Anytime I begin teaching at a new school, the first thing I do is take inventory of the music room.  What instruments, movement props, materials, and books are part of the room?  Then I make a list of everything I need to teach my curriculum in a deep and meaningful way. 

When I began teaching in my current school, I was brought in to rebuild the program.  Most of my instruments were broken or in disrepair.  I left a building where I had fantastic parent support and spent seven years building a 2:1 ratio of about every instrument you could want.  Now I had rhythm sticks so old and used that you could barely tell what color they were!

Make a Wish List

I set down with a legal pad and made a wishlist of EVERY thing I would need to teach my students.  The list was nearly 3 pages long and was TRULY a “wishlist.”  But that’s the lovely thing about dreams and wishes – there are no limitations!  From a classroom set of Remo drums, to ukuleles, keyboards, and more – I wrote it ALL down.

Prioritze

Then I began prioritizing my list.  What instruments could I purchase quickly that would have a high impact in my classroom?  What instruments would take funding and planning to obtain?  Every instrument on my wish list was prioritized from high need to low need, so that I could lay out a plan on how to obtain them.

Communicate Your Needs

Once I had my list, I needed to take steps to make my “wishes” a reality, so I began talking to anyone who would listen about my vision for my classroom.  I shared it with my principal, my fine arts coordinator, my superintendent, PTA members, parents, and community members.  I wanted those to had an ability to help know my vision for my program and begin to think how we could make it happen.

Ask for Funds 

It was a slow process as I had no building or district budget for my program.  My principal gave me $500 from the building budget to purchase small percussion instruments (e.g. rhythm sticks, triangles, floor toms, etc.).  My fine arts coordinator was able to find money for a new digital piano.  My PTA approved the purchase of new keyboards for my classroom, and some parents made it their personal goal to find the best deal on Black Friday which netted me 15 new keyboards for my classroom.  I had a parent make a donation to get my ukulele program off the ground.  What I couldn’t fund through traditional means, I wrote grants and posted DonorsChoose projects which funded a classroom set of Remo Drums, 15 iPad minis and 6 iMacs.

Be Patient

It took about 4 years to complete the wish list and even as my room was complete, there are always new things to add.  Changes in technology (SMART boards, iPads, etc.) have changed the needs in my room, so I am constantly updating my “wishlist.”  

So what did my Music Classroom Wishlist look like?  Here it is broken down by category!  Please note – I try to maintain 6-8 of each small percussion instrument so that every child can have access to an instrument in class.  I started with 2-3 of each instrument then added more as I could.  You’ll have to determine what your needs are and what you are willing to live with (and without)!

Woods

30 pair rhythm sticks

8 claves

8 wood blocks

8 tone blocks

8 castanets

2 temple blocks (piccolo and full size)

2 slapsticks

2 stir xylophones

1 cajon

Keyboards

1 digital piano 

1 acoustic piano

6-15 student keyboards with stand and bench

Specialty Instruments

30 soprano ukuleles

4-6 SNARK tuners

5 sets of boomwhackers (diatonic and chromatics)

1 set of boomwhacker octave caps

1 classroom set of dry erase boards with markers and erasers

30 stools

2 bass recorders

2 tenor recorders

8 alto recorders

8 sopranino recorders

30 octave bells sets

1 set choir chimes

1 ocean drum

Technology & Other

SMART board/Promethean board

Bluetooth speaker (portable)

Sound system for performances

iPad (music library, grading, photos/videos, etc.)

4-6 classroom devices (iPads, Chromebooks, or iMacs)

30 pair of headphones (for devices or keyboards)

4-6 Wenger flip forms

Begin Your List

So what would your list include if money was not an issue?  What would you dream for your classroom?  What would you wish for your students?  Start your list today!  I’m a firm believer of writing your intentions down and communicating them to people.  I didn’t have a way to fund any of the things on my list, but with time, sharing my vision, and commitment, it all came into place.  You can do it too! 

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