A round-up of top music apps for primary level and how to begin implementing them into your teaching (including Notion app, Garageband, JamClass and how to sync with Primary JamPod)
Lets start at Foundation level and gradually work our way up the school. There are thousands of great applications out there, we’ve just picked the ones that we think are the best.

Morton Subotnicks Pitch Painter (£1.99 iOS)

Foundation to Y4’s love this. Use your finger to paint a picture then manipulate it! Brilliant for working on visual score ideas.

MSO Learn (Free iOS) & Learn The Orchestra (£1.49 iOS)

If we combine these two great apps you can introduce how an orchestra works with the intuitive Learn The Orchestra then transfer it to a real environment with MSO Learn

Glee Karaoke (Free)

Its great way of getting your students singing, engaging in the iPad and having fun. Hook up a microphone and try it with the whole class.

Moving on a little Y3’s upwards:

Roland R-Mix Tab (£6.99 iOS)

This is a really innovative way of playing music and understanding the difference in pitch.

JamPlayer (£6.99 iOS)

One of the biggest problems I found as a music teacher was students wanted to play or sing things that were just unsuitable! Too fast or too low or high pitched. JamPlayer offers a simple interface that allows you to tune up or down, speed up or slow down. You can also create loops so its also superb for learning songs

Garageband (£2.99 iOS)

This is an inspirational app. Used in the right way, e.g. in context with the real musical world, this app enables all to become engaged in music making.

Y4’s to Y7’s – We are now beginning to move into the realms of JamClassHD and JamPod™

Music Studio (£10.49 iOS)

This is a 127 track studio recorder, very much like desktop based software. It has many great instruments built in but where it really shines is with a microphone. You can create studio quality vocal performances and even record instrumentation with that same microphone.

Mic Recommendation - 
Samson Meteor Mic (£59 good stores) & Camera connector kit (£25 apple store)

Progression (£1.99 iOS & £41 desk top)

This is an intuitive entry level notation program focusing very much on guitar, bass, drums. It provides a great platform for converting those students who don’t think they need to learn notation, because they already know how. Pull up the onscreen guitar, let them play a solo, and watch a light go on in their brain! ‘Did I do that?!’

Notion (£10.49 iOS & £91 desk top)

This app keeps the intuitiveness of Progression but adds all the instruments any normal composer will need! using notion is a breath of fresh air when compared with desk top programs. Its UI enables you to learn at your own pace and you can get by just using this, I do! For those though who want to do it just right, start with Notion then progress onto the desk top program as ability and needs dictate.

Midi keyboard recommendation - Samson Carbon 49 Key (£73 Good stores & Camera connector £25 apple store)

So, what is JamPod™ and how does this all connect?

JamPod™ video
JamPod™ provides a practical learning environment in music. Total differentiation can be achieved and with the adoption of some paid for out of school activities, it pays for itself. Practical though is half the story, we need to bring theory to life to complete the circle.
JamClassHD is a learning program that embraces all we have discussed today. At its heart lies the iPad, allowing you to achieve all you would from a more expensive desk top option and so much more. The program sits the iPad in a dock which acts as an audio/midi interface. This allows midi controllers to be utilised for music notation input. For the practical, JamClassHD docks with JamPod™. You can learn, rehearse, compose, perform and record in one space. Plus as a teacher you can monitor, talk back, send resources eg manipulate your learning environment easily to best inspire attainment and engagment.
I visit so many schools and colleges with thousands of pounds worth of recording equipment that is rarely used to a 10th of its capabilities and it always benefits the few. Spend much less on a program that engages all and embraces all the things that ‘should’ be part of our delivery already, then see the results across your whole learning community.