Lessons With Shana

Planning and Prep for a New School Year

Setting up your classroom for a new school year doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Over the years, I’ve found a rhythm that helps me get everything in place without spending days stuck in decision fatigue. Today, I’m walking you through how I set up my music room before school starts—quickly, intentionally, and with plenty of space to breathe.

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🎵 1. Start with Zones

The first thing I do is define my classroom zones. This helps me think spatially and ensure that everything has a clear purpose and place. I’ve found four core zones that work in almost any music teaching environment:

    •    Teaching/Tech Station: This includes my desk, laptop, document camera, microphone, and any tech I use regularly. I also keep a few essential teaching supplies here—tuner, whiteboard markers, timers, and sticky notes.

    •    Student Seating Area: Whether you’re working with chairs, risers, or floor spots, this is where your students rehearse, sing, or play. I place class folders, music stands, or individual instruments nearby for quick access.

    •    Storage & Materials: This zone houses things like classroom percussion, ukuleles, sheet music, textbooks, or manipulatives. I keep this area ultra-organized so I can find what I need fast.

    •    Bulletin & Display Walls: This is where I hang visuals—composer of the month posters, rehearsal reminders, warm-up routines, or student work. It helps keep learning visible and the room inviting.

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🗂 2. Refresh the Essentials

Before diving into decorating, I take time to prep the core documents and signs that guide the first few weeks of school.

    •    Daily schedule & expectations posters – These set the tone and reduce questions.

    •    Warm-up procedure signs – Whether for vocal or instrumental classes, having the steps posted helps create independence.

    •    Rules and routines – I like to post our class rules and rehearsal etiquette in a visible spot.

    •    Seating chart system – I prep my chart in pencil, organize folders by class, and store items like guitar picks or tuners in labeled bins.

Having these essentials ready before decorating makes the setup feel purposeful—not performative.

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🎨 3. Decor with Purpose

Decorating is fun, but I keep my walls functional and relevant to what we’re learning.

    •    Composer of the Month – These rotate monthly and give us quick historical context for listening.

    •    Music symbols and notation visuals – Great for reinforcing theory in the background.

    •    Voice classification or guitar chord posters – Depending on the class, these stay up all year.

    •    Student showcase space – I leave a section blank for student work or concert posters to keep things fresh.

🎁 Pro tip: I laminate once and reuse year after year. Sticky tack or magnetic strips make things easy to reposition without damaging walls.

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If you’re looking for a shortcut, I’ve got you! You can grab my classroom posters here: Lessons With Shana on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Start your year with clarity and confidence!

🎶 Featured Resources for Music Teachers (On Sale!)

Looking for ready-to-use tools to make your school year easier? Check out my top-selling music education bundles — all designed to save you time and engage your students:
    •    Vocal Performance Project Bundle (#) – Creative, performance-based projects your singers will love.
    •    Composer of the Month Bundle (#) – Posters, listening activities, and quizzes for 12 iconic composers.
    •    Music Theory Bundle (#) – Lessons, worksheets, and assessments to cover the basics with ease.
    •    Piano Technique Bundle (#) – Step-by-step guides and exercises for developing strong piano skills.

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