One for the school bag: Back-to-school toolkit

September is nearly here (subject to when you get a chance to read this article) and schools up and down the country are gearing up for what will hopefully be a much better year. As music teachers, we have to think about a wide variety of different things. Not only do we need to consider our curriculum, but we also need to think about how to resource this curriculum. Alongside what goes on in the classroom, we must then think about our co-curricular provision and the events that will go alongside this. It is the best job in the world, and I hope that the ideas in this toolkit make the September process slightly easier for you.

Whenever teachers ask for advice on technology or resources, I will always ask them about their budget. I know first-hand the stresses and strains of budgets and costs, but I have also got quite good at working with them. There are ways to raise money, get sponsorship, and get support from local businesses. My main tip is not to moan too much to the SLT (senior leadership team) but look for ways to make your department shine even if you don't have a huge budget. (If you want more tips, I have a blog all about it.)

For this toolkit, I have had the chance to review some fantastic products that I think will be helpful for primary and secondary classrooms. It is good to have an opportunity to think not only about what products are available, but also about how they can be used. But like anything, the product is only as good as the curriculum and the teaching that goes alongside it.

Ukuleles

Ukuleles remain a useful classroom resource. They can be used to teach melody, harmony, song writing, and a huge range of other key skills. Getting students playing an actual instrument is a great way to engage them with so many different aspects of music theory. Ukuleles are lightweight, easy to access and not too expensive.

I have reviewed three different models for this article and hopefully this will help you out if you are about to take the plunge and buy a whole class set:

• A-Star Soprano Ukulele with Bag, £25 from Normans Musical Instruments – www.normans.co.uk

• Tiger Soprano Ukulele with Bag, £25 from DJM Music – www.djmmusic.com

• Encore Soprano Ukulele (no bag), £24.99 from JHS – www.jhs.co.uk

(Left to right) A-Star Soprano Ukulele with Bag from Normans; Tiger Soprano Ukulele with Bag from DJM Music; Encore Soprano Ukulele from JHS; Tiger T-47 Chromatic Tuner from DJM Music

All three of these instruments sound as you would expect from an entry level product, but I was quite surprised by the volume and quality of the sound. The A-Star ukulele stands out for me, and the bag it comes with is the best I have seen. The Tiger range, however, do come in a wider variety of colours and with some great additions (see below). Encore is very much a household name and I think it is fair to say that a bag isn't make or break, particularly if you are going to mount them on the wall. The Encore ukulele has a lovely finish – my favourite of the three that I tried. DJM Music has a fantastic selection of accessories to go with its ukulele range, and I was particularly impressed with the Tiger T-47 Chromatic Tuner. This tuner is simple but effective, and if you are going to be tuning lots of ukuleles every day, then you will definitely need one. I think it would also be good to go for their Ukulele Pack so that every student has their own tuner (RPP £29.99). Normans also does a similar ukulele pack that comes with a tuner and strings.

So, if you are looking for a ukulele that will travel around, go for the A-Star, as the bag is fantastic. But if you are looking to store them on the wall and make your classroom look good, then maybe turn to the Encore or Tiger range. Don't forget that you will also need to get some repertoire and ideas for teaching, and I know my students this year have enjoyed the Rock School Ukulele graded books (cloud.rslawards.com; or contact Dan Francis) to help them progress and perform at a higher standard. Ukulele is for life, not just for Key Stage 2!

Drumming

Shifting from ukulele to djembe, Normans has a great instrument on offer. The A-Star 8-inch Painted Djembe is a traditionally made drum that uses high quality solid wood. It looks stunning and sounds amazing – students will love seeing these in your music room. It uses natural heads and rope tuning and I really like the overall look and feel of this instrument. If you are looking to do some drumming with your classes or start a percussion group, then at £59.99, this might be the perfect purchase. I would also recommend that you get in touch with Mike Simpson at Inspire-Works, as he will be able to guide you on your journey with not only djembe, but all kinds of drums (www.inspire-works.co.uk).

While I am on the topic of drums, DJM Music has a great Tiger 8-inch Drum Practice Pad that comes with Tiger Hickory 5B Drum Sticks. When I had a play with this product, I started to think about how it might be useful in a classroom setting. It is often tricky to give out drums to all students, and it can get loud. Maybe practice pads are the way forward. And of course, they are great tools for drummers who need to keep up with their skills at home. Parents might thank you for introducing them to practice pads, although there is nothing like the real thing. At £20, these pads are potentially a useful addition to your department, and they come in a nice bag with a handle.

A-Star 8-inch Painted Djembe from Normans; Tiger 8-inch Drum Practice Pad with Tiger Hickory 5B Drum Sticks from DJM Music

Glockenspiels

If you are teaching Key Stages 2 or 3 and feel like you want something slightly different to keyboards and ukuleles, then why not consider glockenspiels? Normans provided me with the A-Star 25 note Chromatic Glockenspiel (RRP £22.99) and I was really impressed. It is a simple instrument and comes with two beaters. The case is bright red, and the sound isn't bad considering the price. It also has a handle, and is not too heavy for younger students. I'd say that this will provide you with an instrument for teaching pitch, melody writing and various other key elements of music. Students could also easily use this for classroom performances and composition. I really enjoy seeing students using a glockenspiel in their learning, and it might be something new to try this year. One between two will work just fine and you could have a student playing chords on ukulele while another gives a solid beat on the djembe.

A-Star 25 note Chromatic Glockenspiel from Normans

Music stands and notebooks

Music stands come in all different shapes and sizes. I remember growing up with a fold-up music stand that seemed to go with me everywhere. I have two models I'd like to tell you about – one from JHS and one from Normans.

The Kinsman Standard Series Music Stand from JHS is an excellent stand, with lots of support for sheet music. The extra hinges and tilt provide ample room (I am picturing students who have several sheets of paper stuck together). This stand comes in a bag and is lightweight and easy to assemble. The A-Star Folding Music Stand from Normans is another great option if you are looking for a black fold-up music stand. This one also comes in a bag and folds away easily after use.

During lockdown, one of the websites I discovered was Etsy (I think I might be late to the party). Etsy is a great place to find, well, almost anything, and now you can go there for your music supplies. Andrew Hall has a wonderful set of musical notebooks available from Notes and Notes (www.notesandnotes.co.uk). At times in a classroom it is nice to get away from screens and write down some music by hand. The notebooks are great as they come with lines, manuscript paper, and even space to write out guitar chords.

Kinsman Standard Series Music Stand from JHS; A-Star Folding Music Stand from Normans


Guitar Tablature Notebook with tab and lined paper with chord boxes from Notes and Notes

Top 10 for September

I thought it might be useful for me to share my Top 10 resources for September. Hopefully in addition to the products above, this list will give you lots of ideas to get you through the academic year.

• Not all music software is expensive, and you might like to check out Bandlab if you haven't already. This will get your students creating music and sharing it with you in no time (www.bandlab.com).

• If you are looking for some great software for your classroom, make sure you get yourself a copy of Cubase Elements 11. I have been using Cubase for several years and the newest version from Steinberg is fantastic. The ease at which you can create music is stunning and it will take students right through GCSE and A Level. Get in touch with Richard Llewellyn at Steinberg (www.steinberg.net).

• MusicFirst offers so much for music teachers, and I don't know how I would get through a year without Focus on Sound Pro. This is a one stop shop for music students, with everything from an interactive dictionary of music to in-depth set work analysis and music theory. You can assign work, create questions, and track students' learning. Get in touch with Matt Allen (www.musicfirst.co.uk).

• Soundtrap is a paid for DAW, but it is well worth getting copies for your department. This will allow your students to get creative both in and out of the classroom. Future DJs provides some excellent resources for Soundtrap and I would get in touch with them anyway because they are doing amazing things (www.soundtrap.com; www.futuredjs.org).

• I might be biased, but I think you should consider joining Music Teachers' Association (MTA). Over the last year this organisation has grown in size and status, supporting teachers up and down the country. I see the impact first-hand, and I am keen to ensure that music teachers are plugged in to this amazing association (www.musicteachers.org). I'd also like to recommend the MTA Podcast, Teaching Notes, which is hosted and produced by Patrick Johns. You can explore the 40 episodes (and counting!) at www.musicteachers.org/podcast.

• I Can Compose is an amazing website that not only provides composition projects, but also offers fantastic listening and study resources. The Platinum Access plan gives you access to all of the resources available on the site. Rachel Shapey has put together an invaluable website and also has a new book: How to Teach Composition in the Secondary Classroom: 50 inspiring ideas (www.icancompose.com).

• Passing Notes Education has really come to the fore over the last year. They provide online CPD and you can also download resources from their website. The webinars are affordable and packed full of amazing content on everything from Bach chorales to film music composition (www.passingnoteseducation.co.uk).

• If you are looking for great workshops, then you can't go wrong with Beat Goes On. Ollie Tunmer has been working hard throughout lockdown to keep students making music. He also runs fantastic in-person workshops and CPD (www.beatgoeson.co.uk).

• I am a big fan of singing in the classroom (who isn't?). I therefore wouldn't want to go through a year without access to Sing Up (www.singup.org). But I also love the Voices Foundation Virtual Singing Assemblies (www.voices.org.uk/vsa-learning-resources), Sing for Pleasure (www.singforpleasure.org.uk) and Out of the Ark (www.outoftheark.co.uk). We have no excuse when it comes to getting our students singing.

• For all your sheet music needs I would recommend Studio Music Company. They have a huge range of music, and whenever I order from them it arrives quickly! (www.studio-music.co.uk).

I hope that will get you started for September, and do continue to read this wonderful magazine for more ideas, reviews, and resources. I guess the only other thing I would suggest is to make sure that you are connected to one of the many Facebook groups for music teachers and that you follow lots of great educators and practitioners on Twitter! It would be rude to mention my own blog www.manwaringmusic.blog, so I won't do that.

All that's left is for me to wish you the very best for the year ahead. The main thing to remember is that you can have all the best products and ideas, but you are the resource that matters the most. Make sure you look after yourself and don't suffer on your own. Music teaching can be tough, and we often work in isolation. Remember that there are loads of us out there who are happy to support. I hope that these product reviews will help, and the hints and tips will guide you in the right direction. If you need anything else, then just get in touch. I am always happy to help and offer advice and ideas. You can follow me on Twitter @jpmanwaring or get in touch via email manwaringmusic@icloud.com. Have a great year teaching the best subject in the world!

Visit a-starmusic.co.uk to view a brand-new hub of resources from A-Star and Normans, which includes ‘A Musical Journey’, a six-week scheme of work for KS1 and 2, lesson plans, video guides for teachers and pupils, backing tracks, instrument resource cards and cross-curricular activities. Review coming soon.