During the summer months, I like to prepare and complete my Piano Teacher’s Shopping List so I have ample time to get my studio ready before September.
This is the time of year when teachers have the opportunity to tweak what needs tweaking before the business of September takes over. It’s a time of new ideas, new goals… and back-to-school shopping! Today I’m sharing The Ultimate Piano Teacher Shopping List:Β 13 things I use over and over, year after year.
I also want to know – what would YOU add to my list? Help me make this an incredible resource for teachers who are looking to simplify, streamline and improve.
Share your own shopping list at the end of the post!
13 Things To A Piano Teacher’s Shopping List
In no particular order, here are 13 items that make my Piano Teacher’s Shopping List. PleaseΒ Note: This is NOT an affiliate post. We do not receive any kickbacks on the following 13 handy items. We’ve included links to the products simply to help you visualize what they look like. Shop around and find the best items that work for you!
- Two-pocket Folders: I use these folders to organize my piano teaching games. They keep my materials organized and looking professional. I tape the game covers to the front of the folders, and place the directions and game board in each pocket along with a Ziploc baggie of game cards and game pieces. I buy my folders in bulk from Amazon.
- Three-ring Binders: With all of the printables we share on Teach Piano Today and WunderKeys, you may want to add a piano binder to the materials fee that you charge studio families. Give every student a piano binder that is filled with technical exercises, supplementary repertoire, theory activities, take-home games, composer trading cards, and more! No more loose and crumpled sheets at the bottom of music bags π
- Iwako Erasers: Not only are these erasers cute, but they inspire “spur of the moment”, hands-on teaching. Naming keys on the piano is fine but placing adorable hedgehogs on “all the D’s” is incredibly fun! Find them on Amazon… and buy a ton. The applications for these erasers are endless.
- Labels:Β If you’ve followed our blog for a few years, you’ll know that I use these sticky bits of loveliness for so, so, SO many things. Check out our favorite label activities here (and try out our free printable designs!)
- Stickers: An obvious item, yes, but also a surprisingly awesome teaching tool! I search for stickers that are easily incorporated into teaching situations (speech bubbles, sets of mini-stickers, arrows or pointing characters, etc.) Find out how I use stickers as a teaching tool here.
- A Laminator: If you feel like you’re drowning in teaching materials, a laminator can be your life-saving ring. For about $20 you can turn your loose pages into long-lasting bits of beauty. Employing laminated activities with a dry erase marker means you only need to print one copy of each resource. Consider also laminating studio policy sheets to leave in your waiting area (parents may actually read them!) and certificates and awards to give to your students. Just imagine the possibilities! A laminator pays for itself in saved printing and photocopying costs in just a few months.
- A Hanging Wall File Organizer: If you plan your week out in advance (which I highly recommend doing) these hanging file folders are a helpful sidekick to your superhero planning skills. As you decide on your weekly activities, simply pop your sheets, music, and games into each pocket and then simply stroll over to your uber-organized system and select the activities you need! A Hanging Wall File Organizer looks like this.
- Foam Dice: We all have dice… but do you have large, foam dice? These are an absolute must. Not only do they eliminate scrambling around looking under tables and chairs for runaway dice, but their soft exterior and large size also allow them to be used at the piano. Mundane teaching moments can be made exciting with a simple die. Find them at the Dollar Tree.
- A Desk Caddy: I have spent way too many years rustling around for a pencil, pen, and post-it notes while my students wait patiently. But with my handy desk caddy, this is a distant memory. Set this genius invention beside your piano and you’ll have exactly what you need at every moment (and when you’re teaching wiggly little ones, every moment counts!)Β I use this one.
- Divider Sticky Notes. As the “Queen of Post-Its” I was somewhat aghast that I didn’t know these existed until last year. Not only do they provide plentiful space for notes to be made, but they also work as a, “Hey! Practice this!” reminder when stuck to your students’ current pieces. Find them on Amazon.
- A Table Top Pocket Chart: If you use a visual calendar for your young piano students (helpful in aiding fidgety or easily-distracted students) then you’ll love this pocket chart. Simply place cards representing various lesson activities into each pocket and place the chart on top of the piano for easy access and visual ease.
- Answer Buzzers: A long (long!) time ago we mentioned how I used an “Easy Button” in lessons. Once a student masters a particular skill or completes a time of intense concentration, they got to “hit the easy button”. These days, however, I use up to four easy buttons (answer buzzers) to take the fun to a whole new level. To begin, I use a dry erase marker or a label to attach a musical meaning to my four answer buzzers (for example, a rhythm, a note name, etc.). Then, I place all four buzzers in front of my students who get to “answer” my questions by hitting the appropriate button. So many uses, so much fun. Find them here.
- Small, Child-Size Table and Chairs:Β These are a splurge… but you can often find these at garage sales or thrift stores. Add a simple coat of chalkboard paint to a table and you have the most useful space for off-bench activities. I love how a small table and chair set allows me to be “at the same level” as my students without sitting on the floor!
Grab Books From The Very Useful Piano Libary
Summer is a great time to explore all of the books in Andrea and Trevor Dow’s Very Useful Piano Library.
This 17-level, supplementary music library for primer and level 1 students contains the most exciting piano books on the planet. Plus, in addition to pedagogically perfect piano pieces, each book also contains technical exercises, note reading games, rhythm work, sight reading activities, a practice tracker, and a certificate. New books are released to the library every 1 to 2 months.
Check out the names and covers of a few recent releases:
Ludwig van Bites-often Needs A Friend, V. U. Level I
Glissando and the Slimy Songbook, V. U. Level A
Jane says
Thanks! You have the greatest ideas. I’m always learning something new from you!
Andrea says
Glad to hear it, Jane! π
Natalie Whittington says
I would add a package of hole reinforcers To the list. My students are hard on music & I pulled my package of reinforcers out every week repairing pages where the holes had ripped in their binders.
Andrea says
YES! Okay I knew I’d forget something and this is one thing I use *all the time*! You can get really cute ones in fun shapes and colors too π Thanks Natalie!
Alfredson Christy says
Great ideas! I use all kinds of post-its, too! Right now, my favorite are the arrow post-its. They are narrow enough to fit on the keys to give a visual for new scales; starting, skipping and stopping keys for pre-school rote pieces. And they are great for pointing to places in the music for “start here” points or “extra work” segments.
Highlighter tape is a good tool, too.
Andrea says
Hi Christy – yes, those “arrow post-its” are really helpful. I even use the rectangular ones that are see-through and write on top of them before sticking them to students’ music – this way my “notes” can be moved around! Thanks for sharing π
Jennifer Kallin says
I love this list. I am wishing for a picture of your space so I can see how exactly you implement all these things.
Andrea says
If you follow @teachpianotoday on Instagram I often have pictures π
Betsy Ogden says
Super helpful. Just put some things in my amazon shopping cart! Thank you!
One of my favorites is poster board. I love to buy poster boards in all different colors and make large games with them. I hang them up on the wall and have students use giant fly swaggers or a nerf gun.
Ex: For valentines I stick flash cards on the poster board with large foam heart over them. Students shoot a heart and tell me the note. Different things like that.
Andrea says
Great addition to the list, Betsy! Thanks for sharing π
barbara Sangiacomo says
The chalkboard paint on the table is an awesome idea. They also have dry erase board paint-would probably work too. I also found stick on and removable dry erase rolls-cut to the size you need for your table.
Andrea says
Whaaat?! Dry erase paint?! Amazing. Thanks for sharing Barbara!
Jan Curtis says
I use the Pampered Chef Tool Turnabout for my piano teaching paraphernalia. It fits right on top of the piano and holds pens, pencils, white out, markers, China marking pencils, (which I use for writing notes on page protectors) a small stapler, ruler, scissors, binder clips, etc. I use different color ink pens to write my students’ assignments in their notebook – a different color for each book or exercise. Makes it easier for their eyes to find what is next without missing something important (which always happened to me when I was a child and the assignments were all written in pencil.) There is a Pampered Chef tote bag that just fits the Tool Turnabout so I have one that I keep in the car for when teaching at a different location. This tote bag may only be available to Pampered Chef dealers. If you make friends with a sales representative, they might order one for you at cost.
Andrea says
Thanks for sharing, Jan!
Deb says
I scored at the Dollar Tree this morning. Found the perfect two-sided pencil case–one side with 4 divided sections–to hold my odds and ends for games: coins, dice, clothespins (pegs), and game markers! for $1 π
Andrea says
Awesome, Deb! π
Bonnie says
Rectangular shaped mirror: “3×10” approx. – in automotive department. Place on keys during technic to make sure fingernails (with eyes and mouths – which I’ve Sharpie drawn onto their nails) can “see themselves” and are not “looking” at ceiling. I give them an alcohol wipe to take home to remove ink later. I like their parents to find out why I drew faces on their nails.
I need to get my balloon covered rice filled cups ready to help with the uncurved finger dilema. (great idea, Andrea!)
Andrea says
Inventive, Bonnie! Love it π
Linda Hyland says
I want answer buttons! I have a couple call-bells I use for group games, but now I want these, too! Fun!
Laura says
Great list!
One of the things I have and live in my studio is erasable highlighters! We use them in so many ways and because they can be erased the kids love them for the βcoolβ factor. Highlight all the Gβs (or other note)in your piece and then erase them is a favourite game here.