📦 My Favorite Music Teacher Resources to Prep Over the Summer

Summer break: that magical time when your classroom is quiet, your inbox is blissfully empty, and—for a few glorious weeks—you can sleep past 6 a.m. 😅

But let’s be honest: if you’re anything like me, you still find yourself thinking about next year. Not in a “must-plan-everything-now” way (please rest!)—but in a gentle, curiosity-driven way. ☀️

If you enjoy using part of your summer to prep, brainstorm, or dream a little, here are some of my go-to music teacher resources to organize during the off-season. These tools help me feel a little more confident and a lot less overwhelmed come September—and I hope they’ll do the same for you.

⸻

🎵 1. Small Ensemble Assignment

This is hands-down one of my favorite projects to kick off second term. Students work in small vocal groups to prepare a piece, taking responsibility for their own part while collaborating to create a polished, expressive performance. It encourages independence, musicianship, and real ensemble skills—plus, students love it.

✅ Includes:
    •    Clear assignment breakdown
    •    Rubrics for process, performance, and reflection
    •    Reflection prompts tied to curriculum expectations

📦 Summer tip: Choose a few ensemble pieces in advance, print some rubrics, and you’ll be ready to roll when the time comes!

⸻

🎼 2. Music Theory Foundations

The beginning of the year is the perfect time to reinforce or introduce key theory concepts—especially if your students have varying musical backgrounds. I like having a scaffolded theory unit ready that includes both instruction and practice activities.

I’ve created resources for:

The Musical Alphabet and The Grand Staff
The Piano Keyboard
Accidentals, Semitones, Whole Tones, Enharmonic Equivalents
Major Scales, Key Signatures

🧠 Pro tip: Use these as bell-ringers or mini-lessons to ease into the year without overwhelm.

⸻

🎤 3. Vocal Warm-Up Sets

If you teach vocal music, having a go-to warm-up routine is a lifesaver. No more scrambling to find something in the moment—you’ve got a flow that builds vocal technique and sets the tone for rehearsal.

I recommend prepping:
    •    Slides or posters for warm-ups by vocal element (e.g., breath, resonance, diction)
    •    Quick piano accompaniments or backing tracks
    •    Warm-ups that double as ear-training tools

🎶 Summer idea: Create a few themed warm-up sets (like “back to school blend” or “fall focus”) and rotate them throughout the term.

⸻

🎧 4. Listening Journal Templates

Whether for sub plans or just a calm reflective day, listening journals are such a versatile tool. They encourage musical analysis, emotional connection, and critical thinking—and students of all levels can benefit.

Try building templates with prompts like:
    •    “What elements of music do you hear?”
    •    “What’s the mood or message of this piece?”
    •    “How does this performance compare to another version?”

💡 Bonus: These are great for classroom management on low-energy days or when you’re out!

⸻

📝 5. Music Student Reflection Sheets

One of my favorite end-of-term rituals is guiding students through a reflection on their musical growth. It gives them a chance to think about what they’ve learned, how they’ve contributed to the ensemble, and where they’re headed next.

I’ve created reflection prompts and sheets tailored to three levels:
    •    Junior (Grades 4–6)
    •    Intermediate (Grades 7–10)
    •    Senior (Grades 11–12)

🧠 These are perfect to print and prep over the summer so you have them ready when report-writing season hits—or even to use mid-year for goal setting.

⸻

💖 Final Thought: Prep Lightly, Prep with Joy

If you’re choosing to plan over the summer, do it in a way that feels light, creative, and fun—not like a second job. Choose a few key tools that will make your life easier, help your students grow, and support the kind of music classroom you want to build.

You don’t need to do it all. Just one or two solid resources can set the tone for a calm, confident start to your year. 🌟

⸻

✨ P.S. All the resources I mentioned above are available in my Teachers Pay Teachers store! If you’re starting your summer prep or just want to explore what’s available, I’d love for you to check them out.

My Teachers Pay Teachers Store