This is a guest post by one of our teacher-authors, Jennifer Jenkins.
What is Flat.io?
Even before the pandemic turned our world upside down, I was searching for a digital notation program that allowed students to hear what they notate. There are many options out there and all offer something unique, but Flat felt intuitive and accessible for students of different levels. And then I discovered Flat for Education, and I have never looked back.
So what is it? Flat.io is an online notation program that works on all platforms. There is a personal use version and an educational version called, “Flat for Education.” Since 2014, the creators continue to listen carefully to music teachers and expand its educational version to a very powerful tool to use in both general music and ensemble settings.
Flat for Education Overview
Flat for Education is available for any school level to use with their students. The education version provides a safe “walled garden” for your students and it is COPPA and FERPA compliant. At a budget-friendly price of $2 per seat that can be reused to accommodate various schedule settings, it becomes a powerful tool for composing, collaborating, performing, and assessing that integrates with a multitude of Learning Management Systems.
So what makes this platform so exciting to me?
Here are 6 things you never knew Flat for Education could do!
Flat #1: Customizable noteheads in an instant
Have a song you want to display with Boomwhacker colors but can’t find it? Want to add note names to help a student? All is possible with Flat! With the click of a button, you can change the noteheads in various ways to suit your situation – click here to learn how. Some options are:
Boomwhacker Colors
Note Names
Solfege Syllables (Fixed or Moveable Do)
Kodály Hand Signs
Flat #2: Add audio to a score
Ever wanted the students to listen to the original version of a song and notate it? Now, you can! You can upload from YouTube, Vimeo, or import your own mp3s directly into your score so students can listen to the music attached to the score or the notation. How can this be used in the classroom? Some ideas:
- Rhythmic, melodic, or harmonic dictation
- Upload a song with the soprano part missing and the students must fill it in
- A harmonic progression is played for the students to compose and notate a melody
Student View of Audio Attached to Score
Flat #3: Easily set assignments for students
There are so many ways for students to show their understanding of music, and Flat for Education offers many options with their assignment feature. Easily set up any type of assignment for students or a select group of students in a class. There are many publishing options lined up with your LMS.
There are three main types of assignments:
- Composition
- Worksheets
- Performance
In my experience, it is best to focus on one aspect and expand when you and the students are ready!
Many publishing & set-up options are available
Composition Assignments Ideas
You can choose from one of the 3 following starting points for your students:
- they can start with a new blank score
- they can open a template score that you have set up ahead of time
- they can work in groups and collaborate on a template score that you’ve set up
Here’s an example of use for each of those:
Students create warm-ups for the ensemble to play or sing.
Students fix your “mistakes” in a known song you share.
Students work in partners to compose in call & response form.
Flat #4: Worksheets that are automagically graded & assessed
Need to check students’ understanding of note names? Tired of grading worksheets? Tired of creating your own resources (or paying for others) with music notation? Look no further! Flat has streamlined worksheets in conjunction with its notation program.
These worksheets are great as Do Nows, homework, or quick checks along their musical journeys. They automagically grade each student and provide analytics for the overall progress of the class.
It is a great tool for formative assessment that will help guide your teaching with whatever you choose to focus on.
Worksheet Assignments
Student View of an Interval Worksheet
Flat #5: Tailor worksheets based on your method
Have you found a resource, but it doesn’t align with the method you use? Has a music teacher friend shared a worksheet, but it uses ta ti ti instead of counting?
In the worksheets feature, Flat offers a variety of methods for you to choose from that tailors the experience for your students in a fast and easy way. Do you use moveable Do? No problem! Use counting instead of ta ti ti? It will adjust that too!! Not all of the methods are available, but there are many different skills within worksheets you can use.
Interval Worksheet Options: Choose the Diatonic Intervals
Flat #6: Students record themselves directly into a score
Tired of listening to and grading recordings? Maybe we all are, but they can provide a safe and consistent way to assess a student’s performance when they are not able to perform in a large or small group setting.
You, as the teacher, can provide a student with either a section of your repertoire or a sight-reading example. Then, they can record themselves performing it directly into the score. As of the writing of this blog, it is available on all platforms except iOS. Flat is working to make it available soon on iOS.
Listen directly to each student on the landing page for the assignment
Final Thoughts
Flat for Education is a great budget-friendly versatile notation program that can be used in general music or ensemble classrooms. It offers a multitude of ways for students to show their understanding of music through composition, performance, and collaborating in a teacher-friendly way.
How would you use Flat for Education in your teaching situation? What kind of composition assignments would you do with your students? What skill would you assess with the worksheets? We would love to hear about your ideas! Leave a comment below!
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About the Author
Jennifer Jenkins holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education degree from Montclair State University (Montclair, NJ) and a Masters of Music Education from Rutgers University (New Brunswick, NJ). She has 23 years of professional musical experience as a music educator and conductor.She is currently employed by the Scotch Plains-Fanwood School District at Nettingham Middle School, where she teaches 5th & 6th General Music, 5th-8th Grade Chorus, and serves as a district tech coach. She will be conducting the New Jersey ACDA Jr. High Honor Choir in 2022. She enjoys creating with the Cricut and discovering new wines!
Looking for More Resources for Music Teachers?
Hello! I’m Katie Argyle – an Australian music technology trainer and consultant with a passion for helping music teachers through my business Midnight Music.
I’m a qualified teacher but no, I don’t currently teach in a school. I help teachers through my online professional development space – the Midnight Music Community – where there are tutorial videos, courses, links and downloadable resources.
I like to focus on easy ways to incorporate technology into what you are already doing in your music curriculum through a range of creative projects. I also run live workshops and have presented at countless conferences and other music education events.
If you want simple, effective ideas for using technology in music education, I would LOVE to help you inside the Midnight Music Community.
