Incorporating children’s books for the music classroom isn’t just a fun storytime moment—it’s one of the absolute best ways to teach routines, introduce instruments, and front-load expectations without constantly lecturing your students!
Every fall, classroom teachers get to read dozens of amazing picture books about first-day jitters, building a classroom family, and making new friends. But as music teachers who see every single student in the building, shouldn’t we have our own books, too?
I recently sat down with my great friend, composer, music educator, and children’s book author Bethany Main, to talk about how picture books can completely transform your classroom management and concert prep.
Starting Day One with Joy
When Bethany was driving home on the last day of school a couple of years ago, she realized music teachers were adapting general classroom books like All Are Welcome or Your Name Is a Song for music lessons. While those books are fantastic, she wanted something built specifically for our space.
That’s how her book, Our First Day of Music, was born! Using bright, joyful illustrations and singable rhymes, it walks students through what to expect in the music room—from Boomwhackers and Tubanos to recorders and rhythm sticks. Reading a dedicated music book on day one gives kids instant ownership over their space and sets a welcoming, inclusive tone for the entire year.
Front-Loading Concert Etiquette with Social Stories
Teaching audience behavior can feel like an uphill battle if you wait until the week of your performance. That’s why using social stories is a total game-changer!
Bethany’s newest book, Pippa Goes to the Orchestra, follows her dog Pippa and a pack of dog friends attending a live symphony. Naturally, chaos ensues—one dog dives onto the stage to grab the timpani mallets, while another crunches on snacks too loudly!
Through a repeating singable rhyme (“I sit on my pockets, my hands in my lap, my voice is off, I’m listening, I always wait to clap”), students learn exactly what is expected at a live show in a playful, memorable way. By front-loading these expectations through a story, kids process how their behavior affects others before they ever step foot into an auditorium!
Bringing Literacy Across the Hallway
Using children’s books in music is also the perfect bridge for cross-curricular learning with classroom teachers!
When you use companion activities—like character point-of-view writing, discussion questions, or word searches—you’re reinforcing core reading standards while keeping music at the center. Classroom teachers love when we partner with them on literacy, and it shows your administration how deeply music supports the whole child.
Check it out! Here’s your Monday-ready action plan:
- Build Your Music Shelf: Grab a dedicated back-to-school music picture book to read during your first week of lessons.
- Front-Load the Behavior: Read an audience etiquette story 3–4 weeks before your grade-level concert or field trip.
- Add a Musical Cue: Use repeating chants or singable lines in your books so students can actively participate as you read.
- Share with Classroom Teachers: Send companion literacy sheets or discussion prompts to grade-level teams for cross-curricular fun!
Want to listen to our full conversation and hear a sneak peek of Bethany’s new book? Check out the full episode of The Happy Music Teacher: [The Picture Books That Make Concert Etiquette Stick Before You Ever Reach the Auditorium]
🛋️ Want more Monday-ready strategies? You don’t have to keep struggling through a chaotic schedule. Check out my free resources to help you through by clicking this link.