Would you like to set your PowerPoint presentations to music? Even better – music that is free of copyright restrictions? Check out the site www.freeplaymusic.com. This site allows you to sample a wide variety of instrumental music – everything from soft jazz to hip hop to rock. Once you find something you like, it can be in your presentation in a flash.

Here’s how it works:
1. Click on a style or enter a search term to find music that meets your needs
2. A results screen will come up. Click on the shortest time frame on the Preview side to hear a sample
3. If you don’t like it, try another one. If you do, look to the left of the preview option and find MP3. 
4. Right click on the length of clip that best meets your needs and choose “Save Target As…” Save it somewhere you will be able to find it, either on a flash drive, your folder on the server, or, if you are at home, your MyDocuments folder.

Once you save the clip, you are ready to insert it into PowerPoint.
1. Go to the slide you want the music to play on and choose Insert–> Movies and Sounds–> Sound from file.
2. Browse to where you saved the music. Select it and choose Open.
3. PPT will ask you whether you want the sound to play automatically or when clicked. Choose whatever works for you.

Voila! you have successfully inserted music into your presentation.
I know what you’re thinking. Now the music only plays on that one slide and stops when you click. Here’s the trick:
1. After you have inserted the sound, click on Slide Show –> Custom Animations.
2. Click the arrow or right click the sound icon in the window that pops up on the right.
3. Choose the Effect tab and adjust how long it plays.

Good luck! This also works well for student work and is a great alternative to using copyrighted music from a CD. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact Bridget in the Nexus.

Bored with making posters and doing PowerPoint presentations? Tired of the same old thing? There are many alternatives to traditional projects that you can try using Microsoft Publisher.
Using templates where you just type in your information, Publisher lets you create banners, greeting cards, advertisements, brochures, pamphlets, etc. etc. instantly and painlessly.
Are you a history teacher studying Ancient Egypt? Your students could create an advertisement for a company that will mummify people, incorporating what they have learned about the process and social customs.
Maybe you teach English and you are studying Edgar Allen Poe. Your students might collaboratively create a newsletter showcasing his accomplishments.
An environmental science teacher might have the students make a flyer detailing the dangers of the global warming or benefits of legislation supporting clean air.
If you teach a business class, you might have students create their own business cards.
Study Skills/Resource students might use the calendar feature to plan long term assignments and homework.
A foreign language class might create a travel brochure for a culture they are studying.
The ideas are endless. Microsoft Publisher offers students a chance to show their knowledge in a professional, real-world product that is both motivating and educational. Check it out today!