The Little Music Teacher Tool Bag

Last weekend I presented for PSKOR and I mentioned my little “emergency” bag. Not for personal emergencies but my teaching tools pouch. This little bag is full of LITTLE things I may need to play games or do an activity in a pinch. Whenever I present, I grab it knowing that I’ll have all the small things I need for the games we will be playing. It’s also has some of my must have tools and most grabbed items so I thought I’d share what I keep in my little music teacher tool bag.

The Case

I love this case, and I KNOW I’ve talked about it before (pretty sure I showed one I use for tech things). I actually have a few of them and keep my tech cords, remotes, etc in one, and colored pencils in another. It holds a surprising amount, has places for writing utensils, and opens two different ways for easy access to your materials. It’s also smushy so it shoves into small places well.

This is ACTUALLY what was in it when I opened it up to take pictures for this post. Yes, that’s three tuning forks. No, I don’t know why there were all in there.

Game Tools

Passing games often have little objects. I love passing games and they are great to pull out in a pinch if you have extra time, or if you are leaving an activity for a sub. I’ve left recordings of my favorite passing games and instructions IF the class already knows the game. The sub can play the recording to start the song over and over or the students can take over at some point. Many of these things I’ve picked up at the dollar store.

Small stones – one from some yard, and a few I got at a little display where you can buy rocks because they were pretty.
Toy rings (Dollar Tree find)
Pennies, nickels
Keys – the mini kind although I have a skeleton key on my need to get list. These are great if you ask families for old keys from mini locks they might not be using any more.
Pirate coins (Dollar Tree find)
Big wooden bead (for the game Black Snake) I got these ones in a pack of 3 at Michaels a number of years ago.
A variety of buttons that I’ve collected over the years.
A small roll of yarn. I have two for some reason. Yarn is perfect for games that pass things on a rope (Yo Ho I Pulled the Anchor, and Black Snake). It’s also great as a vocal exploration tool, and a makeshift 1 line staff for high/low or sol/mi. I like this Sugar and Cream yarn. I don’t end up covered in fuzz when I use it. In the past I’ve gotten it at Joann Fabrics but we know how that ended 🙁

Dry Erase Index Cards

When I took level 2, Susan had these amazing dry erase paddles which were awesome, but much more expensive than I was willing to pay for when I looked for some. I found these dry erase index cards on Amazon in the ‘other options’ at the bottom of the page when I went looking for the paddles. This 45 piece pack is not the exact one I bought but similar and one of the cheapest options I see online. They are double sided and are great for quick student pattern creation, exit tickets and more. They are a go to of mine which is why I keep them in this pouch.

Teacher Tools

Skinny scissors – These are a favorite tool of mine and I have a pair in several places. Not only is the point covered, but they fit into small pencil slots, pencil cases, and pockets. Perfect if you need to cut some yarn!
Mechanical pencil – so I don’t have to deal with a sharpener. This one is my absolutely favorite and I recently repurchased one because someone walked off with mine at a conference.
Pen – self explanatory 🙂
Sharpie – if you need to mark something on the go. *Note to self to replace mine!
Tuning fork – no piano needed to start a song.
Four large bingo chips (poker chip size) with magnets on the back to represent the beat on a white board on the go.
Dry erase markers – if I have to write, or am in a different classroom I know I’ve got one that works (usually).
2 minute timer – If you need a time out for a student this is a perfect thing to have on hand, especially if you are not in your own room.
iPod Mini Gen 3 – I still own two. I have my personal one from college that I sometimes use to stay notification free and listen to music, and I have this one which I snagged on Ebay quite a while back that is loaded with school music, dance songs for students, and things for a sub to access without getting access to all my info. You can actually still find some on eBay that work.