How I Started with Music Bulletin Board Ideas
When I started at my new school, I walked into a building mid-renovation—not a single music bulletin board was up. I was also adjusting to life in a new country, learning unfamiliar systems, routines, and expectations, all while facing the steep learning curve that comes with any major transition. On top of that, I found out my music classes would now meet once a week instead of twice, cutting my instructional time in half. I needed a way to keep content visible and accessible to students even when they weren’t in the music room.
In my previous teaching experiences, I had always relied on teacher-made posters and charts—simple tools directly tied to instruction and referenced regularly. But music bulletin board ideas? They were never part of my wheelhouse. That changed when I started thinking about them differently—not as decoration, but as extensions of the lesson. A well-planned bulletin board can reinforce key concepts, support vocabulary, and encourage students to think musically between classes.
An important mindset I’ve always maintained is this: not everything needs to go up at the start of the school year. Take the pressure off of yourself to have it all right there from the very beginning. I learned this from the Responsive Classroom approach. Instead of pre-decorating every wall, consider building the classroom environment gradually, adding visual supports as content becomes relevant. If it’s been taught in class and helps reinforce learning, then it belongs on the wall. With this approach, music bulletin boards become purposeful tools—supporting what students are doing, seeing, and understanding in real time.
Solfege Wall
Focus: Pitch, melodic contour, hand signs
- Display the solfege syllables (do–re–mi–fa–sol–la–ti–do) with hand signs and colors
- Include notation examples on the staff to connect with music literacy
- Show ascending and descending patterns to reinforce melodic direction
- Add student practice prompts like “Find this pattern: mi–re–do”
- Optional: Include interactive velcro cards for students to build their own melodic phrases
Notation Station
Focus: Music symbols, note values, and basic reading skills
- Display commonly used music symbols like treble clef, time signatures, rests, and dynamic markings
- Use real-life notation from classroom pieces or recorder songs
- Create quizzes or questions with dry-erase or laminated cards (“What symbol means silence?”)
- Feature a “symbol of the week” and change it out regularly
- Add QR codes linking to short videos or audio examples
Music Vocabulary Wall
Focus: Reinforcing academic and musical terms
(I do usually have this one in the room and build it up over the course of the school year)
- Post a growing list of music terms with kid-friendly definitions (e.g., tempo = speed of music)
- Group words by category: tempo, dynamics, articulation, mood
- Include visual icons or clipart to make abstract words more accessible
- Add a “Can you use this word?” challenge for students to apply terms in class
- Incorporate student-created examples using the words in musical context
Composer Spotlight
Focus: Music history and listening
(I know…not exactly original but necessary!)
- Highlight a monthly composer with photo, short bio, time period, and famous works
- Include a QR code or link to a featured listening example
- Post a “Did you know?” fact box for each composer
- Add a simple prompt: “What does this music make you picture or feel?”
- Use student artwork or writing inspired by the featured piece
Music Around the World
Focus: Cultural awareness and world instruments
- Display a map of the world with images or instruments pinned to countries
- Rotate through regions each month (Africa, Asia, South America, etc.)
- Include brief descriptions of traditional instruments and what they sound like
- Add student questions like “Where do drums come from?” or “How is this used in celebrations?”
- Connect to class with live demonstrations or recordings
Careers in Music
Focus: Real-world connections to music education
- Feature photos and descriptions of music-related careers: producer, composer, conductor, etc.
- Include “You might enjoy this job if…” traits to help students connect
- Add real-world tools or props (conductor baton, mic, headphones)
- Include quotes from professionals or links to video interviews
- Ask students to draw themselves in a future music career
Elements of Music
Focus: Teaching foundational concepts
- Break down the 7 elements of music: pitch, rhythm, form, dynamics, tempo, timbre, and texture
- Use clear visuals and definitions for each element
- Rotate student listening tasks that match each category (i.e. “Which element stands out in this song?”)
- Post student-created examples for each element (drawings for timbre, rhythms for form)
- Optional: Add a “Guess the Element” board with musical excerpts
Instrument Families
Focus: Classifying and recognizing instruments.
- Do a side-by-side comparison between specific Western instruments and those from around the world.
- Divide the board into four orchestral families: strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion
- Add bonus categories for keyboard and electronic if desired
- Include real photos or 3D visuals of each instrument
- Create a sorting game or pocket chart for student interaction
- Add sound clips that students can access with a QR code or a class listening station
Thinking Musician Questions
Focus: Encouraging musical reflection and critical thinking
- Post open-ended questions like “What makes a good melody?” or “Why do some songs make us feel sad?”
- Include a space for student sticky notes or dry-erase responses
- Tie questions to your current unit or composer spotlight
- Add quote bubbles with student reflections from class
- Rotate new questions every couple of weeks to keep it fresh
What We’re Learning
Focus: Making learning objectives visible
- Break down grade-level concepts by unit or theme
- Include vocabulary, essential questions, and musical skills being practiced
- Update regularly to match current lessons or performances
- Add “ask me about…” signs to help students talk about what they’re learning
- Use icons or illustrations to keep it accessible for younger learners
Rhythm
Focus: Get kids thinking all the time that the words = rhythm
- Introduce the concept in class first. Before anything goes on the wall, make sure students have experienced the idea that all words have rhythm. Use seasonal or theme-based vocabulary (e.g., “pumpkin pie,” “apple cider,” “turkey”) and have students say or clap the rhythms using syllables or note values.
- Select a clear theme to guide your word choices. Choose something relevant to the season, a concert, or a classroom topic:
- Fall: changing colors, pumpkin pie, apple picking
- Winter: snow boots, gingerbread, jingle bells
- Foods: vegetables, desserts, fruits, fast-food menu items
- Anything connecting to the units in their homerooms
- List 15–20 rhythm words or phrases. Keep the list manageable and use words students will recognize and enjoy. Ensure a variety of rhythmic combinations (quarter notes, eighth notes, half notes, etc.).
- Create visual supports for each word.
- Use large, readable font for the word
- Notate the rhythm (stick notation or standard) beneath each
- Include clipart, real photos, or student illustrations for visual engagement
- Add a title and a simple explanation. Use a music bulletin board header like “The Rhythm of Life” or “All Words Have Rhythm.”
- Include a short blurb: “These words have rhythm! Can you say or clap them? What rhythms do you hear in your favorite fall words?”
- Extend the learning beyond the board. Use the same word list in small group composition, rhythmic dictation, or improvisation. Ask students to come up with new themed rhythm words during warm-up or exit ticket activities.
- Ownership increases engagement. Ask students to suggest words, vote on their favorites, or draw pictures to accompany the rhythms.
KEEP IT ALL STUDENT-CENTERED! Right?! Get their buy-in/investment and allow them to feel some ownership. Let’s see where this takes us this year! Good luck as you begin your year!