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    Music Room

    Music is one of the most powerful tools for neurological recovery.

    Listening to or creating music promotes relaxation, helping to manage stress, and providing a non-verbal way to process trauma.

    Research consistently shows that engaging with music activates broad neural networks, supporting memory, emotional regulation, motor coordination, and speech rehabilitation. This section will explore music theory; writing music; learning to play instruments as cognitive exercise, and curated listening resources for healing and growth.

    Learn Music Theory

    Music theory is the study of the practices and possibilities of music. It also explains what music does, and what's going on when we hear it. Much like learning a second language, music theory allows one to study the ideas and practices of music and how it is constructed. In the simplest terms, music theory is a way to explain the music we hear and play.

    There are plenty of helpful websites with paid courses to learn music theory, but the following FREE sites are an excellent place to begin:

    • 8notes.com – You can download or print each lesson, or scroll through the slides on your laptop.
    • Musictheory.net – In addition to free lessons, exercises, and tools, this website also offers two premium apps.
    • Teoria.com – Teoria has helpful audio recordings that go along with their tutorials and exercises.
    • Tone Savvy.com – This site has terrific interactive lessons and quizzes to challenge you.
    • Yale Music Theory Course – This course is hosted on Youtube and taught by Professor Craig Wright. Professor Wright stresses the importance of being an active listener in this course.
    • Fundamentals of Music Theory on Coursera.com – This beginner level course will feel like an actual college class complete with a syllabus and a final exam. It takes roughly 22 hours to complete the course which covers the fundamentals of Western music theory, from the absolute basics to more advanced concepts.
    • Berklee Music – This free Music Theory lesson is an excerpt from Berklee music's 12-week online course, Music Theory 101.
    • Muted.io – Magical collection of interactive music theory tools & visual references to learn music online for free.

    Interactive Learning and Composition

    • Ableton Learning Music: A free browser-based tool that teaches the basics of beats, chords, and song structure.
    • Groove Pizza: A fun tool for understanding rhythm and electronic beat making.
    • Muted.io: Provides interactive visual tools for learning scales, chords, and instruments.
    • Flat.io: A browser-based notation app for learning to write music.

    Learn To Play Music

    Duolingo: Features a music course focusing on fundamentals, note identification, and rhythm.

    • Using Duolingo's on-screen keyboard. Throughout a lesson, you gain playing, sight reading, and listening skills, and eventually, put your new knowledge to the test by playing full-length songs! Studies show that learning music helps with reading, verbal, listening, and math skills. It can even delay the cognitive decline associated with aging. Though music education has many benefits, more than 3.6 million students in the U.S. don't have access to music education. And for those wanting to pursue further instruction, private lessons can cost up to $400 per session! Sign up for FREE here.

    Learn Piano

    • Hello Simply Piano: Hello Simply Piano is NOT completely free; it is a "freemium" app that offers a limited free version and a paid premium subscription. You can download it for free to access two introductory courses ("Piano Basics" and "Touch Intro"). However, to unlock all courses, songs, and full features, a paid subscription is required.
    • Hoffman Academy: You can learn piano for free at Hoffman Academy because they offer free, unrestricted access to their entire library of over 300 video lessons. While they offer a paid "Premium" membership for additional materials, you can complete the core curriculum without ever paying. The lessons are designed for children but are popular among adult beginners as well.
    • Khan Academy: Offers FREE online music courses. The music courses cover topics such as reading sheet music, understanding rhythm, and more!
    • PianoInAFlash Webinar: Host of "the Piano Guy" PBS show for 14 seasons, this FREE webinar is packed full of piano playing tips. Discover 3 powerful piano "secrets" that can completely change the way you learn — sound like a real player faster than you thought possible.

    Learn Guitar

    • Coursera is another great option for free online music lessons. While some courses on Coursera may have a cost associated with certification, many offer free access to course materials, including video lectures and practice exercises.
    • JustinGuitar Site: Justin Sandercoe teaches guitar online FREE. He has come up with a well-designed series of courses that will take you from nowhere to proficiency (YouTube Link)