Since music is such an integral part of my management strategy and I use it daily for teaching, I am always searching for ways to save time and make it easier to play what I want with less hassle.
My first few years teaching I was travelling between schools and so I just stuck with burning mixed CD’s with music for the different units that we were teaching at the time. CD’s were super annoying because they would get scratched and start skipping (totally ruined one of my Pacer tests…) and we didn’t even have a remote for the stereo at the school, so I found myself always being more stationary than I wanted to so I could turn the music on and off.
Once I got a job full-time at my current school, my first purchase was an iPod, with a stereo that had an iPod doc and a remote.
The benefits of the iPod are:
- No more skipping CD’s
- Ability to make playlists in seconds instead of waiting on CD’s to Burn
- Ability to use great apps like the Interval Timer for station work
The only downside was the remote would only reach halfway across the gym and I couldn’t select specific songs without actually going over to the iPod to choose the song I wanted. I have tried multiple solutions to fix this problem.
3 Ways to stream music from your iPod:
- Using an app called “Remote”. If you have an extra laptop you can plug your laptop into the stereo through the headphone jack and control your itunes account with your iPod over the wireless network. This worked great until the computer started having problems updating, turning on and hibernating in the middle of class. Also, sometimes the districts wifi signal would be spotty and cause the setup to fail.
- Using an app called “Tango Remote” which allows you to control an iPad or iPod with another iPad, iPod or iPhone. I downloaded the app on my iPod and then used my iPhone to control it. This was an improvement since I could move around the room, but I didn’t like how my iPhone was dead everyday after school and the music selection and building playlists wasn’t as easy as I would’ve liked.
- Bluetooth Receiver for the WIN. The bluetooth receiver is my favorite because it’s so simple, it only requires the small receiver box and an iPod touch with bluetooth capability. It allows me to use the iPod to stream music straight to the stereo from anywhere in the gym. It’s great being able to move anywhere while you are teaching and also have the ability to choose songs straight from the iPod without having to be near the stereo.
- If you leave the room you might have to turn the bluetooth on and off again on your ipod to reconnect it to the receiver, this only takes about 5 seconds so it hasn’t been a big deal.
- I have had to reset the iPod about 3 times this year when it wouldn’t reconnect, and it connected once I had reset it each time. If you’re having technology troubles, the first thing I usually try is just reseting all the devices involved, it seems to solve the problem a lot of the time.
*Bluetooth streaming should also work with any non-apple phone or device that has bluetooth capabilities 🙂
I’m sure there are tons of different ways to manage how you play music, but that’s what I’ve found to work for me.
Also – if you’re looking for some good music playlists – I have all of mine posted here
Jeff says
Hey Ben,
I have used various methods of getting music in my gym, from a stereo on a cart my first few years as a PE Specialist, a laptop hooked to the gym sound system, and now streaming playlists I’ve made from Amazon Music through my iphone.
A few years ago when the gym was remodeled there was a stage, but the stage has now been “boarded” up and turned into a classroom. The sound board for mics and speakers is behind the wall in the “classroom”, and a wire for the headphone jack comes into the gym through a small hole drilled into the stage wall. Presently I use my iphone plugged into the jack as the source for music.
This leaves me somewhat close to my phone so I can stop and start the music when needed. I would much rather be mobile, so I can control the music from anywhere in the gym. Any ideas, or is there something out there I could plug into the jack and run the music remotely through my phone?
Thanks for any ideas!
Jeff
Ben Landers says
Yep, you can get the bluetooth receiver I linked in the blog post above to solve that problem. It allows you to bluetooth to the receiver from your iphone/ipod and you can move around wherever you want.
Mary Rock says
I’m using spotify for music and really like it. It is a subscription service, which can deter some users, but there is a free version. I’m using premium for $10/month.
Ben Landers says
Spotify is great for sure, the main issue I run into with any streaming service is wifi problems at my school
DeeDee Fuss says
Hi Ben,
I have a sound bar that already has blue tooth. If I put my i pod in my pocket, the music stops. If I get to the far side of my gym or turn my back while holding it, the music cuts out. How do you keep your music going while in your pocket? Is your blue tooth receiver just that much more powerful?
Thanks
DeeDee Fuss
Ben Landers says
Hey Dee Dee – yea mine cuts out sometimes if it’s in my pocket too, I normally either have it in my hand or set it down on something nearby to avoid anything cutting out.
As far as the power of it, you’d have to look at the specs on yours to compare them (I think mine is supposed to go up to 60 ft?)
Ryan Harry says
Hi Ben,
I recently purchased a Bluetooth receiver from Denon that works well with larger PA sound systems that may be accessible to teachers. However, it costs $99.00 It works up to 100 ft (all around the gym). I make playlists in Spotify (monthly service totally worth it) and use those during PE.
Here’s the link:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?A=details&O=&Q=&ap=y&c3api=1876%2C%7Bcreative%7D%2C%7Bkeyword%7D&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqtTfz4O01QIViYuzCh1s2gxDEAkYASABEgLE3vD_BwE&is=REG&m=Y&sku=1112662
Thanks, I love your blog!
Ben Landers says
Nice – Thanks for sharing, I’m sure other folks will check that out.
Ryan says
Ben,
What iPod do you use?! I’ve been using my phone…which is not advised. I’m trying to find a decently priced iPod that has bluetooth and will stream well with the receiver you mentioned. I purchased that receiver and I love it! I just need an alternative so I’m not using my phone. The one in the video looks like an older once – which is what I’m looking for. Just seeing what style (and generation) yours is…?!
Thank you!
Ryan
Ben Landers says
Hey Ryan,
I have a 4th Gen, iPod Touch. I would probably try to get a newer version though bc apps, updates etc will start to phase out for the one I have or at least make it run really slow and not be able to keep up. If you get a newer one you can use it for music and also many of the great Apps that are coming out all the time. Glad you’re liking the receiver.
nic monroe says
Hey – I’m just curious, why is using your phone “not advised”? I’m really considering getting one of these, it looks like it will make using music so much easier.
Thanks
Nic