First things first: pause for a second and celebrate. Seriously. You did it. You landed the job, you earned the degree, and now you’re stepping into the music classroom as a new teacher. That’s no small feat. It took a lot of work, heart, and probably more caffeine than you’d like to admit. So take a deep breath, and let yourself feel proud.

Now, if you’re already feeling a bit anxious, or like you’re supposed to have all the answers on the first day of school, you’re not alone. Every teacher has stood where you are, wondering how to keep a roomful of students engaged and not using their instruments as pretend swords. So let’s talk about a few things that can make this first year of teaching feel a little more manageable.

You Don’t Have to Know Everything Right Away

Let’s get this one out of the way early. You’re going to mess up, and that’s okay. You’ll call a student by the wrong name, forget to print concert programs, or realize that you misjudged how long it would take to teach a certain skill.

That doesn’t mean you’re failing; it means you’re learning. No one expects a first-year teacher to get it right immediately. Student teaching can only teach you so much.

You probably already have an idea of the kind of teacher you want to be. That vision is important, but try not to hold yourself hostage to it from day one. The most powerful thing you can do this year is to embrace being a beginner. Ask for help. Shadow a colleague. Message a mentor. Music teachers are a tight-knit bunch, and most will be more than happy to pass on what they’ve learned (often the hard way).

Start Organized Now, Thank Yourself Later

Look, you may not be a color-coded binder person. That’s fine. But you do need a system to be an effective teacher.

There’s a lot to juggle: lesson plans, inventory, student progress, performance dates, budget requests, a bake sale or two… the list grows faster than you think. Organization will turn into one of the most important things you do for your first classroom. It will improve your mental health, give you more free time, and set you up for a better school year.

Whether you’re a spreadsheet fan or a sticky-note-on-the-podium type, start simple and sustainable. Use tools that do some of the heavy lifting, like a digital planner or a tool like MakeMusic that makes creating exercises, assigning parts, and collecting grades easy. Just find what works best for you and be consistent.

Your future self will thank you.

Make a Plan for the Chaos (aka Classroom Management)

There’s no “one size fits all” approach to classroom management, especially in the music room. It’s loud. It’s active. It’s unpredictable. So it helps to enter the year with a flexible plan.

Think through:

• Your expectations for student behavior
• How you’ll redirect without derailing
• What consequences (and rewards) feel fair and doable
• How to recover when the plan goes sideways

Not sure where to begin? We’ve got a helpful guide on classroom management strategies for music teachers here, and don’t hesitate to ask for help or get feedback from other colleagues.

Zoom Out: Get the Big Picture

Before you get caught up in the day-to-day, carve out some time to meet with your admin or fine arts coordinator. Ask them for the year-at-a-glance: major performance dates, deadlines, district assessments, school-wide events, professional development days, even standardized testing windows (because yes, they will throw off your rehearsal schedule).

Questions worth asking:

• How many concerts am I expected to plan?
• What’s the process for ensuring performance spaces?
• Are there community events or festivals we typically join?
• How did things run last year, and what might need adjusting?

The more you know up front, the fewer surprises you’ll have later.

Don’t Reinvent the Wheel. Use the Resources Available to You.

There’s no prize for doing everything the hard way, especially as a first year music teacher. Plenty of educators have been in your shoes, and they’ve made some pretty incredible resources because of it.

Need an assessment? A warm-up sequence? A full lesson plan? It’s out there. Sites like Band Directors Talk Shop, NAfME, and We Are Teachers offer tons of resources. MakeMusic also has its own resources page with information on state titles, toolkits, lesson plans, and our digital platform for music learning. Take some time to look at what has worked for veteran teachers in your subject area, school district, and type of school!

And here’s a little secret: most experienced teachers “borrow” ideas all the time. It’s not cheating. It’s collaboration.

Relationships Matter More Than You Think

Whether you’re the only music teacher at your school or part of a full department, having a support system is crucial.

Eat lunch with colleagues. Pop into another teacher’s classroom to say hi. Ask a veteran teacher how they handle parent communication. These small moments build trust, and they make a difference when you need backup or advice.

Don’t forget the larger music ed community, either. Check in with nearby directors, attend local conferences, and join a Facebook group. Even a quick DM to a fellow teacher across the country can spark ideas (or at least a much-needed meme exchange on a tough day). Don’t limit yourself to other first year music teachers either!

If you’re teaching at a high school, don’t limit yourself! Perhaps your elementary teachers have something to share with you, or your middle school teacher might recall that particular grade and provide some information. When you’re at a new school, it can seem daunting, but people do want to help you.

Growth Is the Goal (Not Perfection)

Think of your first year as one big rehearsal. Some sections will feel solid, others might be a bit off tempo, but every day is a chance to build toward something stronger.

Set realistic goals. Make time for reflection. Try something new. If it works, great. If it doesn’t, adjust. The key is staying flexible and learn from what happens. You are responsible for the success of your own classroom, but in real life, that doesn’t always happen the first time.

As you get into the groove, look for better ways to track student progress, not just for grading, but so you can tailor your instruction and make things like parent-teacher conferences or check-ins feel more purposeful and informed.

And don’t just give feedback, ask for it, too. Honest conversations about what’s working (and what’s not) can be surprisingly powerful for both you and your students. It shows them you’re learning too, and that’s a pretty great thing to model.

Advocate for Yourself & Your Program

When you’re new, asking for support can feel intimidating, especially while you’re still figuring out what your classroom needs. But that’s part of the process. Remember that you have to take care of yourself to care for your students.

As the year unfolds, pay attention to what’s helping and what’s holding you back. Maybe it’s more prep time before performances. Maybe it’s a tool that can save you hours on grading. (MakeMusic, for example, can streamline assignments, track practice, and provide real-time feedback.)

You don’t have to ask for everything at once. But when something would genuinely help you or your students grow, don’t be afraid to speak up.

It also helps to track your wins. Save student work, successful performance videos, or notes from families. That way, when it’s time to make a request, you’ll have more than passion behind you.

And keep an eye out for your “yes” people– the admin who pops into rehearsal, the parent who offers to help, the colleague who checks in. Those small connections can become the biggest sources of support as your program grows.

Work Smarter, Not Harder

Your budget probably isn’t endless, so you need to make it count. Look for tools that help you teach more effectively without adding hours to your workload. A platform like MakeMusic can be a real game-changer by saving time, simplifying your instruction, and letting you stay focused on the music.

If you’re not sure what’s worth the investment, ask other teachers what tools have actually made their day-to-day easier. You’ll get honest, practical advice.

And if your budget feels too tight for the tools you really need, there are other ways to find support. Many educators turn to grants, community partnerships, or booster organizations. Not sure where to start? Our blog on funding opportunities for music educators has ideas to help you begin.

Guard Your Time (and Sanity)

Music education is a calling, but it shouldn’t consume your entire identity. The emails can wait. The concert program can be finished tomorrow. Your students don’t need a burnt-out version of you.

Set boundaries, and stick to them. Schedule time for yourself. Say no when you need to. It doesn’t make you a bad teacher; it makes you a sustainable one.

There will always be “one more thing” to do, but the best thing you can do is know when to take a step back.

Embrace the Oops Moments

Spoiler alert: the perfect lesson plan doesn’t exist. Even the most experienced teachers have off days. You’ll run into awkward silences, forget where you saved a file, get thrown off by a question you weren’t expecting, or have a projector give out right before your big demo. It happens.

But here’s the thing—those moments don’t define your success. The best teachers aren’t the ones who never mess up. They’re the ones who stay calm, roll with it, and even laugh it off. Sometimes that makes the class more memorable.

When you show your students that mistakes are okay, you give them permission to take risks too. Be honest. Be human. That’s what they’ll remember most.

Don’t Forget Why You’re Here

There will be hard days. But there will also be magic.

Like the moment a quiet student raises their hand to ask a question. Or when your beginners finally lock in that tricky rhythm they struggled with for weeks. Or when someone walks out of your room humming a piece you introduced them to.

Write those moments down. Seriously. Keep a folder, a journal, or a sticky note tucked in your desk—something you can pull out when you’re tired and wondering if any of it is working.

Because your “why” isn’t always loud. It doesn’t always come with applause or glowing emails. Sometimes it’s just in the stillness after rehearsal, in a look of confidence on a student’s face, in the feeling that you helped create something meaningful that day.

So when the year gets chaotic, come back to that. The moments of connection. The spark of growth. The music.

That’s why you’re here.

And it matters more than you know.

FAQs for First Year Music Teachers

What should I do in the first week of school?

Focus on routines, relationships, and setting the tone. You don’t need to jump into skills on day one. Instead:

• Learn student names (try playing a name game!)
• Establish clear expectations for behavior, participation, and how the class will run.
• Play or sing something short and simple. Just give students a taste of what music class is about.
• Introduce instruments if applicable (but maybe wait to hand them out until your procedures are in place).

This first week is more about building trust than teaching repertoire. Start small and let the structure grow from there.

Are digital platforms like MakeMusic beginner-friendly?

Yes! And it’s a huge help when you’re managing a packed schedule. MakeMusic is designed with real classroom needs in mind. You can:

• Assign music and exercises digitally
• Track student practice (even at home)
• See everything all in one place
• Create your own exercises or generate them automatically with Sight Reading Studio

What supplies or resources do I need to start?

You don’t need to have everything on day one, but here are a few must-haves:

• A reliable tuner and metronome (physical or app-based)
• Extra reeds, valve oil, rosin, etc. (ask your predecessor what tends to run out)
• Seating charts or name tags, especially for large ensembles
• Physical sheet music and a digital catalog like MakeMusic
• A plan for how to store and organize everything (folders, lockers, storage bins)

And most importantly? A system that works for you. You can build your classroom setup over time. Don’t feel like it has to be Pinterest-perfect on day one.

How do I connect with parents and administrators?

Start simple by introducing yourself early and communicating regularly.

For parents, a welcome email or printed letter outlining your goals, expectations, and how to reach you sets a great tone.

For admin, loop them in on key dates, invite them to performances, and share success stories from your class. A short note about a student’s progress or a video from rehearsal can go a long way in building support.

How do I balance teaching fundamentals with making music fun

You don’t have to choose one or the other. The magic happens when they’re woven together.

Use music that students enjoy to teach foundational concepts (our Foundations Series by Brian Balmages focuses on just that!)

Add variety by trying different ways to learn concepts through games and engaging activities.

You can also let your students take the wheel (not literally) by giving them options for how they want to learn something, so they feel more actively involved.

What’s the best way to organize my classroom or rehearsal space?

Create clear sections for instruments, music, and materials. Label everything. And keep things accessible, especially for younger students.

You can also check out our blog on seating arrangements for more guidance here!

How do I advocate for my program to the administration?

Keep track of your impact, including student growth, concert highlights, and positive feedback. When you need support, share how your program benefits students and aligns with school goals. A clear, confident story goes a long way.
For more information, check out our blog on building administrator support and advocacy.

The post What Should First Year Music Teachers Know? appeared first on MakeMusic.

Our goal at MakeMusic is to support educators impacted by this shift by offering a stable, all-in-one platform that not only fills this gap but also provides an improved experience that teachers can trust. For those looking to switch, the transition is simple, and you’ll quickly gain access to powerful tools designed specifically for music educators.

What MakeMusic Offers

With the back to school season approaching, now is the ideal time to explore alternatives so you can head into the next year with confidence. MakeMusic offers a comprehensive suite of features that not only meet but often exceed the capabilities of MuseClass.

What MakeMusic Offers At a Glance:

• • Real-time Feedback: Students get immediate red/green note assessment for pitch and rhythm.
  • Music Catalog: Both teachers and students can access our digital library featuring over 24,000 titles, including Essential Elements, Broadway hits, contest titles, contemporary pop and rock, and more!
  • Professional Accompaniments: Say goodbye to MIDI. Make practice engaging with professional accompaniments to play along with. 
  • Sight Reading Studio: Generate customized exercises to help students build their sight reading skills and music literacy. 
  • Compose: Upload your own content (from MIDI, MXL, MusicXML, or SMZ files) or create original compositions to assign to students. 
  • LMS Integration: Accounts can be quickly accessed using Single Sign-On through the most popular Learning Management Systems.
  • Gradebook: Access student recordings, assignments, performance scores, practice analytics, and provide feedback.
  • Video Lessons: Supplement your teaching with video lessons that provide additional support and instruction for your students.
  • Device Compatibility: Available for students and teachers to use on computers, laptops, Chromebooks, and iPads.

And we are continuously improving and developing new features to ensure MakeMusic remains an innovative solution for teachers in the long term. As a part of this dedication, we are consistently adding and improving features and content to the Music Catalog. You’ll enjoy one of our latest releases, Foundations: Essential Edition. Essential Edition is the most in-depth and comprehensive Foundations release yet and includes soundtracks from favorite movies and video games. Explore the rest of the popular Foundations series here.

Click here to see a full feature-by-feature comparison and understand how MakeMusic stands out.

Want to Learn More About How MakeMusic Can Support Your Needs?

Take this opportunity to explore how MakeMusic can make a difference in your classroom by scheduling a personalized demo with our team or testing out the platform with a 30-day free trial.

We’re here to help make this transition as smooth as possible. Let us know if you have any questions by reaching out to team@makemusic.com. 

The post We’re Here to Support Former MuseClass Users appeared first on MakeMusic.

Between large class sizes, performance demands, and limited prep time, many music teachers are being asked to do more with less. The stress that comes with this pressure isn’t just everyday stress; it’s burnout—a pervasive state of chronic emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion that silently erodes an educator’s passion and motivation.

Burnout is quickly becoming one of the top reasons that teachers leave the profession altogether, but there are ways to prevent burnout, and with the right strategies and support, it doesn’t have to be inevitable.

Let’s explore what causes burnout in music education, how it affects your school, and what steps you can take to combat it, including how MakeMusic helps districts save time, reduce turnover, and improve instructional consistency.

Why Burnout Happens in Music Education

Educator burnout is rarely a personal failing; it’s a systemic challenge driven by persistent, overwhelming demands.
For music educators, these pressures feel uniquely intense. Common triggers of burnout include:

• Overwhelming Workloads: Beyond direct teaching, music educators often manage extensive grading, lesson planning for multiple ensembles and skill levels, administrative paperwork, intense performance preparation, instrument inventory, and consistent parent communication. It’s a symphony of tasks that often extends well beyond the school day.
• Lack of Resources & Support: Feeling unsupported in terms of adequate materials, sufficient prep time, or even a basic administrative understanding of their specialized role can compound feelings of isolation.
• Large Class Sizes & Diverse Needs: Managing increasing student numbers while striving to provide individualized attention to each aspiring musician is a constant tightrope walk.
• High-Stakes Pressure: The expectation for flawless performances, coupled with the pressure to demonstrate academic outcomes, adds another layer of stress to an already demanding role.
• Emotional Labor: Supporting student well-being and navigating complex parent interactions can be emotionally draining.
  Professional Isolation: Music teachers are often the sole specialists in their building, lacking a direct department colleague to share ideas or challenges with on a routine basis.

The Impact of Burnout in Education

When burnout takes hold, its effects reverberate throughout the entire educational ecosystem, hitting both the quality of instruction and the broader school community.

Impact on the Quality of Music Education:

• Reduced Enthusiasm & Creativity: Exhausted educators may find their passion for teaching dimming, leading to less vibrant lesson delivery and a reluctance to explore new pedagogical approaches.
• Less Personalized Instruction: Time constraints mean less individualized feedback and support, hindering specific student growth and mastery.
• Curriculum Stagnation: The energy simply isn’t there to innovate, update programs, or integrate new technologies.
  Impact on Student Learning: Students are incredibly perceptive; they can sense educator exhaustion, which may inadvertently affect their engagement and progress.

Impact on the School Community:

• Increased Teacher Turnover & Costs: Burnout is a primary driver of educators leaving the profession, incurring significant financial and institutional costs for recruitment, hiring, and training replacements.
• Negative School Culture: Persistent burnout can contribute to lower morale across all staff, subtly affecting the overall school climate.
• Difficulty Attracting Talent: Schools known for high educator workload and stress levels often struggle to attract new, passionate talent.
• Personal Toll: Most importantly, chronic burnout has serious implications for educators’ mental and physical health.

How Administrators Can Help Alleviate Burnout

Combating educator burnout effectively requires more than just self-care tips; it demands systemic support from school leadership and districts. The focus must shift to proactive strategies that address the root causes of workload and stress. These include:

• Streamlining Administrative Tasks: Identifying and optimizing time-consuming, non-instructional duties frees up educators to focus on what they do best – teaching.
• Investing in Practical Tools & Resources: Providing access to technology and support like MakeMusic that genuinely alleviates workload pressure and enhances efficiency.
• Fostering a Culture of Support: Encouraging collaboration among educators, promoting clear communication channels, and actively valuing educator well-being beyond mere platitudes.
• Prioritizing Professional Development: Offering training focused on efficiency, sustainable practices, and leveraging new technologies to manage demands.

These steps not only reduce teacher stress but also improve consistency and student outcomes.

How MakeMusic Helps Districts Combat Educator Burnout

Understanding these challenges leads directly to seeking effective solutions. This is where tools like MakeMusic offer a tangible way to support educator well-being and improve program quality. MakeMusic directly addresses several core triggers of burnout by simplifying many of the most time-consuming aspects of a music educator’s day.

Reclaim Teacher Time

MakeMusic significantly reduces the administrative burden on teachers, enabling them to devote more time to meaningful instruction. By automating routine tasks—like assignment creation, grading, and student progress tracking—MakeMusic frees up hundreds of hours every year.

Improve Instructional Quality

Efficiency is only part of the picture. MakeMusic also empowers educators to deliver high-quality, engaging instruction by allowing them to assign interactive exercises, complete with professional accompaniments, to reinforce learning and make practice feel less like a chore. Teachers can also track student progress through submissions and built-in analytics, ensuring personalized support and clear progress insights.

Supports Staffing Shortages

MakeMusic’s automated features and instructional tools help educators manage larger class sizes more effectively without compromising quality. By streamlining instruction, grading, and feedback processes, we ensure that teachers can maintain high standards of learning even when student-to-teacher ratios are less than ideal, easing the pressure during challenging staffing periods.

Reduces Turnover and Boosts Morale

Less stress leads to better retention. By easing workloads and supporting meaningful instruction, MakeMusic helps prevent burnout, build morale, and reduce costly turnover.

Ensures Consistency Across Programs

MakeMusic standardizes instruction across schools and classrooms. With one platform for assignments, grading, communication, and content access, students receive consistent, high-quality learning, no matter where they are.

The Symphony of a Sustainable Future

Educator burnout is a serious challenge that affects not only individuals but also the entire educational system. Combating it is not merely about supporting teachers; it is about investing in the long-term health of our music programs and, ultimately, the success of every student they serve. Supporting music educators with effective tools means safeguarding their passion, increasing their capacity, and ensuring vibrant, thriving learning environments.

Want to discuss how MakeMusic fits your program and can help create a more sustainable, high-quality music education experience? Schedule a demo today!

The post How to Combat Burnout in Music Education appeared first on MakeMusic.

It’s because we want to make it known that music education is more than a creative outlet. It’s a powerful, practical tool that solves challenges that extend far beyond the music room.

The 10 Benefits of Music Education for Students

A strong music program influences everything from how students learn and think to their crucial social and emotional skills.

Not sure? Let’s explore 10 compelling ways music education enriches students’ lives and strengthens schools, proving it’s a truly smart investment.

Provides a Creative Outlet

Music offers students a unique way to express themselves and their ideas. It encourages them to think creatively and take artistic risks, building an innovative mindset that is useful in any subject. For example, a student might experiment by adding their personal touch to a standard piece or work with classmates to find fun, unexpected melodies in a composition project.

Sharpens Listening & Focus

Music absolutely demands sharp listening skills. Students must hear details such as pitch, rhythm, and volume. This sharpens their listening skills, helping them pay better attention and focus on instruction in all their classes, as well as outside of school. Think about how a band section adjusts its volume just from seeing the director’s hand signal, or how a choir member fine-tunes their voice to blend perfectly with others.

Builds Teamwork & Community

Being part of a band, choir, or orchestra is a fantastic way to learn about teamwork and collaboration. Students quickly figure out that everyone’s effort contributes to the group’s overall success. This builds a strong sense of shared responsibility, respect, and community. You’ll see this when students help each other with a tricky part, or when an ensemble celebrates together once they’ve nailed a challenging tempo change.

Instills Discipline & Confidence

Consistently practicing an instrument or voice builds real discipline and teaches patience. Students learn that sticking with something, even when it’s tough, leads to big improvements. That moment a student finally plays a challenging piece they’ve worked so hard on in front of an audience is a huge confidence booster. It shows them they can achieve difficult goals with dedication.

Increases Attention Spans

With so many distractions and quick serotonin boosts available to students on their phones and online, music education is an excellent way to build focus. Learning music means paying close attention to many details and how everything fits together. This trains the brain to concentrate deeply, which significantly boosts their attention span for all kinds of learning. Just think about sight-reading new music; that sharp, quick focus is precisely what helps improve concentration for other complex schoolwork.

Improves Learning & Scores in Other Disciplines

The cognitive benefits of music are pretty amazing. It actively develops parts of the brain involved in language processing and strengthens “spatial-temporal skills” crucial for subjects like math and problem-solving. Research has even shown that people who practice a musical instrument have “larger growth of neural activity” than people who don’t. Additionally, students who participate in music education tend to perform better academically overall and are more likely to graduate.

Develops Time Management Skills

Juggling rehearsals, lessons, and practice with schoolwork and other activities teaches students practical time management skills. They learn how to prioritize tasks, set goals, and manage their schedule effectively to meet all their commitments.

Relieves Stress & Anxiety

With all the pressure students face, having a healthy way to de-stress is vital. Playing an instrument, singing, or just listening to music can be a powerful emotional outlet. It offers a calm escape from outside pressures, helping them express their emotions, connect with others, and develop their sense of identity.

Encourages Curiosity & Cultural Awareness

Music introduces students to different cultures, musical genres, and ways of expressing themselves. This sparks a curiosity that often lasts a lifetime, encouraging continuous learning and broadening their worldview. Music is a way for them to connect not only with their fellow musicians but also with people across the world who share a passion for music.

Supports Motor Skills & Cognitive Development

For younger students, especially, learning an instrument is fantastic for developing both fine and gross motor skills. The detailed finger movements for instruments like piano or guitar, or the coordination needed for percussion, really refine their dexterity. These physical actions are also strongly linked to brain development, enhancing memory and cognitive skills.

How MakeMusic Helps You Improve Your Music Program

Understanding the profound benefits of music education is one thing; effectively nurturing them within a busy school environment is another. Daily realities often mean balancing large class sizes, diverse student needs, and limited prep time. This is where modern education tech tools become invaluable, acting as a crucial support system for both educators and students.

MakeMusic offers a platform designed to streamline daily tasks for teachers and empower students to take ownership of their learning.

• Saves Valuable Teacher Time: Adding automation to tasks like assignment creation, grading, and feedback frees up educators to provide more direct, personalized instruction.
• Empowers Independent Student Practice: Giving students real-time feedback, professional accompaniments to play along with, and learning resources for effective home practice creates an interactive experience that encourages independent learning.
• Reinforces Classroom Learning: Providing a consistent platform to assign curriculum-aligned content, solidifying skills learned in class.

Ultimately, MakeMusic aims to make music education more accessible and manageable for everyone involved. It supports the benefits of music education by providing teachers with more capacity to teach and students with more effective resources to learn, practice, and grow.

For more ideas on how MakeMusic can transform your classroom, check out our blog, “9 Ways to Use MakeMusic Cloud in Your Classroom.”

Investing in Every Student’s Potential Through Meaningful Music Education

Music education is far more than an elective; it’s a fundamental investment in student success. A strong music program builds vital skills, from critical thinking to teamwork and resilience, benefiting every aspect of a student’s development. To discover how your school can strengthen these programs and empower students with essential learning resources, explore how MakeMusic can support your music initiatives today.

The post The 10 Benefits of Music Education for Students appeared first on MakeMusic.

Another month brings another wave of exciting additions to the MakeMusic Cloud library! Perfect for fun summer practicing. Whether you’re leading an ensemble or learning on your own, there’s something new to explore.

This month’s instrumental selections feature compelling new works by Cindy Hill, Mekel Rogers, Jack Stamp, and others. There’s a range of styles and levels to energize your summer performances.

In choral music, we’ve added expressive new repertoire from Pinkzebra, known for their accessible and emotionally rich writing for singers of all levels.

From the world of film music, solos from Mickey 17 are now available in interactive formats.

The popular Foundations series continues with Solo Foundations, iconic cinematic solos, and coordinated prep exercises to help students learn independently. Music from The Mandalorian is available to practice now!

Click the link below to check out all of this month’s newest titles. Keep the music going with MakeMusic Cloud!

Click to view all interactive music added to MakeMusic Cloud this month.

MakeMusic Cloud is home to the largest interactive and digital sheet music libraries available, with tens of thousands of titles spanning every instrument, ensemble type, skill level, and genre. Each subscription provides access to every title in our unrivaled repertoire library of music from more than 130 different publishers. Start your 30-day free trial.

The post May 2025 Repertoire Update appeared first on MakeMusic.

Whether they’re conducting chaos into harmony or helping students find their voice (sometimes literally), music educators play a vital role in shaping students through creativity, discipline, and expression. Here are 10 meaningful and memorable ways to show your appreciation for music teachers during this special week.

When is Teacher Appreciation Week​?

Teacher Appreciation Week 2025 will take place from May 5-9, with National Teacher Day on Tuesday, May 6. It’s the perfect time to recognize music teachers’ dedication to inspiring the next generation of performers and developing students’ creativity.

10 Special Teacher Appreciation Ideas

Here are 10 simple yet powerful ideas to show love and gratitude to your music teachers:

1. Write a Heartfelt Thank-You Note: A personal message from a student, parent, or administrator expressing the positive impact that the teacher has had can be incredibly meaningful. We’ve also included some templates to get you started below!
2. Create a Student Performance Video: Organize a surprise video performance featuring students playing a short piece and saying thank you.
3. Decorate their Room: Have students decorate the door or room with posters, musical puns, and kind words to surprise the teacher before school.
4. Give them a Personal Gift: Skip the “World’s Best Teacher” mug and try out some of these other creative gift ideas:
   a. Personalized Items: A custom baton, music stand, or folder. You could also gather handwritten messages from students and put them in a picture frame or other display.
   b. Classroom Essentials: Give them something they might need, like sheet music storage, a new baton, or whiteboard markers.
   c. Self-care Gifts: A cozy blanket, tea sampler, or relaxing stress-relief items.
   d. Music-themed Accessories: Look for fun music-themed socks, tote bags, or accessories.
5. Nominate Your Teacher for The Spark Award presented by MakeMusic and Alfred Music: Celebrate your teacher on a national level! The SPARK Award honors music educators who go above and beyond. Submit your nomination here to give your teacher the recognition they deserve.
6. Deliver a Tasty Treat: Drop off their go-to coffee, tea, or snack with a quick note of appreciation. A little caffeine and kindness goes a long way.
7. Make a Donation in Their Name: Find a local charity or non-profit music organization to donate to yourself, or get other parents involved and make a group donation.
8. Share a Positive Anecdote with the Principal: Let school leaders know about the difference your teacher is making, it’s a small gesture that can lead to bigger recognition.
9. Offer to Help With a Specific Task: Whether it’s setting up for a concert, chaperoning a field trip, or helping organize materials, your time is a valuable gift.
10. Create a Class “Appreciation Board”: Set up a bulletin board or digital space where students can post thank-you notes, drawings, and personalized messages.
11.  

Teacher Appreciation Week Letter Templates

If you want to write a thoughtful letter for a music teacher you know but you’re not sure where to start, here are a few sample messages:

1. For Parents

Subject: Thank You for All You Do

Dear [Teacher’s Name],

I just wanted to take a moment during Teacher Appreciation Week to thank you for the difference you’ve made in [Student’s Name]’s life.
Your passion for music and dedication to your students is clear in everything you do. [Student’s Name] has grown so much as a musician this year, and more importantly, they’ve gained confidence and a love for learning.

We’re truly grateful for your guidance and the time you invest in your students.

With appreciation,
[Your Name]

2. For Administrators

Subject: Thank You for Your Impact

Dear [Teacher’s Name],

On behalf of the [School/District Name], I want to thank you for the outstanding work you do as part of our faculty.

Your leadership in the music program plays a vital role in shaping a positive and creative school environment. Your ability to connect with students and encourage their musical and personal growth doesn’t go unnoticed.

Thank you for your continued commitment to excellence and for representing our school with such professionalism.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

3. For Students

Subject: Thank You, [Teacher’s Name]!

Dear [Teacher’s Name],

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! Thank you for being such a great teacher and for making music class something I always look forward to.

I’ve learned so much this year, and I really appreciate how you always push us to do our best while still making things fun.
You’ve helped me grow not just as a musician but as a person, too. Thank you for everything!

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Music Teacher Appreciation Quotes

These short, relevant teacher appreciation quotes can be used in cards, notes, or recognition materials:

• “Music can change the world because it can change people.” – Bono
• “The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery.” – Mark Van Doren
• “There is music in every child. The teacher’s job is to find it and nurture it.” – Frances Clark
• “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” – Plato
• “Music has healing power. It has the ability to take people out of themselves for a few hours.” – Elton John
• “There’s nothing like music to relieve the soul and uplift it.” – Mickey Hart
• “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” – William Butler Yeats
• “With music, one’s whole future life is brightened. This is such a treasure in life that it helps us over many troubles and difficulties. Music is nourishment, a comforting elixir. Music multiplies all that is beautiful and of value in life.” – Zoltán Kodály
• “So long as the human spirit thrives on this planet, music in some living form will accompany and sustain it.” – Aaron Copland

How to Show Teacher Appreciation with MakeMusic!

If your school uses MakeMusic, here’s another creative way to get students involved:

Have students (discreetly!) find out what music their teacher loves, then search the MakeMusic Cloud catalog for that piece. Even learning just a short section and surprising their teacher can become a memorable moment and a heartfelt way to say thanks.

If your school hasn’t used MakeMusic yet, now is the perfect time to consider how the right tools can support your music educators year-round, not just during appreciation week.

MakeMusic offers an integrated platform built specifically for music instruction and practice, helping teachers save time, customize assignments, and give students a more engaging learning experience. To explore how MakeMusic can benefit your music program, try our free 30-day trial!

And don’t forget – Nominate an outstanding teacher for The Spark Award today!

The post 10 Ways to Show Your Appreciation For Music Teachers During Teacher Appreciation Week appeared first on MakeMusic.

Some of our students are self-motivated go-getters who will diligently continue their studies through private lessons or music camps. But most will fall into the classic summer slack and return to us in the fall with sloppy skills and little stamina. Even as a band director, I’ve fallen into the same patterns and have benefited from a new challenge. Our students can and will surprise us when we provide them with new ways to perform and demonstrate their skills. Also, PRIZES help!

In the summer of 2024, we offered a weekly opportunity using MakeMusic Cloud for students to earn extra credit towards the following school year as well as earn prizes to be redeemed in the fall. Weekly challenges featured popular Catalog titles in which the students would practice and submit recordings at the end of each week. Students could participate as little or as much as they could or simply when they chose to. At the start of the 2024-2025 school year, prizes were awarded, and all participating students were recognized in our monthly band newsletter, which was delivered to all band students and parents. You’d be surprised what a little recognition can do for motivation and engagement. All participants were awarded extra credit towards their quarter 1 grades. If extra credit is taboo in your district, I suggest incorporating some optional assignments into your curriculum. In this scenario, students who choose to complete optional work can earn credit, and those who do not participate are not penalized.

In addition to extra credit, we awarded prizes to students based on how much they engaged with the challenge and how often. The top two students who logged the most time practicing with MakeMusic Cloud were given the choice of gift cards from either Amazon or Starbucks. We also randomly chose two winners from all students who engaged with the challenge. We are fortunate to have funds in our budget to award gift cards. If your school does not, check with the cafeteria and see what “treat” options they have, as students are often satisfied and motivated by choosing a treat at lunch. Local fast food restaurants will also donate certificates for free treats at their location.

Before the challenge began, I created a summer calendar and chose tunes from the MakeMusic Cloud Catalog I thought would be appealing to students. There are so many options, and you can find something for everyone. Once I had decided on the tunes, I scheduled a new tune to be available for practice and submission each Monday morning at 8 am. Students have the whole week to practice and submit the tune by midnight Sunday. We did not require students to earn a particular percentage in order to submit, although I did speak with students about our performance expectations when introducing the Summer Challenge. Students were encouraged to join the Summer Challenge 2024 class in MakeMusic Cloud, and I shared the challenge with parents via email. One more scheduled email went out to students and parents on the last day of school, and then the challenge began.

Throughout the summer, a handful of students reached out with questions regarding their submissions, but most were independent. I occasionally checked a few submissions, but thanks to the schedule feature in MakeMusic Cloud, I was able to set it and forget it until we returned to school in August. There were the usual and expected participants, but several surprises as well. One of our top winners was unexpected, but well deserved, and after making a production of awarding prizes, we hope for even greater participation this summer.

See below for teacher and student instructions as well as a sample graphic to print and fill out!

FOR TEACHERS: How to Set Up a Summer Practice Challenge with MakeMusic Cloud

Goal: Encourage students to continue practicing over summer break with weekly tune challenges, optional submissions, and rewards to keep them motivated and engaged.

✅Instructions:

1. Pick the Dates: Choose the start and end dates for your summer challenge. Typically, run it weekly from early June to late July.
2. Choose Repertoire: Select 6–8 fun, accessible tunes from the MakeMusic Cloud Catalog. Make sure they appeal to your students and suit different skill levels.
   
   
3. Create a Calendar: Assign one tune per week and list it on a printable or digital calendar. Release a new tune each Monday.
   
   
4. Set Up in MakeMusic Cloud:
   • Create a new class called “Summer Challenge 2025.”
   • Schedule each weekly tune to appear Mondays at 8 AM.
   • Allow submissions through Sunday at midnight.

5. Invite Students & Parents:

• Send out emails with instructions, the calendar, and the MakeMusic Cloud class code.
• Remind them on the last day of school to sign up and participate.

6. Track Participation:

• No need to grade submissions—just monitor who submits and how often.
• Use participation logs for prize eligibility.

7. Offer Prizes:

• Top Practicer Awards: For the students who log the most time.
• Random Prize Drawings: Enter all students that participated.
• Bonus Credit: Award extra credit or optional assignment credit toward the next school year.
• Alternative Incentives: Lunch treats, shout-outs in your newsletter, certificates, etc.

8. Celebrate in the Fall:
Recognize all participants and hand out prizes early in the school year!

FOR STUDENTS: Join the Summer Band Challenge!

Keep your chops up this summer, learn fun music, and win cool prizes!

🎵 How It Works:

• A new tune will be assigned each Monday via MakeMusic Cloud.
• Practice the tune throughout the week.
• Submit your best performance by Sunday at midnight.
• Participate in as many weeks as you’d like!

🏆 Why Join?

• You’ll keep improving your skills over the summer.
• Win prizes like extra credit, treats, or shout-outs!
• Top practicers and random participants will be rewarded in the fall.

The post Boost Summer Practice with MakeMusic Cloud: A Band Director’s Guide to Keeping Students Engaged appeared first on MakeMusic.

We’re back with another round of exciting updates to the MakeMusic Cloud library! Whether you’re planning your next performance or just looking for something new to practice, there’s plenty to discover in this month’s additions.

The instrumental catalog continues to grow with new works from a fantastic group of composers, including Randall D. Standridge, Cindy Hill, Erin Keeton-Howard, Pinkzebra, Robert Sheldon, and more. These works for concert band and orchestra offer a range of styles and challenges to keep ensembles engaged and inspired.

Also new this month is a versatile supplemental book: Sound Performance for Young Musicians by Chris M. Bernotas and Jim Palmer. Designed for flexibility, this resource includes music that can be played as solos, duets, or trios—with or without piano—making it a great tool for both classroom and individual instruction.

And don’t miss the latest pop and film music additions! New tracks from Batman: Caped Crusader, Green Day, Howard Shore, Twenty One Pilots, and others bring even more variety to your practice sessions and performances.

Click to view all interactive music added to MakeMusic Cloud this month.

MakeMusic Cloud is home to the largest interactive and digital sheet music libraries available, with tens of thousands of titles spanning every instrument, ensemble type, skill level, and genre. Each subscription provides access to every title in our unrivaled repertoire library of music from more than 130 different publishers. Start your 30-day free trial.

The post April 2025 Repertoire Update appeared first on MakeMusic.

We’re searching for a music educator who ignites a love of music in their students to receive our first ever ✨Spark Award✨ presented by MakeMusic and Alfred Music. 

Congratulations to our 2025 Spark Award Winner: Amanda Cornet! 

Amanda Cornet stands out as a true champion of music education. She’s not just an orchestra teacher; she’s a passionate mentor who consistently goes the extra mile to share the pure joy of music with her students. Amanda’s dedication shines through in everything she does, from her Strolling Strings class to her exciting plans for a new sound garden. She’s all about helping kids discover their musical spark and share it with the world, creating a lasting love for music that reaches far beyond the classroom.

We received hundreds of inspiring nominations and thousands of votes—it’s been an honor to celebrate music educators alongside each of you! 

We asked voters to keep in mind the candidates Educational Impact, Demonstrated Student Growth, and their Contribution to the Music Education Community. 

The 2025 Spark Finalists (in alphabetical order by last name) 

Wayne David Barkley from Loris, South Carolina

Nomination submissions for Wayne David Barkley express how influential he is in the lives of his students, with many former students becoming educators themselves. He is noted to be an advocate for the Arts and wants every child to have the opportunity to learn music. He is said to be patient, nurturing, encouraging, and students reportedly love his classes. He spends many hours outside of the school day to plan, provide extra help, and even write grants all for his students. 

Amanda Cornet from Fishers, Indiana

Nomination submissions for Amanda Cornet praised her for being a teacher who goes above and beyond, is impactful and effective, and who shares the joys of music with her students while helping them learn to share that joy with others. She was cited as being passionate, dedicated, and committed to student success in and outside of the classroom. Her Strolling Strings class came up several times as a positive outlet for students and those who get to enjoy their performances.

Richard Dunham from Rochester, New York

Nomination submissions for Richard Dunham state that he is an inspiration to his colleagues, demonstrating outstanding leadership and going above and beyond for his community. He is a teacher who assumes extra duties in the school building, and offers extended student support when needed. He is an active mentor to younger teachers and inspires his students to become musicians, but also to show up everyday as themselves. 

Charles Miller from Columbiana, Ohio 

Nomination submissions for Charles Miller praise him as an amazing educator who is truly invested in the betterment of all of his students. He is inspirational to colleagues, runs an active marching band program outside of the school year, and stepped in to fill a need for the school Drama Department by leading productions for the past 3 years. He is noted to be an “undeniable beacon of enthusiasm and commitment.” 

Mark White from Marlton, New Jersey 

Nomination submissions for Mark White celebrate him as dedicated and enthusiastic, saying “his love for music and teaching is truly contagious.” Several stories about Mark’s positive impact on students came in stating that he is inspiring, develops a love of music in his students, and supports students to build their self-confidence. He teaches at two campuses and is noted for being patient, making a difference, instilling passion, and spreading the joy of music. 

 

Nomination Qualifications

Any music teacher actively teaching (public, private, or charter schools, or private lessons) with at least 2 years of teaching experience. Evidence of contribution to student growth, music education, innovation, and/or community involvement. 

Prizes

The teacher you nominate could win: 

• 1 MakeMusic Cloud Teacher Subscription (1 year)
• 25 MakeMusic Cloud Student Subscriptions (1 year)
• $200 credit to use at Alfred.com 

Timeline 

Nominations open April 8, 2025 – May 9, 2025 

Finalists chosen by MakeMusic panel and announced May 14, 2025 

Final voting open May 14, 2025 – May 20, 2025 (come back here to vote!) 

We’ll celebrate the final winner on or around May 23, 2025 

Official Rules 

View a copy of the official rules here. 

The post Nominate an outstanding teacher for The Spark Award! appeared first on MakeMusic.

A struggle I often face as a music educator is finding time in class to work on scale mastery. I would wrestle with the questions: Should I make them play scales faster? In thirds? As arpeggios? Technical aspects always seemed to get in the way, especially for the clarinets, or we would hit range issues for brass.

No matter what I had the students do to learn scales, we were faced with obstacles. I could see the proverbial gaps appearing, and the trajectory wasn’t leading to the desired outcomes, so I would quickly abandon the effort. The other issue was getting students to buy into memorizing their scales and getting their technique to a place where they no longer had to think about the finger patterns and could focus on tone.

This is when I decided to try something different. Instead of learning all 12 keys right away, I had students in 6th grade (2nd-year players) work on one scale, mastering it in-depth using modes.

Figure 1: This is a written-out example of what we took 6th Grade Clarinets through by rote. Note that we went down an octave for some of the scales. This was intentional to show that the octave they play in doesn’t impact the tonality of the scale. 

I had the students play their major scale slowly, covering the basics such as appropriate fingerings, key signatures, etc. We then started on the second mode, then the third mode, and so on. This opened their ears and improved their technical facility. The students quickly played seven modes across five key areas (Concerts C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab). They took off—that is 35 different scales!

Through this process, the students took ownership of mastering their scales right then and there, and all they needed to know were the rules:

1. The key signature stays constant.
2. Octaves do not matter; adjust for your instrument and range (use your fingering chart).
3. Go!

This work subsequently led to my favorite part as a music educator—TONS of content-specific questions! In my mind, student inquiry indicates that a student has truly learned and connected with the content. I was bombarded with questions about enharmonics, transposition (especially for Eb Alto Saxophones), names of modes, major, minor, diminished, and even augmented. (As a side note, showing them the “ever popular” Tritone and its use in popular music like “Maria” from West Side Story and The Simpsons Theme Song was a blast to see so many lightbulbs!)

While playing, their listening and adjusting to tonalities improved, as did their endurance. Here are other benefits of teaching modes alongside major scales based on my experience:

• Students deepen their connection with their instrument notes and ranges.
• Students learn to hold a key signature as a constant while the tonality shifts around it.
• Helps with memorizing and solidifying the note names that make up scales and the repetitive patterns of notes.
• Trains students’ ears to hear different cadences.
• Rehearses harmonic patterns that come up regularly in the repertoire.
• Keeps the practice of learning scales fresh and new without getting into intervals.
• Students learn their minor scales.
• Students learn to make decisions about which octave to play in, which can also promote working to extend one’s range (ie, altissimo)

I hope some of you will find this helpful if you are looking for a slightly different approach to working through scales with your students (any age). I would love to hear if there are other positive takeaways that help your students!

Want to try this with your students? It’s easy to use Compose in MakeMusic Cloud to create your own custom scale document. With the new Annotations feature, you can offer even more instruction to your students as they begin an independent learning journey! The Compose files that you create in MakeMusic Cloud can be shared or assigned for a seamless experience.

New to MakeMusic Cloud? Get started free today—no credit card required!

The post Majors, Minors, & Modes, Oh My! appeared first on MakeMusic.