Note reading and rhythm for your orchestra class
Your class time is too short for everything music asks of you.
NoteFest teaches music literacy in short, gamified lessons so rehearsal can be about playing, ensemble, and the students in front of you.
At a glance
- Short, gamified lessons for music literacy: reading, counting, and listening.
- Class time stays yours: playing, ensemble, and the students in front of you.
- Google Classroom: one assignment per lesson slot, grades fill in from play.
- English and Spanish, including text-to-speech.
- Mixed strings in one class: violin, viola, cello, and bass each get their own book.
- Drip release and four recitals built into Year 1.
The time problem
Orchestra teachers get very little time with kids and a long list: how to read music, how to hold the instrument, how to play together, how to listen, how to count, how to be a musician.
Something has to give. Too often it is the work only you can do.
Note reading and rhythm reading
Short lessons students actually want to finish:
- How to read what is on the page
- How to count
- Listening
- History of their instrument
- Practice on the skills, not another worksheet
If they can read and interpret the page, they can stop asking "what note do I play?" and start playing as a team.
What stays yours
Class time is for:
- How to play the instrument well
- How to play together as an ensemble
- How to connect as people
A computer cannot teach that. NoteFest is built so you do not have to spend rehearsal on literacy first.
Built for teachers first
Sync a classroom, push homework, and let grades fill in from play. Spend prep on teaching and students, not on assigning work by hand or typing scores.
How it works in your class
- Assign Year 1 once. Violin, viola, cello, and bass students each get their own book. The class stays on the same schedule.
- Google Classroom: one CourseWork per lesson slot.
- Each student sees only their instrument book.
- Instrument choice is locked after the first pick. You correct it on the People page.
- Grades and time-on-task per student and per class. You still review.
- Four built-in recitals, one after each string unit.
- Drip release: open lessons when your class is ready.
Mixed class, real orchestra
Year 1 teaches literacy on all the strings, so students do not feel like giving up when they have to play notes they cannot read. The class still plays together. Recitals are per-instrument homework.
English, Spanish, and listening
Many students are new to the country or not yet fluent in English. NoteFest is in English and Spanish, including text-to-speech.
A student who understands by listening can learn even if reading English or Spanish is still hard. More languages, more instruments, and more years and topics are coming.