Bringing Music Composition and Notation to the Online Classroom

Traditionally, music composition has involved putting pen to paper, with students drawing dots and lines to create musical notes. In a physical classroom, this method works well—students simply hand in their work for review. But what happens when this classroom moves online? Suddenly, the tools and methods we take for granted can present significant challenges.

One solution might be to provide students with electronic blank sheet music to print, fill out, and scan back to the instructor. However, this assumes that all students have access to printers and scanners—a significant barrier of access for some. While others might attempt to draw notes using a mouse, this can be cumbersome and frustrating, particularly for students with limited fine motor skills or accessibility needs.

Instead of relying on the traditional pen-and-paper method, instructors can leverage technology specifically designed for music composition in the digital age. Web-based and desktop applications have revolutionized how music can be created, making it easier than ever to compose without needing physical materials. Many of these tools even integrate with learning management systems (LMSs), streamlining the teaching and learning process in online environments.

In this post, we’ll explore two popular tools—Noteflight and Sibelius—to help you decide which might work best for your online classroom.

Noteflight and Sibelius

In researching music notation and composition technologies, we’ve identified two in particular that many music instructors and students may find useful:

Both programs allow for music notation and composition without the need for pen and paper, and each has its own unique benefits to help you determine if it’s a good fit for you and your classroom. Both programs also have a cost associated with them, so before requiring your students to purchase them, be sure to check their current pricing models or ask your school if they have a license or discount with a music software company. Let’s look at the features of each program in more depth.

Noteflight

Noteflight is a cloud-based platform, meaning students can access their work anytime, anywhere, as long as they have internet connection on their device. This eliminates concerns about losing files due to hardware issues or forgetting to save progress.

Noteflight offers two access options:

  • Classroom Site is a private, instructor-managed space where students can collaborate on projects, complete assignments, and participate in forums. While this option doesn’t integrate directly with an LMS, instructors can create forums and activity templates as well as assignments, projects, and private lessons, and oversee student progress manually. It functions outside of an LMS completely, so instructors would have to do any grading for assignments manually and then enter grades into the LMS separately.
  • LMS Integration, has Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) functionality and  can be embedded directly into platforms like Moodle, Blackboard, or Canvas. This seamless integration allows students to complete assignments within their online course, and grades can be auto-populated into the LMS gradebook for easy tracking.

Sibelius

Sibelius, on the other hand, is a downloadable program that doesn’t require constant internet access. This feature is particularly useful for students with unreliable connectivity or for schools that want to provide access through on-campus computers so local students can use it without incurring the cost of the program for themselves.

For in-person or blended courses, Sibelius offers robust networking features. Instructors can share screens, monitor student progress, or lock screens to guide focus—all from their own computers. While Sibelius doesn’t integrate directly with LMSs, its reputation as an industry-standard tool makes it a valuable resource for students aspiring to careers in music. Features like recording and playback also allow students to refine their compositions, offering professional-grade practice opportunities.

Other Programs

Noteflight and Sibelius are just two of many music composition and notation programs that are available to you and your students. Here is a list of additional software you might consider introducing to your students. Many of these programs have costs associated with them, but a few have free versions.

Conclusion

Online music composition courses no longer require students to have printers and scanners, or to attempt drawing notes with a mouse. Technologies such as Noteflight and Sibelius allow students to compose and notate with ease on their computers, sometimes without even having to leave the environment of their online classroom. Although these programs might require a little time to learn and set up, they open up a new world to educate all students on this important subject.