Music choice boards were all the rage when COVID hit and schools transitioned to distance learning. Choice boards are a bit like BINGO cards with different musical activities in a grid. The intent was to design activities that could be chosen by students and completed at home with minimal guidance. Upon returning to the classrooms, most teachers relegated choice boards to e-learning days. However, they can still serve a useful purpose in your physical classroom.
Accessible Alternative to Sub Tubs
Like sub tubs, choice boards fall into the “set it and forget it” category of lesson planning. Subs are few and far between these days. Having user friendly plans (regardless of musical training) is incredibly important. If you teach from a cart, music choice boards are a space-saving alternative to sub tubs.
It’s easy to forget that we need nothing more than our bodies to create music. With this in mind, I think it’s best to link choice board squares to plenty of play or sing-along videos. This way, the sub only needs to press play. Distance learning expanded the music ed content available online. Teachers worked to create videos centered on simple rhythms, singing patterns, identifying timbres, and more. If you search for it, you’ll most likely find it.
Beyond the play-along videos, there are videos that capture music elements in a unique and memorable way. For example, watching infamous works performed with graphical notation or listening to a mash-up of different music genres. Both can be followed up with a simple reflection sheet asking students to describe the music elements they heard.
Of course, choice boards will still require time, careful planning, and a solid internet connection. However, I think they’re an excellent tool for teachers on a cart or for subs who have little music experience. If you choose to try out music choice boards, I encourage you to download both of my free resources below. They’re simple, but effective.
My music choice board is pre-filled with some ideas I used during COVID. However, it’s editable so you can add links and change it to fit your needs.

You can use my free SQUILT sheets to accompany videos in which you want students to reflect on what they heard.
