I recently took a private schoolposition teaching K-5 Music/choir. I was told the previous teacher just used CDs and the kids sang along, that was the extent, and they wanted more for the program. I asked a few times for the budget but I signed without the information because I was told there would be money set aside to get the program going. I finally submitted what I need to start the year correctly. Mind you, it was only a request for $450 worth of items. I was told that’s more than they expected to pay for the entire year. There are only about 90 students in K-5, but there is also no equipment: There are no scarves, no rhythm sticks, no music library, no music books, and an out of tune piano. After everything was said and they finally told me they could set about $900 for the year.

What are your budgets like for elementary? How am I going to teach with a budget of $10 per student for the year, and virtually nothing available for me to teach except a dry erase board and some markers? Keep in mind $2.50 will go to tuning a piano.