Templates can provide for ease in developing lesson plans that provide for music learning, facilitate the balance of meters, tonalities, Play Songs, Art Songs, Gem Songs, and props, within a class and across successive classes, guide the placement of activities in relation to each other and the placement and use of anchors, and promote energy management—all at a glance. They document where you have been, where you are and where you are going with each class you teach, reminding you of when you used what song, prop, meter, or tonality with which group. They allow for tweaking lesson plans week to week, restructuring as needed, pinpointing problem areas, and can be used with classes of the same level in future terms.  Templates serve multiple weeks, simplifying the tedium of weekly lesson planning for multiple levels, while assuring appropriate content for music learning, sustained energy, and delightful classes.

There are no absolutes with templates. They are just a tool for lesson planning, but a most effective tool in providing for music learning, content juggling, and energy management. A lesson plan template is simply a chart with activities going down the chart and weeks going across. Lessons can be planned for any number of successive classes, but a template for four classes is recommended. Each week can be tweaked or restructured as needed to polish the template for the next four weeks. The more skilled you become with lesson planning and developing effective techniques, the more fixed, yet playful, your templates and lesson plans might become, effectively serving both the musical needs and ages of your children.