Updated January 2026
As an academic subject, music is like no other. It consists not only of theory, notes, scales, and harmonies, but also the capacity to deeply move its listeners and practitioners. This mysterious influence that music exerts can be a powerful means to engage the minds and hearts of learners of any age.
The free online music lessons, activities, and apps below will bring the joy of music into any classroom or subject, whether it be language arts, history, math or science.
Best Free Music Lessons and Activities
WEB
Virtual Theremin
If you’re thinking, “Hmm, theremin, that sounds familiar – what is it?” recall classic movies such as The Day The Earth Stood Still and Spellbound. Typically employed to create an other-worldly or eerie atmosphere, the theremin relies not on touch, but rather on the operator’s hand movements through the instrument's capacitor field. Use your mouse or webcam to play this delightful virtual theremin. A user’s operation manual offers practical guidance. No account required.
Ableton’s Free Synthesizer Learning Tool
Learn to play a synthesizer, right in your browser window. Drag the circle around the square to create various sounds. For a more nuanced approach, open your game in Playground, which allows adjustment of amplitude, frequency, pitch and other properties. No account required.
The Music Lab
A citizen-science experiment conducted by researchers at Yale University, the Music Lab offers a wide selection of musical games that test your ability to distinguish sounds and rhythms as well as your musical I.Q. and style. Be a part of citizen science and have fun while you’re doing it! No account required, but players must anonymously answer a few simple questions prior to playing.
Teach Rock
Fine selection of diverse lessons and activities covering the arts to geography to STEAM topics. Each lesson is based on a rock music composition or artist whose work illuminates the questions posed. Lessons include objectives, activities, images, videos, handouts, teacher’s guide, questions, and lesson extensions.
Music Producer Masterclass: Making Electronic Music
A free course that uses the popular FL Studio software to teach students how to create, mix, and edit electronic music and songs. High-quality video instructions guide learners through the course modules, from developing musical ideas to publishing music online. Students who successfully pass the course’s final assessment will receive a certificate of completion.
Fiddlerman
An amazingly comprehensive free resource for students of any age and experience level who want to boost their violin skills and knowledge. Run by professional concert master Pierre Holstein, aka Fiddlerman, Fiddleman.com boasts an active user forum in addition to its extensive tools for learning violin, from video tutorials to sheet music to basics for beginners. Be sure to check out the annual Christmas project, in which users collaborate by uploading a recording of themselves playing or singing a beloved Christmas tune such as “White Christmas.” Super fun.
Omni Online Music Maker
Are you familiar with hexany? How about hirajōshi? You may have no idea about these terms, but if I said “major,” you'd probably guess that we’re talking about musical scales. Omni is devoted to digital investigation of 40 musical scales, spanning the globe. This brilliantly simple site provides an online keyboard and choice of scale, reverb, and sustain. Use your mouse to play, and your ears to note, the differences and similarities.
Inside the Orchestra Virtual School Curriculum
Dedicated to cultivating music appreciation in children, the nonprofit organization Inside the Orchestra provides a wealth of free virtual music programs in English, Spanish, and French. Lessons and activities include STEM topics, musical storytime, outdoor musical games, and much more.
Inside the Orchestra Online Musical Games
Fine assortment of online musical games, ideal for K-6 kids. Students can test their recognition of musical instruments, create a music map, or play musical bingo. For an extra challenge, have interested students compose their own works using the built-in digital keyboard. In English, Spanish, and French.
Google Tools and Activities for Music Education
Edtech guru and Google apps expert Eric Curts dives into 12 online music tools that allow users to experiment with musical ideas right in their browser windows. Conduct an orchestra, “see” music, or create your own beats. Serious learning that’s seriously fun.
New York Philharmonic Digital Education Resources
Videos, detailed lessons and teaching guides from New York Philharmonic musicians. Arranged by grade, these lessons offer imaginative and unexpected ways to think about, learn, and practice music. Almost as exhilarating as being there.
VIDEO
Polyphonic Overtone Singing Explained
If you’ve never heard polyphonic overtone singing, you ought to check out this star of the field, Anna-Maria Hefele. She demonstrates this other-worldly sounding vocalization and provides a thorough explanation of the phenomenon. Hefele’s YouTube channel offers many other fascinating videos exploring oversinging.
Violin Lab Channel
Professional violinist and educator Beth Blackerby seeks to explain the science and art of violin playing so that all violin enthusiasts can improve their performance. Although targeted at adults, the videos are perfect for self-motivated students of any age, covering topics such as “8 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me When I First Learned To Play Violin,” “Vibrato Basics,” and “ Unwanted Bow Bounces.” Her clear, straightforward style makes it easy for anyone to grasp the concepts demonstrated.
Drumeo Free Drum Lessons
An impressive assortment of free videos aimed at not only aspiring drummers, but also advanced students. Explore diverse playlists such as Lessons for Beginners, Advanced Drum Lessons, Must-Know Drum Grooves, Electronic Drums, and many more.
APPS
Perfect Ear: Music & Rhythm
Android | iOS
Train your ear and mind using Perfect Ear’s exercises in scales, chords, intervals, and rhythm.
Piano Chord, Scale, Progression Companion
Android | iOS
Top-rated by users, this piano chords and scales “dictionary” allows budding musicians and composers to practice both musical play and composition.
