What’s in my Music Bag – Teacher’s Edition

This Friday, I went to a local high school and taught a viola lesson! I brought my favorite bag with me, and thought I’d share what’s in it.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

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The Bag

The bag I like to use for traveling lessons, school, gigs, and more, is an L.L.Bean Boat and Tote bag. Mine was a gift, so I’m not really sure what size I have, but I’d guess probably a medium or large.

This bag is the perfect size to fit a laptop, my iPad, sheet music, my regular purse, a water bottle, and snacks! I used to take this bag to campus often when I was a student.

The Essentials

First things first, I just put my regular purse in this bag. My regular purse has my wallet, keys, hand sanitizer, pills, and all the other essentials I might need anytime I’m out.

I also brought my favorite water bottle, made by Contigo, and it sits nicely in the bag right beside my purse.

Sheet Music

This was my first lesson with this particular student (and it went great!), so I brought a variety of my favorite viola teaching books just to have all my bases covered.

Scales for Advanced Violists

Scales for Advanced Violists is my favorite scale book! I started using it in college, and it’s been my go-to ever since. It includes three octave scales, arpeggios, thirds, sixths, and octaves for every key.

A Notebook for Viola Players

This book is full of great information for violists, including some of my very favorite warmups. We ended up using the open string double stop exercise, which I love.

String Builders Position Books

I brought both the 2nd and 4th Position Book and the 3rd and 5th Position Book, just in case we needed to review some shifting techniques. I also regularly use Introducing the Positions, but I didn’t bring that one this time.

Solos for Young Violists, Volume 2

The Solos for Young Violists/Violinists series are great! They include real repertoire for the instrument. There are five volumes for viola, and six for violin. I brought volume 2, which I used in high school.

15 Most Popular Classical Melodies

I can’t remember if I actually used this book as a student, but it has great arrangements of famous classical music (mostly orchestral pieces) for viola!

Disney Movie Favorites

I love playing and teaching Disney/movie music! I brought Disney Movie Favorites along with me. It has classic songs from The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast. We didn’t end up using it, but I wanted to be sure I brought something fun!

String Festival Solos

This book isn’t the greatest, but I brought it along just in case. This one doesn’t really include rep–it’s kind of a hodge podge of classical music that’s maybe known by some, but probably unfamiliar to students. I brought it just in case, and we didn’t use it.

My iPad

I of course brought my iPad! If you’ve been here for a while, you probably know that I use my iPad in just about every single lesson.

Watch how I use my iPad as a teacher!

I didn’t end up using it this time, but I have tons and tons of music backed up to Google Drive, and downloaded in Forscore, that I could’ve used if we needed it.

I use an iPad Pro 2020 12.9 inch display, and I love this keyboard case!

Promo Materials

I also brought a few business cards, and I created a goody bag for my new student! I put in one of my business cards, a “What’s the viola???” card by Alto Clef Gifts, and a sticker with my logo on it. I love making cute things for students!

If you shop at Alto Clef Gifts, use my coupon code “ELIZABETHKNAUB” for 10% off your order!

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I also brought my viola, but that doesn’t fit in the bag. 🙂

I hope you enjoyed learning what’s in my music bag! The boat and tote bag has served me so well the past few years. Pre-pandemic, I would take it to school and put my laptop, some music, my purse, water, and some snacks in it, and I’d be set for the day.