This requested post has taken me a long time to put together. I’ve spoken at length before about how I’ve never had a real budget and got into teaching with the Kodaly method because I didn’t have resources. I’m not an Orff based instructor so some things don’t feel essential to me the way they might to an Orff instructor. But I think incorporating elements from different “methods” as well as non methods is important too. So here’s what I would consider things that I’d love in a music classroom inventory.
This list may vary depending on how you teach or what you prioritize when you are using materials, but hopefully this gives you a good idea of what’s available! These are not in any particular order! I decided not to include any print resources as this can vary SO widely based on the “methods” you use or don’t use, curriculum your district choses, or if you have that choice.
If you are in a low resources place, or have $0 budget, I will say that the few things I think essential in my classroom no matter the age or where I am are egg shakers, rhythm sticks, and a ball and I’ve absolutely taught classes with just that. However, if you are a lucky one with a decent budget and a good set up, this may give you some inspiration on where you can spend some of that budget money as well.
Classroom Percussion
- Egg shakers (class set)
- Guiro
- Frog guiro
- Rhythm Sticks (class set)
- Claves
- Tambourines
- Maracas
- Wind Chime
- Cabasa
- Cowbell
- Lummi sticks
- Cajon
- Castanets
- Firikyiwa
- Sand blocks
- Triangle
- Woodblock
- Axaste or Shekere
- Agogo bells
- Finger cymbals
- Gong
- Temple blocks
- Jingle bells (individual)
- Sleigh bells
Drums
- Hand drums
- Djembes
- Tubanos
- Bongos
- Congas
- Standing Ngoma
- Buffalo drum
- Talking drum
- Doumbeks
- Bucket drums
- Bucket drum heads
- Ball drums
- Gathering drum
- Lollipop drum
- Log drum
Barred Instruments
- Glockenspiels
- Alto glockenspiels
- Soprano xylophone
- Soprano metallophone
- Alto xylophone
- Alto metallophone
- Bass xylophone
- Bass metallophone
- Set of contrabass bars
- Mallets galore!
Melodic Instruments
- Boomwhackers
- Boomwhacker activator caps
- Melodee balls
- Sound bellows
- Hand bells (multicolored)
- Hand chimes
- Desk bells
- Resonator chime bars
- Joia tubes
- Tongue drum
Sound Instruments
- Ratchet
- Ocean drum
- Thunder tube
- Vibraslap
- Rain stick
- Slap stick
- Slide whistle
- Train whistle
- Kokoriko
- Flexatone
Other Instruments
- Recorders
- Ukuleles
- Keyboards
- Guitars
- Ocarinas (talk to my friend Jen at Yellow Brick Road for ideas)
Movement Props
- Parachute
- Scarves (class set)
- Bean bags (class set)
- Stretchy band
- Octaband
- Jump bands
- Hula hoops
- Tinikling poles
- Ribbon wands
- Streamers
- Hoberman sphere
- Bouncy ball (Even better if you can get one that has some little rubber spikes on it. It’s a fun sensory toy!)
- Small balls to bounce like tennis balls.
- Vocal Exploration toys/manipulatives (Check this post for ideas)
Dance Resources
- Join Up Hands: Dances for School and Community Groups by Sue Hulsether
- New England Dance Masters books
- Teaching Movement and Dance by Phyllis Weikart
- Rhythmically Moving CDs
- Folk Dance Formation posters
- Sanna Folk Style books by Sanna Longden
- Handy Play Party book by Cecilia Riddell
Where to Shop
In alphabetical order, some of the places you should check out for these items. I have not linked any because links may be moved or reset on these pages and I wanted to make sure this post didn’t get
- BearPaw Creek: https://musicandmovementproducts.com
- Music is Elementary https://musiciselementary.com
- Sweetwater Music https://www.sweetwater.com
- West Music https://www.westmusic.com
I hope this has given you a really good idea of some great resources for your classroom!
