Whether you are looking for those final end-of-year PD hours or want to bank some credits this summer (hopefully while sitting by the pool), we have your solution with a zero-cost and low-friction training platform.

At MakeMusic Academy, we believe that world-class pedagogy shouldn’t be locked behind a paywall. That’s why our robust course library is always free for all music educators, regardless of whether you have a MakeMusic subscription. We’re here to help you clear your to-do list and sharpen your skills for next year, all at no cost.

The MakeMusic Academy Advantage

We’ve designed the MakeMusic Academy to be the mentor you’ve always wanted: providing high-value insights without the administrative weight or the paywall.

• CPE Ready: Every course includes a downloadable Course Completion Certificate to help you meet your district’s professional development requirements.
• Expert Led: You aren’t just watching tutorials; you’re learning from giants in the field. Our courses feature industry experts like Brian Balmages and 2024 Grammy Music Educator of the Year Annie Ray, alongside veteran educators who understand the daily realities of standing on the podium.
• Flexible & Accessible: Music educators don’t spend a lot of time at a desk. Our platform allows you the flexibility to start and finish a course at your own pace and from any device: perfect for some “dual credit” poolside lounging and PD hour clocking.
• Subscription-Free: Our mission is to support the entire music education community. You do not need an active MakeMusic subscription to access our training. Full stop.

Why We Keep MakeMusic Academy Free: A Word from Our Leadership

Why do we keep MakeMusic Academy free for everyone? It’s important to us:

“Our mission has always been to bring teachers the tools they need to support music students in the classroom. By removing the financial barrier to high-quality professional development, we empower the passionate music educators we serve on a daily basis.” – Andy Stephens, CEO, Peaksware

Furthermore, our goal isn’t to just provide education, but connect teachers directly to the composers, peers, and leaders who they may not be able to access regularly:

“Providing free access to training from legends like Brian Balmages and Annie Ray is about equity. Every teacher deserves access to the strategies that win Grammy awards and move audiences. If we can help a teacher reclaim one hour of their week through better efficiency, we’ve done our job.” – Heath Mathews, GM, MakeMusic

Featured Courses Available Now

1. Beyond MakeMusic Basics (New!)
   Ready to move past technical setup and into high-impact teaching? This course focuses on best practices and rehearsal techniques that you can implement immediately. Learn how to support students using the Save a Take feature to eliminate “one-and-done” practice habits and uncover how Audio/Video-only assignments can streamline everything from chair auditions to instrument maintenance checks.

2. The Foundations Series Masterclass with Brian Balmages
   Discover how to make fundamentals the highlight of your rehearsal. Brian walks you through the “vegetables in awesomesauce” philosophy, showing you how to gamify long tones and scales, keeping engagement high from the first downbeat all the way to the practice room.

3. Getting Started with MakeMusic Cloud
   The perfect “onramp” for those looking to integrate digital practice tools for the first time in the upcoming school year. Ideal for a brand new user or any music educator who is curious about the solutions that MakeMusic can provide to a music program.

Looking Ahead: A Summer of Growth Opportunities

The learning doesn’t stop when the school doors close. In fact, we know that many of you dedicate time over the summer to your own professional growth: and we don’t want you to have to dedicate your paycheck to that cause.

We are currently curating a new suite of relevant courses that will drop over the coming weeks and add to the existing robust course offerings. These free and on-demand sessions will focus on:

• Classroom Strategies
• Program Organization and Administration
• Innovative Ideas from Other Educators
• And more!

Rest assured that these new releases to our library of courses will remain free and accessible to every music educator, ensuring that you can head into the new school year confident, inspired, and refreshed.

Sign up (free) to get notified of new courses as they become available.

Don’t just “check the box” for your district; gain the strategies that will reimagine your rehearsal.