BP2_Aviary

While searching for web 2.0 tools to utilize in my band classroom I cam across several audio editing and creation tools that would be fun for students in the elementary level, but may not have the same appeal for the high school level where I teach. I did, however, come across a site that would work well for creating loops and possibly podcasts. The site is called Aviary and it not only has audio tools but also has image editing and creation, screen capture, logo creation, and illustrations.

Myna

The audio editor is called Myna and can be a versatile tool for students to try their hand at combining sounds and loops to create music for a podcast, picture story project, or video project. 

The Myna tool is fairly simple to navigate and allows you access to multiple freeware loops that you could use to create music beds for yours and your students projects.

The Aviary website has tutorials on how to utilize each tool and gives you basic steps on how to drag and drop loops into the editor screen on Myna. In just a few short steps you are able to drop a loop, add an effect, trim up an audio file, add your recorded voice, and save the file as an mp3. I had some trouble with recording live voice into Myna from my laptop. It may work better if your Internet source is direct versus wireless. I will keep experimenting and post here if I come up with a solution.

Roc

Another tool within the Aviary site is a music creator called Roc. This tool is a music creator page very similar to Ambleton Live that gives you access to 10 tracks in which you can create beats and grooves that can be saved to Aviary and downloaded as wav or mp3 files. These files are also free to use because they are your creations, you just utilize the sounds that Roc gives you access to. There are tutorials on how to use this tool and many other tool on the site.

Well, that’s it. Aviary has tools that can be utilized in multiple teaching, learning, and personal scenarios. If you are unable to purchase audio software for education purposes, web 2.0 tools are a good alternative that can bear great benefits.