9 Musically Creative Youtube Channels To Inspire Your Students

9 Musically Creative Youtube Channels to Inspire Your Students

So many videos, so little time

I have a few go-to Youtube channels that I visit when I’m seeking a little inspiration and a few days ago I wondered whether other music teachers had their own favourites too. So I asked Facebook-land. It turns out many of us love the same ones!

There were too many to fit into one post so I’ve divided the list into categories. This first collection features covers, remixes and a cappella videos. Thanks to everyone who let me know their favourites.

In addition to viewing the examples videos from each channel below, I’d encourage you to check out their entire channel and subscribe to any that you like.

Click on the channel name (in green below) to see the entire collection of the artist’s videos.

Please note: I can’t guarantee that ALL of the videos on the channels listed below are G-rated. Please make sure you watch the videos the entire way through to check that it is appropriate for your students before showing it in class.

Covers and Remixes

1. Andrew Huang

I seriously LOVE Andrew Huang’s creative remixes that are often made with found sounds.

Also recommended by music teacher Chris Burnson Facebook. You and I have similar taste Chris!

Watch: Apple Music

Watch #2:

[I couldn’t help but list two!] 99 Red Balloons

2. Pogo

Another favourite of mine. Pogo creates new music by remixing sounds (and visuals) from movies. Sampled sounds effects, dialogue, music and more. Take a look at his collection of Disney remixes.

Watch: The Mary Poppins remix – What I Likes

3. Walk Off The Earth

WOTE leapt to fame with their cover of Somebody That I Used To Know which features all 5 members of the band playing a single guitar. They’ve continued to produce innovative covers using simple instruments.

Watch: Hello

Watch #2: Royals (featuring ukeleles that are thrown from one player to another!)

4. Kurt Hugo Schneider

KHS is a young music producer that creates innovative videos and arrangements that often feature his (talented) musician friends.

Also recommended by music teacher Chris Burnson Facebook.

Watch: The Epic Patty Cake Song

5. Jimmy Fallon

Although The Late Show channel features a variety of interviews and comedy sketches from the TV show, there are a number of cool covers by Jimmy, his band The Roots and his special guests and they often feature classroom instruments

Watch: Carly Rae Jepsen’s Call Me Maybe

A Cappella Covers

6. Pentatonix

The group that brought a cappella to the mainstream.

Also recommended by music teachers Robyn Windham, Tara DeJaegar Roman & Chris Burns on Facebook.

Watch: If I Ever Fall In Love

7. Danny Fong

A cappella multitracking at it’s best.

Also recommended by music teacher Stephanie Sanders on Facebook.

Watch: Pokemon theme

8. Voctave

Although there are not many videos on their channel, it’s worth having a listen to their amazing sopranos (!).

Also recommended by music teacher Kristen Joneson Facebook.

Watch: Great Movie Medley

9. Peter Hollens

Another multitracking expert.

Also recommended by music teacherIris Woodruff Redmondon Facebook.

Watch: Epic Disney Medley

Part 2 coming soon!

As mentioned above, there were too many great channels to fit into a single post so I will do a follow-up soon with some of the others.

Do you have a favourite? Let me know in the comments below.

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11 Comments

  1. Linda August 5, 2016 at 1:50 pm - Reply

    Hi Katie,
    I just received word that I will be teaching an eighteen, 1/2 hour session of music tech-and anything goes as far as content!
    So excited but have no idea where to start. My kids have access to an individual macs and ipads or as a group- the Promethean board.
    Thank you!

    • Katie August 8, 2016 at 4:23 pm - Reply

      Sounds exciting Linda! You have some great resources at your disposal 🙂 There are quite a lot of ideas in my other blog posts, so feel free to take a look around. And if you’re keen to get some personalised help (and online training videos) you might like to join my online community. Good luck with it all!

  2. Tina Harrison August 5, 2016 at 1:51 pm - Reply

    Lindsey Sterling covers
    Smalin. Visual animation of classical music favorites
    HarvardTHUD. Variations on the cup song. New version posted each spring and fall
    Straight No Chaser. Remixes and parodies

    • Katie August 8, 2016 at 4:20 pm - Reply

      Great suggestions Tina! I have a couple of those on my list for part 2 🙂

  3. Peter Schuhmacher August 5, 2016 at 9:18 pm - Reply

    Hello Katie,

    Thanks for the article on YouTube channels.

    I have found Joe Penna’s channel MysteryGuitarMan to be useful. He has been around for a very long time and as a result inspired many others to do similar ptojects .

    Bye,
    Peter Schuhmacher.

    • Katie August 8, 2016 at 4:20 pm - Reply

      I like him too and that channel is on my list for a follow-up post 🙂

  4. Linda August 14, 2016 at 1:22 am - Reply

    Hi Katie,
    I LOVE so much of your work! -so clear for me as a teacher (of the older generation!) and content that students really need to be an engaged learner.
    I am trying to use soundinfusion, have created a teacher login but then can’t access some pages from the homesite. Can you help?
    Thank you so much again!

  5. Anna Davidson July 17, 2017 at 4:59 pm - Reply

    Scott Bradlee’s Post Modern Jukebox – Jazz covers of a wide range of songs in many styles
    The Bottle Boys -Danish group performing covers using beer bottles and percussion
    Search for ‘The Flopatron’ -a programmed arrangement of computer components to play well-known songs.

    • Katie July 19, 2017 at 3:22 pm - Reply

      Thanks Anna! I know the first one, but haven’t seen the other two – I’ll check them out. I might need to do a follow-up post 🙂

  6. Melissa Locke April 2, 2021 at 1:15 am - Reply

    As a Canadian, I love that so many of these are Canadians!! Thanks for including them in your playlist. ???

    • Katie April 16, 2021 at 12:16 pm - Reply

      Yay for Canada! It must be something in the water?? 🙂

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