Favorite Studio and Office Tools

As music teachers, studio owners and teachers who work from home, both Tara and Elizabeth appreciate good quality teaching tools and office equipment that help make things run more smoothly! If you have a home studio or office and/or teach music or piano students, we hope you'll enjoy perusing some of our favorite things.

*Elizabeth and Tara own all of the products recommended in this post, and are sharing how we use them in our home businesses. We won't share things we don't love or wouldn't use ourselves! As Amazon Affiliates, we may receive a commission if you purchase through the links at no additional cost to you. Thank you for helping support Creative Piano Pedagogy Blog and Podcast!

The Beloved Bubble Timer

If you're wondering why this is being referred to as 'beloved,' then do yourself a favor and read this blog post dedicated to the Bubble Timer and why SO many teachers (and students) love it.

Not only is it hugely helpful for timing activities in music and piano lessons, the timer is a fantastic fidget toy for students with learning disabilities and neurodiversity, making it the perfect companion to keep out during lessons. You can grab your own Bubble Timer here (currently on sale!)

Magazine/Music Storage

If you've collected music and books and have worked with finding good ways to store them over the years, then you know the frustration of finding quality but affordable storage options. We use these to organize all of our method books, sheet music, supplemental music and other studio items to keep the shelves looking neat and uncluttered!

We love that they're inexpensive but have held up SO well in our studios! You can grab them here (on sale right now!) and then have fun organizing those piles of music.

Plastic Storage Drawers

Speaking of music studio storage- the most frustration or puzzling things to find places for in a studio? The little things. Think of magnets for white boards, finger puppets, stamps, stickers, small teaching manipulatives and tools- they're so difficult to store well, and can easily get lost if you don't have a good place to keep them.

Enter the Plastic Storage Drawers! These have revolutionized the usage and storage of small teaching tools in the studio (no exaggeration!) because it's so easy to see exactly where things are, and the 19 drawers (two sizes) are movable, so you can easily shift things around.

They're incredibly sturdy, look so clean and work beautifully for all the teaching and office things you can never quite find the perfect space for- truly a wonderful storage solution! You can check them out here (really on sale right now) and finally have a space for all your sticky notes!

The Best Invention Ever- Erasable Highlighters

These are studio-wide favorite. Tara includes them in all student practice kits and is so happy to replace them when their ink runs out. She likes to stay consistent in how she marks students' scores so always uses the yellow highlighter to draw attention to challenging fingering. And? They're erasable. ERASABLE. *chef's kiss* Get this pack of 12 here (they're on sale!) and you can thank us later.

Laptop Stand

Office tools may not be glamorous, but if you rely on them daily (or often) then you know how irritating it can be when something just isn't working. This was the case for the laptop stand- it was continually collapsing and sitting crooked on the desk for virtual lessons and Zoom meetings.

This new Laptop Stand is a total game-changer! Incredibly sturdy (it doesn't budge after you've set the height), and well vented so the laptop can breathe. It makes working from home so much more efficient, and is one of those small things that just makes life a bit better and more enjoyable since it actually works! Check it out here on Black Friday sale!

Raycon Earbuds- Earbuds without the Pain

As musicians, we're very particular about sound quality and hearing protection, and also love finding earbuds or headphones to wear while working from home that actually WORK well (without hurting our ears). These Raycon Earbuds have been a lifesaver the past several years, even surviving a few washes in the washing machine (don't recommend that!), they stay charged well, great for noise cancelling, phone calls, listening to audio books/podcasts and just enjoying music or Zoom meetings. They're incredibly affordable for the quality, and they're on marked down on Amazon- check them out here!

Loop Adjustable Ear Plugs

If you're a musician and want to protect your hearing, these are a must-have. I recently purchased my own set before heading to a Lawrence concert and I was SO thankful that I did. I was able to hear every detail of the music pretty well and enjoy the concert without sacrificing my hearing health. They are easy to put in, easy to adjust the settings (even once they are in), and they look pretty nifty, too. Now to see if they block out snoring...🤔

Get your set here (on sale this week)!

Story Orchestra Books- Making Music Come Alive

I love any of The Story Orchestra books, but this one has been a particular favorite in my studio. Students get engaged with the art and the story, and little fingers can stay busy looking for the buttons to push to hear excerpts. It's really magical!

If you've been wanting to explore these and have been waiting for a nudge (or a sale), then check them out here while they're marked down!

Animal Puzzle Erasers

The best teaching products and tools are ones that can be used for multiple different activities and games, and these Animal Puzzle Erasers check all the boxes! Students of all ages and abilities love them as prizes and incentives (even pre-teens and teens), and they're perfect for keyboard geography games, music Tic-Tac-Toe, and so much more. Grab them here while they're on sale!

Piano Footrest for Students

Technique is a vital element of piano lessons for young students, and one of the key elements of healthy technique is helping students maintain a good sitting posture at the piano. This Piano Footrest is the perfect solution and has been a staple in our studios for several years! The footrest is adjustable for students of different heights, and it works great for students from age 3-9 (depending on height) who are wiggly, neurodivergent, or would benefit from having a 'home' for their feet while they play. It's well designed and rarely on-sale, so check it out here while it's marked down!

We hope you've enjoyed perusing a few of our favorite things we consistently use (and love) in our home studios! You can view all the items on our list here, and also see our Christmas Studio Favorites here.