Music and Art Based Apps
Many of us have near constant access to phones, tablets, and computers. They can be a source of excitement, connection, stress, and relaxation, depending on how you use them. Music and art have wonderful therapeutic properties outside of music and art therapy sessions, whether you engage through listening, creating, digitally, or physically. Here are some of our favorite free apps for music, wellness, creative expression, and relaxation for people of all ages!
Cool Koala: Guided Bedtime Meditations for Kids
Free on iOS + Amazon Alexa. Premium upgrade available.
Cool Koala features a daily rotation of guided meditations set to music by New Hampshire music therapist, Ryan Judd. Themes include breath and body relaxation, mindfulness, stress reduction, and social-emotional skills like compassion, gratitude, and self-love. If you are not an Apple user, you can listen to several options online at https://www.coolkoala.co/.
Recommended for people ages 5-10, these can be used to calm down bedtime routines, teach kids relaxation and stress reduction habits, reset after a mid-day meltdown, and provide conversation starters about healthy relationships and self-image.
Cove: Music for Mental Health
Free on iOS.
Cove is a digital musical mood journal. After a mood check-in, users can create musical soundscapes and visual art at the same time by choosing color schemes, instruments, and placement of shapes on the screen. After completion, there is a journal entry page for reflection, sharing, uploading images, and saving to revisit later.
Music and art creation (journaling, too!) can be a daily practice of self-expression and reflection, a positive outlet for stress, a self-esteem building hobby, or a fun way to pass time. There are no wrong ways to create, lots of options for personalization, and no set amount of time needed. If you feel stuck with journaling, prefer to express your emotions in other ways, or are looking for motivation to start and continue a self-care journey, physical and digital creative art-making can be a non-threatening and engaging starting place.
GoMoodboard
Free online at GoMoodBoard.com or via the App Store.
GoMoodboard is a digital collaging and media display platform. Mood Boards are arrangements of images, videos, text, and other materials to convey a desired emotion, style, or idea. Users can use a variety of template options, upload their own art/images, or start from scratch to create a visual journal.
Here are a few ideas to spark your creativity: Aspirations, Meaningful Memories, Relaxing Landscapes, Words of Inspiration (song lyrics, anyone?), or a visual Timeline of important life events.
Groovepad
Free on iOS, Android, and Google Play (with ads)
Groovepad is a beat making app featuring a wide variety of echno, hip-hop, electronic, rock, pop, trap, and indie sample options. Users can pick beats, melodies, bass, chords, and special effects from row of of 4, color-coded options per category.
In Black communities, beatmaking has been a longstanding practice of self-expression, a positive outlet for stress, a self-esteem building hobby, a form of protest, and a fun way to pass time. These beats can stand by themselves or provide a foundation for additional music making, songwriting, rapping, or spoken word.
Humm.ly
Free on iOS and Google Play.
Created by board-certified music therapists, Humm.ly is a music and mindfulness app. Users can choose music-based meditations or playlists from categories like daily routines, evening unwinding, and uplifting afternoon energy boosts. You can also set goals, pair with an Apple watch to track your heart rate during music-based relaxations, and track your experiences over time.
Incredibox
Free at Incredibox.com; $4.99 on iOS, Google Play, Steam, and Amazon.
Incredibox offers seven singers and a plethora of acapella melodies, beatboxers, and visuals to mix and match your own musical arrangements by a simple click and drag. Choose from 8 different soundscapes including Punk, Bollywood, Japanese hip-hop, Samba, Pop, Electronic, Jazz to create new musical combinations and unlock music videos.