Music classrooms are inherently noisy. First there is the ventilation system to compete with, which is especially difficult in the large spaces we typically teach in. That’s only compounded by the size of our ensembles – generally at least 30 students. And of course one cannot forget the instruments! Competing with all of this takes a toll on the voice. By the end of the day, having to project above all of the noise of a normal classroom makes speaking nearly impossible. I remember many times throughout the school year when I basically had no voice by the end of the final class – and as a knowledgeable voice/choral teacher, I was being very, very careful!
Our voices and our hearing are critical to our professional lives as well as our musical lives, and ignoring the stresses that being a teacher can put on these systems can damage them… permanently!
Luckily there are solutions that can help in the classroom, most of which are portable so they can be taken to the concert hall or any other space that you find yourself in.
PA Systems for Schools
Wireless PA Systems for Classrooms
The Samson XP106wDE Expedition portable rechargeable PA is the perfect system for the teacher that uses multiple spaces. It is a lightweight, portable and completely wireless system which comes with a wireless headset to allow for complete freedom of movement. The system also has several auxiliary line inputs so you can play audio from external devices at the same time you are using it to save your voice.
The Anchor Audio Megavox Pro PA is another portable, wireless (battery powered) solution for the classroom, large space or even outside. It comes with two built-in wireless receivers, and you can choose the type of microphone that fits you best – headset, collar or lapel, handheld, or headband mic. The system also has line-in and line-out jacks so you can play audio from external devices or piggyback it to another speaker.
Portable Sound System for Schools
If you are looking for something with a bit more power, the Anchor Audio Liberty Dual Package may be the best solution for the classroom, a large space, or outside. It has two speakers that can use AC or rechargeable batteries (last up to eight hours), built-in Bluetooth, auxiliary line input, and optional CD/MP3 player. Like the Megavox Pro, it has two built-in wireless receivers so you can to choose your preferred microphone.
