I am so excited for you. Want to know why? Because I’ve pre-designed this set of Music Teacher Books for Your Amazon Wish List to save you ALL the time! Because you’re busy enough, right? Right.
The beginning of the year is going to get here before we know it (no, I lied…it’s far, FAR away– you still can relax and enjoy your summer… forget I said anything). But seriously, it’s never too early to jump on getting your next year’s music classroom ready!
Below is a list of my very favorite music teacher books for your Amazon wish list. Why? Because let’s face it, a good book helps re-energize us as teachers better than most other things on Earth… except maybe a good cup of coffee.
I’m a very voracious reader. Maybe it’s because I’m secretly a nerd (ok, maybe that’s not a secret) or maybe I have lots of free evening time #nochildrenyet. Or maybe it’s just because I take after my mom…the biggest reader of them all. 😁
But even if you’re not a huge reader, I’ve taken the guesswork out. These are some of my VERY favorite books to add to your music teacher Amazon wish list.
They straight up changed my life in very different but insanely useful ways.
Make time for them. Read them twice. Then come back here and tell me all about it! ❤️
Note: This blog post contains affiliate links. This means that I may earn a small commission (at no cost to you) should you make a purchase using the links here. Please know I ONLY recommend products I have personally used and loved.
Thanks for helping to support She The Teacher in this small but meaningful way!
Classroom Management for Art, Music, and PE Teachers by Michael Linsin
The first book on my Music Teacher Amazon Wish List is Classroom Management for Art, Music, and PE Teachers by Michael Linsin. I LOVE this book. It’s helped me so much with behavior management in my classroom (and let’s be honest– what music teacher HASN’T needed some help with that at some point!?)
This book is full of great, practical strategies for managing any classroom, no matter how challenging. It’s easy to read and understand, and there are tons of helpful tips that you can start using immediately. If you’re looking for a way to transform your class into a well-behaved and cooperative group (yep, even if your beginner choir or band is HUGE) this is the book for you.
A Place in the Staff: Finding Your Way as a Music Teacher by Jen Rafferty
I had the pleasure of reading Jen Rafferty’s wisdom in this book a few years ago when I was REALLY struggling with burnout. Even as seasoned teachers, sometimes we need a refresh. This book was that for me. I know it’ll be that for you.
You are capable of so much more than you know. There will be challenges, but it’s how you handle them that really matters! This is a great guide and support as you work through some common issues in the music classroom – from understanding your students’ needs, exploring advocacy opportunities, and finding supplies like instruments and equipment.
And most importantly, she’ll help talk you through the importance of taking care of yourself both physically AND mentally because when one gets neglected, then another suffers.
Your Brain on Music: The Cognitive Benefits of Music Education by Laura Saunders
This is the perfect book for music educators looking to advocate for their programs. We know the cognitive benefits of music education have been scientifically proven (increased attention span, better performance in math and spatial tasks, heightened fluency in reading, better memory, better communication) but does your administrator know that? What about your parents?
Laura will help you learn all about advocacy by helping you understand how to talk about its importance. I wish we didn’t need to advocate for music, but we DO!
If you’re someone like me who knows the benefits of music, but when asked completely freezes, this is a great book for knowing how to verbalize all the important stuff.
Pass the Baton: Empowering All Music Students by Kathryn Finch and Theresa Hoover
I don’t know about you, but my music education has been very traditional, top-down, and director-led. Most of my music classes focused on developing specific skills like sight-reading ability and classical performance. Sure there was time to develop relationships too, but that was never really the point… until now.
Pass the Baton is different in that it offers you an engaging alternative – teaching students how to think critically about music and their place within it so they can make connected artistic decisions both inside and outside of classrooms.
What does this look like? It looks like students who have TRUE voice and choice in your classroom. It looks like students who show up not because they’re forced to, but because they have buy-in.
You want your students to think and be active voices in your classroom, right? This helped me learn how to do just that!
Music Education and Social Emotional Learning by Scott Edgar
I taught my entire career in Title 1 (low-income) schools. MANY of my students came from broken homes. I’m sure you have at least a few students who fit into that category. But how do you teach them music in a way that turns them into better people?
First, you have to understand social-emotional learning (SEL). SEL is the process through which children and adults learn to recognize and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.
As a music educator, you are in a unique position to help your students develop these skills. But, it won’t happen without some intention behind some activities (especially at the start of the year). If you struggle with students who could benefit from SEL, grab this one. Seriously.
Teaching With Poverty in Mind: What Being Poor Does to Kids’ Brains and What Schools Can Do About It by Eric Jensen
I always tell people that if you can teach to elevate your lowest student (either socially, academically, developmentally, or financially), the rest of your students will be SO much better for it.
This book is hard to read. I read it several times, once with my staff as a book study and a couple times on my own. The tears this book brings out are REAL because you can see your own students in it. What they go through is TOUGH!
I loved this book because it not only teaches you how poverty negatively affects the brain (and how to teach to that), but it shows you how to encourage your students’ natural resiliency. If you teach low-income students (even just 1 or 2 of them), this is one you need on the shelf.
Growing Musicians: Teaching Music in Middle School and Beyond by Bridget Sweet
Let’s talk about something scary… growing up! 🤦♀️
Sure, you spend your days with growing humans who are going through all sorts of changes, but have you ever thought about– how can I teach them knowing what they’re REALLY dealing with?
You might be surprised how much REAL world, big-person stuff they’re going through. This book helps you really dig into the importance of building relationships with students who don’t even understand themselves and will help you make your classroom a safe haven where students can be who they are.
If you teach late elementary, middle school, or high school, READ THIS. This book goes far beyond music and into how we teach our students to care about life, others, and how we do it through music.
I Love My Job but It’s Killing Me by Lesley Moffat
Did you happen to read the blog from last week? If not, make sure you catch up with ‘4 Simple Steps to Being a Happier and Healthier Music Teacher.’
I was fortunate enough to chat with Lesley a few weeks ago about how we (and our students) can help heal and thrive from the past two years as we move past the pandemic.
If you’re someone like me, who struggles with health (either mental or physical), this is a great book to grab to help you re-prioritize and reset your boundaries in relation to your work.
Final Thoughts
These are just a few of the many great books available for your music teacher Amazon wish list! In a time when schools are cutting funding for the arts, when we’re tackling more and more stress-filled issues in our classrooms, and we’re at the crossroads of what music education is and what it CAN be, I hope these great books will help guide you.
What is your all-time favorite book as a music teacher? Leave a comment! I’d love to hear!
