🎶 My Go-To School Supply List for the Choir Classroom

Jun 30

In my opinion, it is too early to think about school supplies. But my local department store thinks otherwise and pretty soon it will be too hard to hide from back to school shopping! 😰

I love a purchase that will make my life a little easier each day. Below are 10 items that I can’t live without. At the risk of sounding dramatic, I can say these items have brought me JOY! 😆

I’ve learned that having the right supplies makes all the difference—especially during those hectic first weeks of school. Whether you're building your Amazon wishlist, prepping for a DonorsChoose project, or simply planning your back-to-school shopping, this list includes all the must-haves that help my choir classroom run smoothly from day one.

🌟 Pro-tip: Consider sharing your teacher wishlist with your student’s families. Many want to help and if nothing else, maybe you will get a box of tissues for the classroom!

Some of these are practical classroom staples, others are choir-specific game changers—and all of them are worth having on hand. ⌛

Just a note: I am NOT an affiliate marketer for any items listed below. I just wanted to share what works for me and my classroom! PS-If you have trouble with any of the Amazon links, a quick search should help you find a product.

✏️ 1. Golf Pencils (in Bulk!)

My number one essential. They're cheap, take up less space, and students are less likely to walk off with them! Keep a bin on the piano and refill as needed. Surprisingly, one box of pencils lasted me nearly a semester!

🛒 Suggested: 96-pack of golf pencils with erasers

🔧 2. Heavy-Duty Electric Pencil Sharpener

Don't skimp here—get one that can handle constant use. You’ll thank yourself every time you hear that satisfying zzzzt instead of watching a sharpener chew up a perfectly good pencil.

🌟Pro-tip: Don’t allow kids to sharpen colored pencils with this. In my experience, they clog the electric sharpener. 👎

🛒 Suggested: X-ACTO School Sharpener

📂 3. Dry Erase Pocket Sleeve for Attendance

I enlist trustworthy students in each choir to help take attendance. For me, the easiest method is to put a copy of the choir seating chart in a dry erase pocket sleeve and hand my helpers a dry erase marker. They take attendance and bring it to me for final approval before it is submitted.

🛒 Suggested: Dry Erase Pocket Sleeve- pack of 6

🎵 4. Dry Erase Markers & Magnetic Eraser

I use my whiteboard daily—for warm-ups, rehearsal plans, solfège syllables, and more. Get a rainbow pack of markers and a good eraser (or six!). I love these magnetic erasers because they are easy to grab during class.

🛒 Suggested: 6- pack of Magnetic erasers

🔊 5. Bluetooth Speaker

A reliable portable speaker helps when playing rehearsal tracks, warm-ups, or demonstration recordings. Bonus if it’s loud enough to cut through choral chatter. I have used my portable speaker on so many occasions!

🧺 6. Storage Bins & Classroom Organizers

Keep it all together! Use bins for pencils, flashcards, music games, and handouts. It makes passing things out (and cleaning up) quick and painless. I assign a bin to each choir and place extra copies of music we are currently singing. When a student has lost their music (sigh), I can quickly direct them to that choir’s bin.

📅 7. Light Up Buzzers for Choir Games

This past year, I added 2 light up, obnoxious buzzers when we play games. They make the most annoying buzzer sound and the kids LOVE them! There is something about a gimmick that makes the kids light up! (🌟Pun intended.)

🛒 Suggested: Pack of 4 Game Answer Buzzes

🎤 8. Personal Microphone Headset

I learned this trick during COVID when I was teaching in our auditorium. I quickly lost my voice trying to talk in a large room, through a mask and to students who were 50+ feet away from me. Although I now teach in my choir room, there are days when my voice cannot handle the strain. This is when I pull out my microphone headset. It is a game changer.

🛒 Suggested: Wireless Voice Amplifier with Headset

📋 9. Clipboards

I do not have desks in my classroom. So when my students are doing written work for an extended period of time, I like giving them a clipboard to use at their seat. I store mine in the extra slots of our folder cabinets.

🛒 Suggested: Bulk clipboard pack- set of 25

🗂️ 10. Rolling Cart

I bought a rolling desk last year and it has changed my life. I roll it right next to the piano and place my laptop and coffee mug. Sometimes I roll it all over the room. Highly suggest!

🛒 Suggested: Small Standing Desk on Wheels

🎯 11. Small Incentives or Prizes

Music stickers, pencils, buttons, and mini candy make excellent motivation tools for games, Choir War challenges, or weekly awards. Consider doing something fun for birthdays, too!

🔄 12. Personal Laminator

Ok…it took me a long time to get on the laminator train. But the day I got my laminator in the mail was a special day. I laminate solfège hand signs cards, classroom procedures, posters, name tags, pictures—you name it. Laminated materials = reusable materials. (Don’t forget to purchase extra pouches!)

🛒 Suggested: Amazon Thermal Laminator, Pouches

These items make my choir classroom run smoothly year after year. From organization to classroom management to musical creativity, each one plays a small but mighty role in keeping the chaos at bay and my sanity in check.

If you’re building your own list, consider sharing it with your school PTO, booster club, or even creating an Amazon wishlist to send to parents—many would love the chance to support your program with tangible items.

Happy shopping!

Melanie Butcher