Whether you’re brand new to teaching music or you’ve just never felt like you had a solid plan for that very first day, this post is for you! I’m sharing exactly how I approach the first day of music class—from how students enter the room, to rules, relationships, games, and more.
🪑 Seating (Without the Stress)
Let’s be real—I hate seating charts, especially on the first day when I don’t even know the vibe of the class yet. But with multiple classes coming through your room, total seating chaos isn’t the solution either. So what’s a music teacher to do?
Random seating charts!
Here’s how I do it: I use numbered sit spots (the velcro dots) and label them 1–26 (or however many students are in your largest class). As students enter the room, I hand each one a laminated number card. That’s the number they sit on for the day.
This method helps me observe student dynamics without committing to a permanent seating chart too soon. I do this for the first few lessons, and once I’ve gotten a feel for each class, I create more intentional seating arrangements based on what I’ve learned.
🧠 Rules & Procedures
I know it’s tempting to jump right into something musical—but I’ve learned the hard way that it can feel awkward or chaotic if students break a rule you haven’t introduced yet.
So first things first:
- I introduce myself
- Go over classroom rules
- Teach my attention-getter and whole-class behavior system
I keep this part short and sweet—just enough to get everyone on the same page. I cover other procedures (like instrument routines, transitions, etc.) as they come up naturally over the first few weeks.
🎤 Time to Make Music: Name Games or Singing Games
Now it’s time to bring the music in! I love starting with a name game or a singing game, depending on the group.
- If it’s a class I’m still learning or don’t know well, I go with a name game to help us all get more comfortable.
- If it’s a group I’ve taught before, I’ll jump into a known singing game to review and reinforce previous concepts.
These are low-pressure, fun, and musical ways to re-establish the classroom culture and check in on prior knowledge.
🧩 Board Work
After the movement and music-making, I like to end class with a calm, focused activity. My go-to is simple rhythm review games on the board.Students take turns picking an icon that reveals a rhythm. Then the whole class reads or claps it together. It’s a low-stress, interactive way to assess where they are with rhythm skills and recall from last year.
🚶♂️ Extra Time for Line-Up Practice
This part might seem small, but it’s a game-changer: I always leave extra time at the end of class during the first few days to practice lining up and exiting the room calmly.
Why? Because that transition time is one of the biggest challenges in a music teacher’s day. If it feels rushed or chaotic, behavior can slip fast—and that pattern can stick.So give yourself permission to slow down during those early lessons. You’ll get to the content, I promise. But first, take the time to teach students how to exit your room with structure, not chaos.
Your first day doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to be intentional. Build routines, set expectations, get a little music in, and most importantly—start building relationships. Everything else will follow. You can find everything you need to have a successful first day with students in my First Day of Music Lesson Pack!
