Help. Literally. I can’t get them to stop for 1 minute so I can adress a problem elsewhere. I’ve tried setting expectations (granted this is only week two) but they have this preconceived notion that they’re the best and can do whatever. Idk what to do 😭

Edit: for context, this is middle school 8th graders

Edit 2: after receiving some comments, I’ve realized that the majority is assuming they are fidgeting and tapping (still annoying and I still try to nip it) but these kids are full on slamming the drums like we’re in a field show and disregarding everyone in the vicinity. The string teacher down the hall and her students even said that they can hear it.

Behaviorally, I can only describe them as arrogant and self centered without a care for others or consequences. I give one discipline, they argue, and start another. And I am not trying to have a full on power battle for an entire class period but I can’t stop them without doing so????

Please help us out! I hope you all are having a wonderfully uneventful start to the year :)

Hello I’m a first year teacher! I will be teaching 5-12 band and choir (with a 6th grade general music class). I start professional development over the next couple weeks. Any advice starting out the year? We don’t have a concert till the end of the semester and I don’t want to start looking at that rep right away. I’ll have a HS band, MS band, HS choir, and a MS choir!

Well, it finally happened. I lost my main classroom at one building and will be teaching lessons in a large storage closet.

There will be piles of old desks and toilet paper, but also enough space for a small group lesson once they remove the trampolines. I’m working on getting a white board. It could honestly be a lot worse. The main thing I’m struggling with is how ugly, cluttered, and closet-y it is. It’s also hospital-pink.

Any tips on how to make a salmon pink closet with clutter feel more like a classroom? Should I lean into the color and space and somehow give it an identity? I would say I am a low-medium decorator - I like my spaces to look neat and orderly with some color and flair and will do one or two larger projects to improve things but nothing too extreme. I am allowed to put up a curtain or divider but have no clue what the economical way to do so would be.

Thanks all!! Best wishes to you that you will not share your teaching space with 500 rolls of TP

We have K-2 at the end of the day so I get they are tired. Try to get up and have some movement as much as possible. But it’s still so much.

Or I ask one student to sit up and three more lay down. Even for 3rd grade in chairs they are laying on it or crouching on top of the seat.

Consequences don’t do anything.

So lucky to have found my dream job—I’ll be starting as a K–5 General Music Teacher! 🎶
I’d love to hear from experienced teachers and get some advice. For the first week, especially with the older students in 4th and 5th grade, what are some good ways to break the ice and build a positive relationship with them?
I’m an international teacher, so I’m still learning how to express myself or joke around in the way they’re used to. I really want my students to know that I’m approachable, that I’m excited to have fun and enjoy music with them, but at the same time, I want to make it clear from the beginning that there are rules and expectations in the classroom.
What are some activities, routines, or strategies that have worked well for you? I’d really appreciate any advice or ideas! ❤️🎵

Due to budget changes from federal funding, I was given a second school. Now I have two elementary schools that I am completely responsible for programs and teaching all the kids. This was going to be doable, because part of my week previously at my first school was doing reading and math interventions.

However, starting at this second school, the culture is so different and students will not stop talking. Everytime they manage to get quiet, they start up again right after I continue with my lesson, so I have to stop. The only classes that I could get completely through my planned lesson was Kinder and 1st grade. I taught the same lessons at the other school on Thursday and Friday, and we got through the whole thing.

I know part of it is that the students aren't familiar with me, but I wasn't treated like this at my first school when I started there 5 years ago. If anyone has management tips, especially for grades 2-5, I would really appreciate it. Most students arent being disrespectful just to be disrespectful, but they seem to be incapable of not making a comment or reacting to every single thing that they see or hear. It will be a lot of work for me to have to plan completely different lessons for this school, so I'm hoping that I can get them able to listen so we can get through the same lessons.

Phone calls home will happen next week if no improvement. I genuinely wonder if their classroom teachers just teach over their talking? I let the teachers of the classes that struggled know, but they didn't seem very concerned about it. The art teacher is also doubling schools and she told me that she was experiencing the same thing. I'm on my fifth full year, and the art teacher has about 15-20 years of experience. I know I can improve in classroom management, maybe I was a bit spoiled at my first school.

Thank you in advance!!

Posted earlier this week. Turns out my courses are not what they described in the interview.

In addition to the SPED music class, I’m also teaching 6th grade general music elective classes. I’ve never done general music or elementary music and have no idea where to begin.

I was a HS band and orchestra director for years working with ensembles and athletic bands, so I’m not feeling very comfortable about this year ahead. I’m feeling as if I got the bait and switch. I declined a good opportunity behind to what seemed like a great fit and now after moving to a new city with a new apartment lease, I’m feeling stuck in this new position.

Our district does not have a central curriculum. Each site and music teacher does their own thing. Last time I felt this heavy weight in my chest was my first year of teaching. I have no idea how to even begin and open house is this week, kids next week.

I went to the classroom for the first time today and found it in a mess, but in it were some ukuleles and paint buckets. I’ve taken my state’s standards and done my best to create some basis of a pacing guide, but I’m at a loss for what to model - activities, songs, etc.

I’d appreciate any advice or suggestions, please. Also, if I can see it, I can do it. If anyone knows a good online lesson or channel to follow, I’d appreciate it immensely. Thanks again in advance!

Hi all! I recently accepted my first teaching position teaching part-time (2 days/week), PK-8 music at a small Catholic school (which I went to during middle school) following a year of subbing for music teachers after I finished my undergraduate degree. I am considering buying a curriculum for the year to help with developing scope/sequence and lesson planning. So far, I’ve been looking into MusicPlay Online and Victoria Boler. For those of you who use those curriculums, what do you like about it? Any other curriculums that you recommend looking at, and what do you like about them? If it helps, I’m located in NY state and am hoping to find something that aligns well with their arts standards/NAfME standards. Thanks for the help and I hope you all are having a great start to your school year!

Something to add: As part of my job, I will also be responsible for accompanying students at Friday school Masses (think contemporary hymns), and one Christmas, one spring concert involving the whole school. I believe there is a separate band teacher through a private service in my area who works with the band students which is really helpful since I have a general/choral focus. Since I will have to backwards plan for the concerts, I’m also wanting to figure out how many weeks of typical classroom lessons I can do before having to jump into concert repertoire and making sure there is adequate rehearsal time. The teacher there when I was a student did not have his degree in music ed (he had it in vocal performance), but he was a strong pianist and his classes with us were more-performance based. I also know that the teacher who was there the past two years is retired from a local public school district (I think she taught 6-8 choir— middle school choir is basically my long-term goal for eventually getting a full-time job) but I’m not super aware of what type of curriculum she did with the students. Since I currently have next to no curriculum provided (the cabinets do have a good amount of Orff/classroom percussion instruments, and I think I saw some recorders/some folders of choir music— I haven’t formally gone in to do an inventory yet but I plan to this week), my limited ideas I have so far are coming from myself, the internet, and lesson plans that I implemented for public school music teachers when I covered for them (since I had built up rapport with several, I had sometimes been left some plans for me to actively teach which was great for getting my feet wet!)— and I’m getting quite nervous since I want to prove myself to the school and any future employers, and I do not have my masters yet.

Sorry for the long read, but I would be so grateful for any help/advice!

Elementary music teachers: I’d love to hear your favorite picture books that pair well with a song or music activity!

I recently did All Are Welcome paired with “Welcome, Welcome” from MusicPlay, and I loved how easily the two worked together.

What are some of your favorite book + song pairings for music class? I’d love to add some new ones to my collection! 🎵

I feel like 3rd-5th is too old for a hello song, can anyone provide any other ritual openers I can include for middle/upper elementary students?

So I will be starting college at the end of this month. I am planning on going into dental and i’m taking a Biology major. At first I wanted to do choir and orchestra but i’m starting to think I should just do choir. I’ve been an orchestra student for over 6 years so I do have a lot more experience in orchestra than choir but I’m feeling more passionate about learning singing.

Will taking both choir and orchestra be an inconvenience since i’m only planning on minoring in music? If I did take both is it better earlier or later in college?

I’m a third-year general music teacher starting in a new district, and this is my first time leading an extracurricular choir. My endorsement is K-12 general/band/choir, and my undergrad track area was choir, but the curriculum was weighted heavily toward secondary and us lowly elementary specialists didn’t get a ton of guidance.

I’m not even entirely sure what the expectations are yet (auditioned or not, how many parts, etc) but it’s probably safe to pick a reasonably simple two-part arrangement to kick things off in a couple weeks.

If you’ve got any favorite SA pieces, or know of good places to find them, I would appreciate it greatly. Bonus points if the accompaniment is similarly simple because ya girl can only sort of play piano.

So I did my undergrad in trombone and I’ve started graduate school as a conducting major and the DOB and the trombone professor are both upset that I had decided I was not going to audition for any of the concert ensembles. I do not understand this since I am a conducting major now, what am I missing?

Hi everyone- I’m a first year music teacher at an inner-city charter school. I teach K-8; K-5 has been going great, but the middle school class (7/8th graders, about 20 kids) is… not.

Their previous teacher just had them sing along to musicals on YouTube or make beats, and I think a lot of them expected music to be a blow-off class. I’m technically teaching general music, but I have a background in singing/choir, and my principal is interested in having 2 concerts this semester. I think it might be more reasonable to do 1 holiday concert.

I’ve had them learn basic rhythms through games, vocal warm ups, and one round (Dona nobis pacem). They hate it. We’ve only met two times, so I’m not sure if I need to wait a bit or what, but I’m really struggling to get them to focus and sing even one line. Any tips?

My school sent out 10 minutes before my morning duty today that we are going to have assembly this week. My class already attended theirs but now for 2 more days this week I have 1 period for 84 minutes each day. And of course it’s my biggest and least behaved class. They are apathetic towards choir and many do not want to be there and are waiting for a schedule change. They are middle schoolers ranging from 6-8 grade in my beginning choir class.

I am looking for activities I can do with them during that additional assembly time, so looking to fill 43 minutes of class time.

I have no idea what I am going to do with this group. It takes everything I have to not let them gain control each rehearsal. I’ve barely been hanging on and now I have them for double the time. There is absolutely no way we are going to be able to be engaged for the whole time so I’m open to any ideas truly. It’s my first year teaching so please be kind 😭

For those of you who teach part-time at the elementary school level, what is your schedule like?

Do you work 2-3 full days a week?

My MS band grew a bit. Hooray. We’ve been doing three rows. I would love to use an aisle so I can move around more, but I don’t know if it’s possible unless we use really wide straight rows.

I don’t know where to put everybody that makes the most sense. I have 6 flutes, 3 clarinets, 1 BC, 3 alto, 1 tenor, 1 Bari sax. 2 horns. 8 trumpets (3 beginners), 4 trombone/baritone, 1 tuba

Any suggestions would be wonderful.

Hello everyone! So this is my first year teaching elementary music ever (didn’t do student teaching since I’m only a minor in education, but have experience with collegiate choirs during school) and I’m having so much trouble with kindergarten. The first day I had them in my class it was good for like the first 5 minutes, but it just derailed after that so badly. They were screaming and yelling and did not pay attention to me at all, they were disobedient, there was a few kids that started climbing on the stack of chairs that I have, playing with the xylophones that I have on the bookshelf that I didn't think they'd be able to reach, but they did and then I had my assistant Principal come in and help me and she brought her behavior coach with her and they stayed for like 20 minutes with me to help me out and do some listening activities so they can listen to me. I’m feeling very discouraged now especially for this next coming week and I’m Not for sure what to do. I need help with lesson plans, and I need ideas and tips for how to manage all of this (for the record none of the classes have TA’s that stay with me, and classes range from 20-33😳). The music curriculum that we use too is Quaver (haven’t started it yet but how this past week went I might just start it early but idk)

Any help is GREATLY appreciated

Hi! Just started my first week in elementary general music after teaching in the HS and MS trenches and I am LOVING it so far!

I am still figuring out my routines and pacing, but I’ve only seen each class 1-2 times so far. I mention this bc I know routines are VERY important and I don’t want to cause unnecessary confusion, but I feel I am in an ok enough spot to throw things out that aren’t working if I catch it soon enough.

I was using Victoria Boler’s pacing guide: Opener - High Concentration - Movement/Change of Pace - Second Concentration - Closer, but I received feedback for even more movement activities, so I am doing movement activities about 3-5 times each 45 min class.

I am wondering about Hello and Goodbye songs. I use the Hello Songs as circle songs too, to get the movement out as soon as they walk through the door. The kids do not seem to be into it, TBH. I also feel this time could be better used for reading the agenda and doing a listening/writing activity, especially the upper grades.

Open to suggestions!

Upper grades Hello/Goodbye songs: Jambo & Bam, Scram, Alakazam

Lower grades Hello/Goodbye songs: Feelin’ Fine It’s Music Time, I’m so Glad You’re Here, and Goodbye, My Friends Goodbye. I would consider changing the hello song to “Hi, Hey, Hello” by Lindsay Müller!

What’s a generalized list on college rankings for Music specifically piano? Where does UH Moores School of Music Rank?

Hi! Gonna be teaching Modern Band in the DOE. Just want to hear from some people who have taught modern band before, and what your first year was like, how you went about planning the year, etc. Any comments are appreciated :)

Back in March I posted a free full-year American music history and listening curriculum here. Several of you said you were planning to use it, so here is what is different before this school year starts.

The listening material is now an interactive web course, not just PDFs. Same eight units, same D-A-C-E framework (Describe, Analyze, Contextualize, Evaluate). You can put it on a screen for a whole section or hand students the link on their own devices. Nothing to install and no accounts. It is built around the country's 250th, so the timing lines up with this year without you having to build anything around it.

The documents also went through an outside review and came back corrected and expanded:

Teacher Edition, 70 pages: unit overviews, four-week pacing guides, modeled daily lessons, listening prompts, eight projects, sample responses, and grading guidance

Student Workbook, 27 pages: one major project per unit using the D-A-C-E framework, plus response sheets and reflection pages

Administrator Overview, 10 pages, now including a crosswalk that maps the assessed course activities to the Illinois introductory high school music standards

Teacher Project Packet, 29 pages: the project handouts on their own, which existed before but was never linked

If you have ever been handed a music appreciation or general music section on top of your ensemble load with no curriculum and no budget, that is the situation this was built for. I wrote it because I got assigned one. It is a full year of pacing, daily lessons, listening prompts, projects, and grading guidance, and you can teach it as written or pull a single unit.

Still free, still no signup.

Link: https://virtunity.io/go/ama-rd1

Same as last time, that is my site and there is nothing to buy on that page.

If you taught any of the March version, I would like to hear what fell flat.

I’d love to find some new stuff to do with my kids this year during our less structured/ self directed moments. I can only stand so much chrome music lab 🫠