What age group are Boomwhackers suitable for?

Boomwhackers are ideal for Kindergarten to Grade 2 students. With the right activities, even preschoolers can enjoy simple colour-matching rhythms, but they find their sweet spot in early primary or elementary school. Older primary or elementary students (Grades 3-6) certainly can use boomwhackers, and we do incorporate them within the SING & PLAY and COMPOSE elements of the Fun Music Company programs at this age. However, they should be supplemented with other instruments and activities at those age groups, and not over-used.

How do I stop students from hitting the Boomwhackers too hard?

This is every Boomwhacker teacher’s number one challenge! The key is framing it musically from the very start: tell students their job is to create a beautiful sound, not a loud one. Practising soft vs. loud together as a class helps. The carpet method also naturally reduces the likelihood of hard hits.

Are there Boomwhacker lesson plans available for non-specialist teachers?

Yes! The Fun Music Company Curriculum Boomwhacker Materials are designed specifically with generalist and non-specialist teachers in mind. Every lesson plan is fully scripted and colour-coded, so no music reading experience is needed.

What’s the best way to store Boomwhackers?

Store Boomwhackers in buckets or containers or hanging vertically in a designated spot. Avoid storing them squashed in a box where they can bend. Many teachers use a large open container or hang them on hooks sorted by colour, which also makes them quicker to distribute in class.

Can Boomwhackers go out of tune?

Yes — and this is one of the most important things to explain to students. Boomwhackers produce their pitch based on their exact tube length. Dents, bends, and damage change the tube shape and alter the pitch over time. Looking after them carefully means they’ll stay in tune for years.

Do I need to know how to read music to use Boomwhackers?

Absolutely not! That’s one of the biggest advantages of Boomwhackers. The colour-coded system means students follow along with their colour, rather than needing to decode traditional notation. If you can identify colours, you can teach with Boomwhackers.

How many Boomwhackers do I need for a class of 30?

For a class of 30, you’ll ideally want at least five to six sets of the diatonic set (8 tubes, C–C). That way groups of six students can play one pitch simultaneously.

What if my school already has ukuleles but they’re in bad shape?

This is more common than you’d think. Most schools that have ukuleles have had them for a while, and they’ve often been sitting in a cupboard getting dusty. Some will just need new strings — which is a quick, cheap fix. Others may need a bit more work. Our free ebook, How to Get Started Teaching Ukulele , has a section on assessing and repairing existing instruments so you can work out exactly what you’re dealing with before you spend a cent.

How long does it take for students to learn to play ukulele?

Within the first few lessons, students will be playing their first chord. Within a term or semester, most students will be playing multiple chords, simple melodies, and participating in group songs. The Fun Music Company Ukulele Curriculum System is structured as 40 lessons across four blocks of ten, which gives you a clear progression from absolute beginner through to confident ensemble playing — all within a single school year.

Can I use YouTube videos to teach ukulele in my classroom?

We’d strongly advise against it. We covered this in detail earlier in this article, but the short version is: YouTube videos are inconsistent, full of ads, and — most importantly — they send the message that ukulele is something students can learn at home on their own. That undermines the value of what you’re doing as a teacher. A structured curriculum keeps the learning in the classroom where it belongs, and keeps you in the role of the expert.

How many ukuleles do I need to start a program?

Ideally, one for every student. But if that’s not where you are right now, you can start smaller and work up. Some teachers begin with one ukulele per pair, rotating who plays and who observes or practices finger positions on the table. The important thing is to have a plan for how students will progress once you do have a full set. If you’re working on getting more instruments, our Ukulele Letter Pack has template letters for administrators, parents, and potential sponsors that make that conversation much easier.

How old do children need to be to start learning ukulele?

The ukulele is one of the best instruments for younger students because of its size and simplicity. Soprano ukuleles — the smallest and most common — sit comfortably in the hands of children from about age six onwards, which makes them a great fit for primary and elementary classrooms from Year 1 or Grade 1 up through to Year 6 or Grade 6. With some adjustments, even younger students can begin exploring basic chord shapes and strumming.

Can I teach ukulele if I’ve never played one myself?

Absolutely. You don’t need to be a ukulele player to teach ukulele in the classroom. What you need is a structured program that walks you through exactly what to teach, in what order, and how. The Fun Music Company Ukulele Curriculum System is designed specifically for this — every lesson comes with instructional videos, classroom presentation slides, and teacher guides so you always know what’s happening next. Plenty of the teachers using our program have never picked up a ukulele before. They teach it successfully every week.

What’s the fastest way to create music lesson plans for elementary and primary students?

The fastest approach is using a prepared curriculum program rather than creating lessons from scratch. With ready-made lesson plans that include learning outcomes, activities, and curriculum alignment, teachers can prepare a full lesson in under 5 minutes instead of 3-4 hours.

Can primary music lesson plans work without instruments or resources?

Yes! Effective music education can happen with minimal resources. Many activities use body percussion, voice, and everyday classroom items. The Fun Music Company designs lessons that work regardless of available instruments, making music education accessible for all schools.

What curriculum requirements do elementary music lesson plans need to meet?

Music lesson plans should align with your state or national curriculum standards (such as Australian Curriculum v9, NSW Creative Arts Syllabus, or US state standards). Rather than linking each individual lesson to curriculum, effective programs balance activities across all curriculum outcomes throughout the year.

How often should music lessons be taught in primary and elementary schools?

Most primary and elementary schools schedule music lessons once per week. The Fun Music Company curriculum is designed around this weekly structure, with each lesson building on previous concepts while remaining engaging and manageable for busy teachers. Schools can and do choose different structures, and that is ok – teachers can still work with programs like the Fun Music Company curriculum with more or less than one lesson per week.

Do I need to be a music specialist to create primary school music lesson plans?

No! Both specialist music teachers and generalist classroom teachers can successfully teach music with the right resources. The key is having ready-to-use, curriculum-aligned lesson plans that require minimal musical background and preparation time.

What should be included in music lesson plans for elementary students?

An effective music lesson plan needs just two critical components: (1) A clear statement of the learning outcome, and (2) The lesson activities. Everything else—curriculum links, assessments, and resource lists—should be handled by your overall program structure, not on an individual lesson basis.

How long does it take to create elementary and primary music lesson plans?

Creating comprehensive lesson plans from scratch can take 3-4 hours per lesson. However, with a structured curriculum program like The Fun Music Company’s approach, lesson preparation time drops to just 5 minutes. The key is having pre-planned learning outcomes and activities that align with curriculum requirements.

Are primary and elementary music lesson plans the same thing?

Yes! Primary music lesson plans and elementary music lesson plans refer to the same thing—just with different regional terminology. “Primary” is used in Australia, the UK, and New Zealand, while “elementary” is common in the USA and Canada. Both cover music education for students aged approximately 5-11 years (Kindergarten through Grade 6).

I don’t have much technology in my classroom. Can I still use this program?

We always get questions like: I don’t have an interactive whiteboard – can I still use this? and Can I use my iPad? .. and all those sort of technology-related questions. Well … for this one … we are pleased to announce that the answer is yes! Yes, you can use it, no matter what technology you happen to have in your classroom. We’ve set this up as an online system. It is set up as a type of webpage that you access in the classroom. Its fully setup online, so there is nothing to download or install or anything for these programs, you simply login to our new members area, choose the module you want and away you go. Its setup to work on any device, and yes, even iPads! For this program, all you need is a screen, and some sort of device that can access the internet attached to it. A computer with any internet browser will do it or any sort of iPad or tablet device.

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Why The Fun Music Company?

Serving music teachers since 2006
12,500+ teachers trust our resources
Used in 149 countries worldwide
More than 3,000,000+ children reached

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What We Do At The Fun Music Company

We help busy music teachers move from overwhelm to confidence with our comprehensive music curriculum for kindergarten through grade 6.

New to lesson planning? Our guide to elementary and primary music lesson plans breaks down everything you need to know about creating effective, curriculum-aligned lessons. Whether you're a specialist music teacher or a classroom teacher asked to teach music, we provide ready-to-use resources that save you hours of preparation time—so you can focus on what matters most: connecting with your students and sharing the joy of music.

Navigating Australian curriculum requirements? We've analyzed every state and federal curriculum to create resources that actually work in your classroom. Check out our state-by-state music curriculum guide and our complete guide to teaching the elements of music—two essential resources that clarify what to teach and how to teach it across K-6.

Explore our complete resources for every grade level

The Fun Music Company Curriculum Program

Fun Music Company Music Curriculum – Grade K

Fun Music Company Music Curriculum – Grade 1

Fun Music Company Music Curriculum – Grade 2

Fun Music Company Music Curriculum – Grade 3

Fun Music Company Music Curriculum – Grade 4

Fun Music Company Music Curriculum – Grade 5

Fun Music Company Music Curriculum – Grade 6

Ukulele Curriculum

A complete program for teaching ukulele

Bucket Drumming Program

Fun music with animations for bucket drumming!

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Fun Music Company Founders Kevin and Janice Tuck

That feeling of being able to teach music anywhere, anytime is what encouraged Janice and Kevin Tuck to found the Fun Music Company back in 2006. With Kevin being a highly sought after musician and music teacher and Janice having taught music in schools both in Australia and overseas, they both struggled with getting access to quality online music teaching resources which meet the needs of any curriculum. In an effort to reduce their own out of hours preparation when teaching in schools, they set up a private music school where within 3 years, they were able to serve 300 families per week over a three year period using specially crafted music lessons. After their music school transformation, Kevin and Janice’s focus has been to empower fellow music teachers with fun online music lessons which meet the needs of any curricula. Janice and her husband Kevin reside in Adelaide, South Australia with their daughter Danielle.