Creative Solutions: How to Make Your Music Classroom Wall Work for You

The start of the school year brings a special kind of chaos: new supplies, new faces, and lots of bulletin board paper.

But let me ask you this: How much of what you hang on your walls actually helps you teach?

If you’ve ever printed, laminated, and posted something just to realize... you never actually use it—this post is for you.

Here’s how to choose decor that does more—helping you reinforce routines, build independence, and save your teacher voice all year long.

Step One: Start with What You Actually Teach

Ask yourself:

What do I reference every week?
What do I explain over and over again?
What concepts come up in every grade level?

Now, build your wall around those things.

For example:

Rhythm posters or beat charts you echo with the class
Voice level signs tied to music dynamics (ff to pp!)
Music rules that double as chant or movement prompts

Visual Cues, Not Visual Noise

Decor isn’t just about what looks cute—it’s about what works.

Stick to intentional, high-impact visuals that students can process quickly:

Simple behavior expectations
Interactive rhythm visuals
Class jobs or routines that anchor your transitions
I CAN Statements

Ask: Would I point to this during a lesson?
If the answer is no—it might not need to be there.

Make Your Decor Work for You

Here are some teaching tools that double as decor:

✅ Voice level posters connected to music vocabulary
✅ Call-and-response visual prompts (great for routines!)
✅ Dry-erase or Velcro rhythm boards
✅ Spot visuals for movement-based seating or transition routines

Bonus points if your students can touch, move, or build with them.