Tips when substitute teaching for a music teacher.

You’ve been a substitute teacher for history, science, geometry, and English, and you’ve got a good handle on academic classrooms. But today, when you opened your absence management app, you saw a local school has an open substitute teacher job for an absent music teacher. 

Okay then. To say that music has never been your “forte” would be like saying your cat isn’t very good at algebra. You could probably figure out how to peck out Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on a piano, but not before everyone has left the room. 

You, a music teacher? Let’s hope no one asks you to sing. 

The truth is, though, you can do it! Read on, and you’ll find some great tips for substitute teaching a music class — even if you don’t know anything about music. 

Follow the lesson plan. 

Unless it’s a last-minute absence, the music teacher should provide the substitute teacher with a lesson plan. Don’t worry—teachers are fully aware that the substitute may not have formal music training. So, you generally don’t have to worry about providing detailed instruction regarding notation, keys, scales, chords, composition, and the like. 

The lesson plan you receive may include watching videos, listening to music, or simply giving the students time to practice singing or playing. They may be working on a certain song or musical piece, and they already know how to practice.  

In some schools, the space dedicated to music is divided into several rooms, allowing students to practice in groups or even individually. Your job as a substitute teacher is to monitor the students and make sure they stay on task.  

When there is no lesson plan. 

Finding out there’s an already-prepared lesson plan is music to your ears, but what if you’re left with nothing? 

If you’re walking into school feeling as ready as a guitar without any strings, here are a few ideas for music class activities: 

Ask another teacher for suggestions. There may be more than one teacher in the music department. Depending on the size of the school and faculty, there may be separate teachers for band, orchestra, choir, music history, music theory, or instruction for individual instruments. They can give you some ideas. 

Student of the Day. If you’re teaching older students, you can ask one of the top students to lead the class. They know the general routine and what projects the class is working on. If the students have an upcoming concert or performance, they can continue to practice for it. 

Sing-along. For younger students, find some simple sing-along videos and have a fun singing session. Increase the fun by asking for volunteer soloists or having volunteers act out the song lyrics. You can also divide the class into groups, and have each group sing a part of the song—announcing a winning group after each performance. 

Got Talent Showcase. Call it “[Name of school]’s Got Talent,” or something similar. Have the students show off their talents—singing or playing an instrument in front of the class. 

Write your own lyrics. Ask each student to choose a favorite song, and then write their own lyrics to the melody. Any student who wishes can then read their composition to the class. 

Play “Name that Tune”. Use YouTube or a streaming service to play the first two or three seconds of popular songs. See if anyone can guess the song. If no one guesses, play the next second or two, and so on. The student who guesses a song can choose the next one. 

Watch a video. You might choose a biography about a famous composer, singer, or musician, or a documentary that explores the history of a specific genre, such as jazz, blues, country, rock, or rap. You can also find interesting documentaries about the history and development of specific musical instruments, or those that focus on music from other countries. Whatever you choose to watch, be sure to preview it to make sure it’s appropriate. Leave time at the end of class for the students to share their offer observations about the topic. 

One word: karaoke! If you keep a few of the above suggestions in mind, you don’t have to shy away from accepting music teacher jobs. Remember, experienced substitute teachers often keep a few possible lessons in their back pocket. You can even throw out a few suggestions and let the students choose. There’s nothing wrong with playing it by ear! 

A few things to keep in mind. 

Whenever you’re teaching at a school for the first time, be sure to familiarize yourself with the phone and technology policy. Since you’re not the regular teacher, students may try to take advantage of the situation, thinking you don’t know the rules. If there are restrictions, let everyone know that nothing has changed at the start of class, and that you expect them to follow the rules. The school’s policy should be provided to you, but if it isn’t, ask the administration. 

Let students know you’re excited to be there and eager to see what they can do. Keep in mind, however, that since music class is louder and (at times) a little less structured than other classes, it may take a little more effort to keep things under control. Let the class know at the outset what your expectations are. 

Finally, before you leave for the day, be sure to leave a report for the regular music teacher. They’ll appreciate knowing how the class went, what was covered, and any issues that arose. This shows your concern for both the teacher and students and could lead to a personal request to have you back when that teacher is absent the next time. Don’t forget to leave praise, if the class or a student deserves it! 

Work as a substitute teacher with Kelly Education. 

Kelly Education has many more great tips for substitute teachers, from substitute teacher dress codes and what to bring on your first day to how to introduce yourself to the class. Check out all our career advice so you can feel comfortable and confident in the classroom! 

If you love working with kids and need flexible hours and part-time employment, substitute teaching could be just what you’re looking for! Fill out our short interest form, and one of our recruiters will contact you to answer your questions. We’ll share more information about substitute teacher jobs with one of our school district partners in your area. 

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