🎶 9 Fun September Snapshots from My Elementary Music Classroom 🎹

Here in New Jersey, our school year usually starts right before or just after Labor Day. Setting up my music classroom each year is one of my favorite back-to-school tasks—especially now that my daughters are teenagers and love to help. Time with them is precious, and having them join me in the process is both fun and practical!

As we finished setting up, I wanted to share 9 snapshots from my classroom this September to inspire you for your own music spaces:

1. Meet the Musician Board

This year’s board features Lin-Manuel Miranda! Each class from preschool to grade 4 will create their own “All About Music” boards using Canva templates from the Extras Page (https://buymeacoffee.com/elmusedtech/extras).

My daughter Mikayla set up the board, added “Ten Fun Facts,” and decorated it with sheet music from My Shot. She’s a huge Hamilton and Moana fan—I’m partial to In The Heights!

2. Cleaning the Instruments

Keeping instruments clean is essential! My daughter Sarah takes charge of wiping each instrument down. If you need tips, there are so many fantastic resources online—from YouTube tutorials to Instagram and TikTok posts by other music educators.

3. Labeling Barred Instruments

Labeling is a lifesaver for young learners. Sarah added note name stickers to each bar, and these hold up much better than the ones I made years ago. You can find similar labels on Amazon or Rhythm Band.

4. Solfa Hand Visuals

Traditional solfa hand signs are such a helpful tool, especially on the whiteboard. Students love seeing the visual cues while singing and moving.

5. Dunkin’ Pumpkin

I can’t resist my fall favorite—Pumpkin Spice! I even created a steady beat play-along video(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPUmBGY9n-I) inspired by it, and Suno turned my pumpkin obsession into a song. Bonus: In this picture, you’ll see my daughter’s super-cool self-done nails!

6. Contrabass Resonator Bars

These add wonderful depth to our Orffestrations. Students love exploring different tones and textures using these bars.

7. Floor Seat Cushions

These cushions are great for certain classes—they make the space cozy and help with seating flexibility. But, full disclosure: sometimes they can be a distraction, depending on the age group. I usually use them selectively.

8. Drum Garden

I’ve collected a variety of drums for rhythm play-alongs and ensemble work. Behind the drums, you’ll see our “I Can” statements for each grade level, showing students what they will focus on each year.

9. Classroom Percussion Instruments

I’ve built a collection of classroom percussion instruments over the years. Having enough of each type—woods, metals, shakers—lets every student participate fully, whether we’re exploring one instrument type or doing a mixed ensemble.

Setting up a music classroom is a lot of work, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Seeing students engage with instruments, boards, and activities that were carefully prepared makes it all worth it! I hope these snapshots give you ideas for your own space this September.