
Open Music Theory, Version 2 (OER textbook)Mark Gotham, et al., Virtual Library of Virginia, 2021. "[A] natively-online open educational resource intended to serve as the primary text and workbook for undergraduate music theory curricula. OMT2 provides not only the material for a complete traditional core undergraduate music theory sequence (fundamentals, diatonic harmony, chromatic harmony, form, 20th-century techniques), but also several other units for instructors who have diversified their curriculum, such as jazz, popular music, counterpoint, and orchestration. This version also introduces a complete workbook of assignments." Organized into 10 main chapters. Online format + PDF version of workbook available for download. CC BY SA (Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom (OER textbook + ancillary resources)Robert Hutchinson, University of Puget Sound, 2017, updated 2020. "This text is meant to take the student from the basics of reading and writing pitches and rhythms through twelve–tone technique and minimalism over the course of four semesters. Whenever possible, examples from popular music and music from film and musical theater are included to illustrate melodic and harmonic concepts, usually within the context of the phrase." Includes practice exercises. Faculty peer reviews of this text available on this site. Online and PDF formats. GNU Free Documentation License (equivalent to a CC BY ND license). Eligible for Print on Demand.
Understanding Basic Music Theory (OER textbook)OER textbook created by Catherine Schmidt-Jones, 2013, that "covers only the bare essentials of music theory." Organized into 6 major sections. Available in online, PDF, and EPUB formats. This site includes faculty peer reviews of the textbook. CC BY (Creative Commons - Attribution) license.
Fundamentals, Function, and Form: Theory and Analysis of Tonal Western Art Music (OER textbook)Andre Mount, SUNY Potsdam, 2020. "[A] comprehensive study of the theory and analysis of tonal Western art music [...] over eight hundred musical examples which, in the online version of the text, include embedded audio files for immediate aural reinforcement of theoretical concepts. Most of these examples are drawn from the literature, including nearly 200 excerpts by women and other underrepresented groups." Organized into sections for Fundamentals, Diatonic Polyphony and Functional Harmony, Modulation and Chromatic Harmony, and Form. Online and PDF formats. CC BY-NC (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
Fundamentals, Function, and Form Student Workbook (OER manual)Ivette Herryman Rodriguez, et al., SUNY Potsdam, 2023. This workbook designed for the Fundamentals, Function, and Form OER textbook. "Students of tonal Western art music will find in this workbook a full set of exercises and activities to deepen and reinforce their understanding of music theory and analysis. The book begins with such rudimentary topics as rhythm, meter, and pitch and progresses through polyphony, chromatic harmony, and musical form. In addition to exercises tailored to each topic, the book features recurrent activities focused on four-voice part-writing (figured-bass/Roman numeral realization and melody harmonization) as well as score analysis, which become progressively more advanced as new concepts and skills are covered." Organized into 4 main sections, with 38 chapters/sections. Online and PDF formats. CC BY NC (Creative Commons - Attribution-NonCommercial) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
Library e-books with unlimited user access:
Music theory secrets: 94 strategies for the starting musicianCall Number: Online
Publication Date: 2014
Tip: You may need to log in with your portal credentials to view this e-book. A full range of methods to help musicians, not only grasp, but remember those key elements upon which the music they play is built: pitch, rhythm, scales, key signatures, and harmony.
Twentieth-Century music: Theory and practice by Edward PearsallCall Number: Online
Publication Date: 2011
Tip: You may need to log in with your portal credentials to view this e-book. Unlimited user access. "Introduces a number of tools for analyzing a wide range of twentieth-century musical styles and genres. It includes discussions of harmony, scales, rhythm, contour, post-tonal music, set theory, the twelve-tone method, and modernism."
Chromatic transformations In nineteenth-century music by David KoppCall Number: Online
Publication Date: 2002
Tip: You may need to log in with your portal credentials to view this e-book. Unlimited user access. "David Kopp's book develops a model of chromatic chord relations in nineteenth-century music by composers such as Schubert, Beethoven, Chopin, Schumann and Brahms. The emphasis is on explaining chromatic third relations and the pivotal role they play in theory and practice."
A geometry of music: Harmony and counterpoint in the extended common practice by Dmitri TymoczkoCall Number: Online
Publication Date: 2011
Tip: You may need to log in with your portal credentials to view this e-book. Unlimited user access. "A Geometry of Music provides an accessible introduction to Tymoczko's revolutionary geometrical approach to music theory. The book shows how to construct simple diagrams representing relationships among familiar chords and scales, giving readers the tools to translate between the musical and visual realms and revealing surprising degrees of structure in otherwise hard-to-understand pieces.Tymoczko uses this theoretical foundation to retell the history of Western music from the eleventh century to the present day. Arguing that traditional histories focus too narrowly on the "common practice" period from 1680-1850, he proposes instead that Western music comprises an extended common practice stretching from the late middle ages to the present."
Supplemental tools and materials (incl. games, lessons, videos, exercises, etc.):
Ultimate Music Theory Quiz Library (Canvas Commons)Tip: Log into your TCC Canvas faculty account *before* clicking on this link! "This course shell contains almost 100 quizzes on Music Theory topics covering all levels of music theory including Fundamentals (note reading, rhythmic values, chords, scales, key signatures, time signatures, more), Tonal Harmony (analysis and spelling of diatonic and chromatic chords, non-chord tones, more), Form (cadence types), Contemporary Music (set theory, modes, rhythm, serialism, non-tertian sonority types), and Jazz (scale-chord types, altered scales, alterations, substitution techniques). Each quiz comes in a graded version and a practice version." Available for Canvas import. CC BY SA (Creative Commons - Attribution - ShareAlike) license.
Music Theory MaterialsMusical examples and handouts developed by University of Tennessee instructor. "Musical examples, videos, and handouts – that could be useful in music theory classes. The specific goal is to provide examples of full pieces of music that can be used in the study of musical form and analysis. The musical examples are presented as downloadable PDFs and audio files or as links to other sites that contain this information." Covers fundamentals, chromatic harmony, binary form, ternary form, rounded binary form, sonata form, rondo form, concerto form, and aural skills (rhythm-1 beat patterns, scale identification, and melodic dictation). CC BY NC SA (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike) license.
Harmony and Counterpoint I - MITOpenCoursewareOER course materials developed by MIT faculty, 2005. "In this subject we will study the basic harmonic, melodic, and formal practices of western music, principally the classical music of central Europe during the eighteenth century. Topics will include diatonic harmony, simple counterpoint in two parts, and tones of figuration. The coursework will combine composition, listening, analysis, and work in sight-singing and keyboard musicianship.." Although the course uses copyrighted textbooks, the assignments, exams, projects, and study materials are all openly licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA (Creative commons - Attribution - NonCommercial - ShareAlike) license.
Harmony and Counterpoint II - MITOpenCoursewareOER course materials developed by MIT faculty, 2005. "In this subject, we explore the harmonic, melodic, and formal practices of western music, principally the so-called "Classical" idiom of central Europe, ca. 1750-1825. Topics include a quick review of material covered in 21M.301, chromatic harmony (viio7, bII6, and chords of the augmented sixth), and chromatic modulation; lecture study and discussion are complemented by work in the keyboard laboratory and sight-singing laboratory." Although the course uses copyrighted textbooks, the assignments, exams, projects, and study materials are all openly licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA (Creative commons - Attribution - NonCommercial - ShareAlike) license.
Music Basics - Khan Academy videos/lessons6 lessons/videos on “Notes and rhythm” and 10 lessons/videos on “Reading Music”. Includes glossaries for both. Not strictly OER but educational use allowed.
MusicTheory.netMusic theory lessons, exercises, and tools. Ad-free site. Not OER but freely available to link to or embed content.
Music Theory & History OnlineComprehensive online music dictionary, last updated 2017. CC BY SA (Creative Commons - ShareAlike) license.
Music Theory: Linear and Vertical videosYouTube video playlist by music instructor Scott Laird, 2011. Series of 10-minute videos on both linear and vertical music theory. CC BY (Creative Commons - Attribution) license.
Teoria: Music Theory WebMusic theory tutorials and ear training exercises. Not OER but freely available to link to.
World music
Textbooks, courses, and readers:
Music in World Cultures (OER textbook)Justin R. Hunter and Matthew Mihalka, Univ. of Arkansas, 2021. "The diversity of musical expressions throughout the world is vast. Music can be found in every corner of the globe in a variety of different contexts. This text provides just a small sampling of some of the various musical styles and traditions that might be found, though the skills developed in this course can be applied to any type of music. Not only does this text explore the music itself, but also the people and conditions that led to its genesis." Integrates links to videos throughout the text. Online, digital PDF, print PDF, EPUB, and editable OpenDocument formats. CC BY NC (Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
Music on the Move (OER textbook)Ohio State University, 2020. "With its innovative multimodal approach, Music on the Move invites readers to listen and engage with many different types of music as they read. The text introduces a variety of concepts related to music's travels—with or without its makers—including colonialism, migration, diaspora, mediation, propaganda, copyright, and hybridity. The case studies represent a variety of musical genres and styles, Western and non-Western, concert music, traditional music, and popular music." Organized into 3 parts: Migration, Mediation, and Mashup. Online, PDF, and Ebook formats. CC BY-NC (Creative Commons -Attribution-NonCommercial) license.
Supplemental tools and materials (incl. games, lessons, videos, exercises, etc.):
World Music videos - Films on DemandTip: You may need to log in with your TCC portal credentials to view this content. Shortcut link to view and browse World Music videos available through the TCC Library's Films on Demand database subscription. Includes Eastern European Music, Indian & East Asian Music, Middle Eastern & African Music, Music in the Americas, and Survey: World Music categories. Easily embed these videos into your Canvas course.
Spin the globe"A collection of world music categorized by genre as well as region and country. It has a large number of free downloads as well as featured weekly free downloads."
Music in the classroom
Textbooks, courses, and readers:
Music and the Child (SUNY textbook)SUNY open textbook, 2016. "This book explores a holistic, artistic, and integrated approach to understanding the developmental connections between music and children. This book guides professionals to work through music, harnessing the processes that underlie music learning, and outlining developmentally appropriate methods to understand the role of music in children's lives through play, games, creativity, and movement." Organized into 13 chapters. Online, PDF, and ebook formats. Peer reviews available on this site. CC BY NC SA (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial - ShareAlike) license.
Arts Integration in Elementary Curriculum: 2nd Edition (open textbook)Created by Dalton State College instructors, revised in 2018. Topics include music. Lecture slides also available. Accessible PDF and Word formats. CC BY NC SA (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial ShareAlike) license.
Visions for intercultural music teacher education (open access book) by SpringerOpenCall Number: Online
Publication Date: 2020
"This open access book highlights the importance of visions of alternative futures in music teacher education in a time of increasing societal complexity due to increased diversity. There are policies at every level to counter prejudice, increase opportunities, reduce inequalities, stimulate change in educational systems, and prevent and counter polarization. Foregrounding the intimate connections between music, society and education, this book suggests ways that music teacher education might be an arena for the reflexive contestation of traditions, hierarchies, practices and structures. The visions for intercultural music teacher education offered in this book arise from a variety of practical projects, intercultural collaborations, and cross-national work conducted in music teacher education. The chapters open up new horizons for understanding the tension-fields and possible discomfort that music teacher educators face when becoming change agents." Online and PDF download formats. CC BY (Creative Commons - Attribution) license.
Library e-books with unlimited user access:
Alternative approaches in music education: Case studies from the fieldCall Number: Online
Publication Date: 2010
Tip: You may need to log in with your portal credentials to view this e-book. Unlimited user access. "Explore the creative ways music educators across the country are approaching emerging practices in music teaching and learning. Outlined in twenty-five unique case studies, each program offers a new perspective on music teaching and learning, often falling outside the standard music education curriculum."
Solfege and sonority: Teaching music reading in the choral classroom by David J. XiquesCall Number: Online
Publication Date: 2014
Tip: You may need to log in with your portal credentials to view this e-book. Unlimited user access. "A guide for teaching music literacy in a choral rehearsal, with a focus on the needs of teachers who work with young singers. The book lays out teaching sequences for melodic and rhythmic concepts, lesson plans, and concise strategies for introducing key techniques."
Music outside the lines: Ideas for composing in K-12 music classrooms by Maud HickeyCall Number: Online
Publication Date: 2012
Tip: You may need to log in with your portal credentials to view this e-book. Unlimited user access. "[I]ntroduces a curricular model for teaching composition, a model which provides an array of composition activities to try in both the music classrooms and studio. These activities encourage musical and creative growth through music composition; while they are organized in logical units corresponding to well-known teaching modules, they also offer jumping off points for music teachers to exercise their own creative thinking and create music composition activities that are customized to their classes and needs."
Creating music cultures in the schoolsCall Number: Online
Publication Date: 2014
Tip: You may need to log in with your portal credentials to view this e-book. Unlimited user access. "It is written specifically for music specialists working in school communities, including music therapists, classroom music teachers, instrumental teachers and generalist teachers."
Supplemental tools and materials (incl. games, lessons, videos, exercises, etc.):
Noisy Learning: Loud but Fun Music Education ActivitiesOER activities compiled by Catherine Schmidt-Jones, 2013, via OpenStax CNX. Organized into 3 modules: Sound and Instruments; Rhythm, Tempo, and Dynamics; and Music and Culture. Online and PDF formats. CC BY (Creative Commons - Attribution) license.
Musical Instruments ancillary resources (CK-12)Link to “musical instruments” search results within CK-12 site (OER for K-12 education, began 2021), including readings, videos, and adaptive practice about musical instruments, “how brass instruments work,” “how does a clarinet work,” etc. All CK-12 content is licensed with a CC BY NC (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
Arts Education K-6 Lesson Plans"This searchable database of 100+ K-6 arts lessons (dance, drama/theatre, music, and visual art) has been developed by Dr. Cris Guenter and student teachers at California State University, Chico. Other information at this site includes how the site is used in teacher education, a lesson plan template, how the database was constructed, how student teacher lesson plans are selected, a rubric for assessing the lesson plans, how to cite online sources, reflections, and suggestions for use." Not openly licensed but educational use encouraged.
Digital music
Canvas course shells:
Music Composition (OER Canvas course)To view: First, log into your TCC Canvas faculty account, then click on the Canvas Commons link/icon in the global navigation menu, and then finally click this link to view this Canvas course content. OER Canvas course shell shared by Marcus Voght, Canyons School District, 2016. "This course focuses on using GarageBand, Audacity, and Finale for creating music." Modules organized by program. Includes assignments. Public domain license.
MUSC-1200 (OER Canvas course)To view: First, log into your TCC Canvas faculty account, then click on the Canvas Commons link/icon in the global navigation menu, and then finally click this link to view this Canvas course content. OER Canvas course shell shared by Matthew Struthers, Snow College, 2018. "An introduction to music technology." Includes files, assignments, and quizzes. Public domain license.
Textbooks, courses, and readers:
Composing with Computers I: Electronic Music Composition (OER ancillary materials)OER course materials developed by MIT faculty, 2008. "This class explores sound and what can be done with it. Sources are recorded from students' surroundings - sampled and electronically generated (both analog and digital). Assignments include composing with the sampled sounds, feedback, and noise, using digital signal processing (DSP), convolution, algorithms, and simple mixing. The class focuses on sonic and compositional aspects rather than technology, math, or acoustics, though these are examined in varying detail." Although the course is over a decade old, the assignments, labs, and listening sections are all openly licensed and could be updated with modern technology. CC BY-NC-SA (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial - ShareAlike) license.
Library e-books with unlimited user access:
The digital musician by Andrew HugillCall Number: Online
Publication Date: 2012
Tip: You may need to log in with your portal credentials to view this e-book. Unlimited user access. "[A] textbook for creative music technology and electronic music courses. It provides an overview of sound properties, acoustics, digital music, and sound design as a basis for understanding the compositional possibilities that new music technologies allow. Creative projects allow students to apply key concepts covered in each chapter."
Supplemental tools and materials (incl. games, lessons, videos, exercises, etc.):
Digital Media Creation, An Introduction (syllabus + OER links)Created by Diego Bonilla, 2016. Course syllabus, framework, and mind map with integrated links. Includes a section on creating digital music. For the editing of sound and music, this course uses Audacity (open source). Word format. CC BY NC SA (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial - ShareAlike) license.
Digital Media: Learn to Use Audacity to Create Audio Recordings (OER lesson)OER lesson created by Lisa Fox, 2019. "Audio recording is an important component of digital media productions. In this lesson students will make a short recording to learn the basics of Audacity, a free and open-source digital audio editor and recording application software, available for Windows, macOS/OS X and Unix-like operating systems." Online format. CC BY NC SA (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike) license.
Audacity: Audio Editing App (OER lessons)OER lessons created and shared by Keith Martin, 2016, which focus on Audacity, a free audio editing application. "Each lesson begins with one or more YouTube tutorials and an exercise based on the tutorial content which can be saved for evaluation. It concludes with a final assessment which can be used to evaluate the user's ability to use the application." Includes lessons on creating, editing, splicing, and mixing audio files. PowerPoint format. CC BY NC (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial) format.
Applied music
Textbooks, courses, and readers:
Vocal Techniques for the Instrumentalist (OER textbook)OER textbook by Amy Rosine, Kansas State University, 2018. “The purpose of this text is to teach instrumental music education students about vocal production as it applies to solo singing. Beginning with a foundational understanding of breathing, singers will learn about the vocal instrument (anatomy), how to create clear, pleasant, tone (phonation and resonance), pronounce words clearly (articulation and diction) and how singing is similar, and different, from playing an external instrument. This is the first textbook to explore teaching voice as it directly pertains to playing an instrument.” PDF format. CC BY NC SA (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial - ShareAlike) license.
Sight-Reading for Guitar (OER textbook)Published by Rebus Community, 2020. "Sight-Reading for Guitar: The Keep Going Method Book and Video Series teaches guitar players from all musical backgrounds to understand, read and play modern staff notation in real time. [...] Each unit contains brief descriptions of musical symbols, play-along duet exercises and compositions, encouragement and methods for self-assessment. The series contains 20 units that start at the beginner level and progress to the intermediate/advanced level." Organized into 22 units. Online, PDF, EPUB, and editable OpenDocument formats. CC BY (Creative Commons - Attribution) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
Teaching Low Brass (OER textbook)Kansas State University, 2018. "The purpose of this textbook is to provide resources about teaching low brass instruments. [...] Etudes are incorporated in the appendix of the textbook." PDF format. CC BY-NC-SA (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike) license.
Brass Techniques and Pedagogy (OER textbook)Created by Brian Weidner, Butler University, 2020. "Textbook for undergraduate brass methods course focusing on brass instrument techniques and pedagogy." Organized into 4 sections: General Brass Techniques and Pedagogies; Instrument Specific Techniques and Pedagogies; Guided Practice Lessons; and Resources and Activities. Chapters integrate videos also created by the instructor. Online, PDF, and EPUB formats. CC BY NC SA (Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial ShareAlike) license. Eligible for Print on Demand.
Supplemental tools and materials (incl. games, lessons, videos, exercises, etc.):
Piano video playlists by Dr. Janci BronsonSeries of short piano instructional videos, last updated 2022. Playlists include Piano level 1, Piano level 2, Chord improvisation, Sight reading strategies, and more. YouTube videos. CC BY (Creative Commons - Attribution) license.
Free Music Dictations (Aural Skills I-IV)Materials Jeff Yunek and Benjamin Wadsworth, Kennesaw State University. “This website was created to reduce the costs of high schoolers and college students studying aural skills. It features free recordings of dictations for teachers/professors, dictations with answers for independent study, free test prep materials, and instructional videos for basic dictation concepts.“ Includes homework assignments, practice assignments, and instructional videos for clarinet, winds, trombone, strings, cello, bassoon, woodwinds, and more. CC BY (Creative Commons - Attribution) license.
MusiciansWay.comThis website builds on musician Gerald Klickstein’s book, The Musician’s Way, but the site also includes freely available resources in “Practice” and “Performance” categories, as well as free downloads. Site retains traditional all-rights-reserved copyright, but you can freely link to site resources.
AppliedHarmony.comA free website "whose main feature is that users can improve their relative pitch using multiple choice exercises based on excerpts of popular music songs. This website may be useful for diverse user profiles: western music students of almost any profile (classical, jazz, flamenco, musicology) and level, amateur and professional musicians as well as music theory teachers who can use it as a powerful educational tool.” Site retains traditional copyright, but you can freely link to site resources.
MusOpenRoyalty free sheet music, radio, and music education materials. Searchable by composer, instruments, and more. Click on Music Education link in to right corner in order to view training materials for Guitar, Piano, Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Bassoon, Saxophone, and Oboe.
IMSLP (International Music Score Library Project)Public domain and openly licensed music recordings and sheet music/scores. Click on “Scores” or “Recordings” along top navigation bar. “Scores” are searchable by instrumentation and featured instruments, etc. “Recordings” are searchable by composer.
Music Appreciation videos - Films on DemandTip: You may need to log in with your TCC portal credentials to view this content. Shortcut link to view and browse Music Appreciation videos available through the TCC Library's Films on Demand database subscription. Includes Elements of Music and Performance & Instruction categories. Easily embed these videos into your Canvas course.
Music performance/ensembles
Textbooks, courses, and readers:
Voice Class (OER course)OER course by Rollo Fisher, Monroe Community College, via Lumen Learning and currently hosted by LibreTexts. Faculty resources, including vocal assessments and tests, can be requested via an online request form, to verify educational credentials. Includes 3 units, with 9 lessons. Each lesson includes supplemental videos and related assignments. Online and PDF formats. Course pages may have different CC (Creative Commons) open licenses. Eligible for Print on Demand.
Vocal Techniques for the Instrumentalist (OER textbook)OER textbook by Amy Rosine, Kansas State University, 2018. “The purpose of this text is to teach instrumental music education students about vocal production as it applies to solo singing. Beginning with a foundational understanding of breathing, singers will learn about the vocal instrument (anatomy), how to create clear, pleasant, tone (phonation and resonance), pronounce words clearly (articulation and diction) and how singing is similar, and different, from playing an external instrument. This is the first textbook to explore teaching voice as it directly pertains to playing an instrument.” PDF format. CC BY NC SA (Creative Commons - Attribution - NonCommercial - ShareAlike) license.
Choral Techniques (OER textbook)Gordon Lamb, 2010. Organized into 17 chapters + appendix. Downloadable as PDF, offline HTML zip file with media files. CC BY (Creative Commons - Attribution) license.
Powers of Divergence: An Experimental Approach to Music Performance (open access textbook)Open access book by Lucia D’Errico, published by Leuven University Press, 2018. "Instead of regarding performance as reiteration, reconstruction and reproduction of past musical works, Powers of Divergence emphasises its potential for the emergence of the new and for the problematisation of the limits of musical semiotics." Each chapter available in PDF or online versions. Open access but not openly licensed.
Supplemental tools and materials (incl. games, lessons, videos, exercises, etc.):
IMSLP (International Music Score Library Project)Public domain and openly licensed music recordings and sheet music/scores. Click on “Scores” or “Recordings” along top navigation bar. “Scores” are searchable by instrumentation and featured instruments, etc. “Recordings” are searchable by composer.
MusOpenRoyalty free sheet music, radio, and music education materials. Searchable by composer, instruments, and more.
Live Performances videos - Films on DemandTip: You may need to log in with your TCC portal credentials to view this content. Shortcut link to view and browse Live Performance videos available through the TCC Library's Films on Demand database subscription. Includes Classical Music, Jazz, Opera & Musical Theatre categories. Easily embed these videos into your Canvas course.
Culturally responsive and inclusive pedagogy
The Culturally Responsive and Inclusive Pedagogy OER Subject Guide, linked below, provides a starting point for OER professional development and curricular materials relating to issues of equity, diversity, and inclusion; trauma-informed practices; and culturally responsive, inclusive, and anti-racist pedagogy and practices. This guide includes concepts and keywords; TCC OEDI resources; introductory and more in-depth professional development resources (toolkits, guides, etc.); curriculum resources (activities, assignments, etc.); OER and EDI rubrics; instructional design; accessibility; as well as EDI-focused OER in different disciplines across the curriculum.
Music theory secrets: 94 strategies for the starting musician
Twentieth-Century music: Theory and practice by 
A geometry of music: Harmony and counterpoint in the extended common practice by 
Visions for intercultural music teacher education (open access book) by 
Elementary music education, informal learning, and the new sociology of childhood by 
Alternative approaches in music education: Case studies from the field
Solfege and sonority: Teaching music reading in the choral classroom by 
Music outside the lines: Ideas for composing in K-12 music classrooms by 
Creating music cultures in the schools
The digital musician by 
