Take That Sick Day - The Perfect Sub Plans

Let’s face it - many music teachers find writing relevant lesson plans for when they need a sub so awful that they would rather go to school sick than to take the time to write them. I know I did that quite a few times in the 15 years that I taught. A good strategy? Of course not. When I really needed a sick day, my poor students would often watch videos like Beethoven Lives Upstairs or Riverdance. They truly hated it but I couldn’t think of anything really engaging when I knew that the sub would almost NEVER be a music educator, or even know enough about music to teach anything meaningful in my absence. Sound familiar? Enter Focus On Sound - exclusively from MusicFirst. Every teacher needs to take a day now and then - whether it’s a last-minute emergency, a conference, or a well-earned personal day, music teachers need reliable sub plans that won’t cause anxiety, confusion, or chaos in your classroom.

If you haven’t explored the Lessons area of Focus on Sound, now is the time. This software is perfect when you need to craft quick, effective, and standards-aligned sub plans. It’s as if the software knew what music teachers needed all along: structured, interactive, self-contained lessons that work equally well with a sub in the room or a teacher out sick in bed. And let’s be honest—there’s real peace of mind in knowing your students are not just being babysat; they’re actually learning music. Was Focus On Sound created for sub plans? Definitely not. Do they work really well when you need it to be used that way? Definitely.

First, let’s talk about the obvious: these lessons are ready to go. There’s no need to write long instructions, print out packets, or pray that your substitute can figure out how to play a YouTube video that may or may not be school-safe. Every Focus on Sound lesson is built into the platform with embedded audio, text, visuals, and questions. The software handles the content delivery and the assessment, meaning the sub just has to take attendance and supervise.

The topics are extensive and thoughtfully organized. Whether you teach general music, band, orchestra, or even a music tech class, you’ll find lessons that align beautifully with your curriculum. From classical instruments and musical periods to jazz, rock, EDM, and even music theory basics—Focus on Sound has it all.

Each lesson is broken down into manageable chunks, which is critical for maintaining student engagement when you're not there. Students read short passages, listen to real musical examples, and answer multiple-choice questions—all within the lesson interface. The interactivity alone is a win: it keeps students focused, and the built-in assessments give you immediate data to review when you return.

Here’s the part that’s especially helpful: the lessons can be assigned with just a few clicks. In MusicFirst Classroom, simply create an assignment, choose the Focus on Sound lesson you want, and assign it to your students. Done. You can even schedule assignments in advance, so if you know you’ll be out next Thursday, your sub plans are already covered and your students will be on task. Because these lessons are web-based and browser-friendly, they work on Chromebooks, iPads, laptops, or even phones (if your school allows them). No downloads, no plug-ins, no tech headaches. And since the interface is clean and user-friendly, even the least tech-savvy subs and students can navigate it.

Another major benefit is differentiation. You can assign different lessons to different groups of students based on grade level, skill level, or even individual needs. Maybe your 7th graders are learning about film music while your 8th graders are diving into Baroque composers. It’s all possible within the same platform, and it keeps your students moving forward instead of treading water while you’re away.

Let’s not underestimate how vital clear instructions are for a successful sub day. With Focus on Sound lessons, all you need to do is leave a short note like:

“Students will log in to MusicFirst Classroom using their school credentials. They’ll complete the Focus on Sound lesson titled ‘Microphone Basics’ and answer all the questions in the module. All work is submitted automatically. You may walk around the room and encourage them to stay on task.”

That’s it. Seriously. That’s the whole sub plan.

And when you return, you’ll be able to see who completed the lesson, how they did on the questions, and whether they actually engaged with the content. That kind of data-driven feedback is gold—especially when it saves you from the dreaded “So what did you all do yesterday?” conversation.

Here’s the thing—Focus on Sound Lessons aren’t just for when you’re absent. They’re also ideal for early finishers, flipped classrooms, review days, and even center-based learning setups. But having them as your go-to sub plan toolkit? That’s a teacher superpower.

We all know that music teachers juggle an enormous range of responsibilities—concerts, rehearsals, grading, planning, behavior management, advocacy. The ability to step away from your classroom knowing that your students are still learning, still engaging, and still growing musically? That’s priceless.

So the next time life throws you a curveball—or you just need a day to breathe—log in to Focus on Sound, head to the Lessons section, and give yourself the gift of a stress-free sub plan. You’ve earned it.

If you are a MusicFirst Classroom subscriber, you most likely already have Focus On Sound in your Software tab. If you’re not, sign up for a FREE 30-day trial and try out this great software today!