Sell music teaching resources and music lesson plans
Music teachers need resources that work in a room full of instruments and very little desk time. This guide covers what sells, the copyright rules that are stricter in music than anywhere else, and how to send your files.
Short answer: You can sell music teaching resources on TeachLessons if every piece of sheet music, lyric and recording in them is your own or in the public domain. Apply with the short form, then email your files, previews and thumbnails to support@stifo.de. You set the price and keep 70% of net revenue.
What music resources do teachers buy?
- Theory worksheets: note names, rhythm values, key signatures, intervals, with answer keys.
- Rhythm activities: flashcards, rhythm reading slides, body percussion patterns and composition grids.
- Listening guides: structured questions for a piece, with a link to a recording rather than the recording itself.
- Composer and genre studies: one-page readings with listening and discussion tasks.
- Ensemble and instrument materials: beginner exercises you composed, warm-ups, practice logs and concert planning templates.
- Sub plans for music: lessons a non-musician can run, which are hard for music teachers to find.
- Games: music theory bingo, rhythm card games and review games.
Elementary general music, middle school band and choir, and high school theory courses all buy different things. Name the setting clearly ("general music, Grades 2-3" or "beginner band") so the right teacher finds it.
Can I include songs, lyrics or sheet music in resources I sell?
Only if they are in the public domain or you wrote them. Music copyright is strict, and it applies separately to several layers of the same song.
| Layer | What to check |
|---|---|
| Melody and lyrics | Protected for many decades after the songwriter's death. Popular, film and recent folk-style songs are usually protected. |
| Arrangement | A modern arrangement of an old tune can be protected even when the tune is not. |
| Engraved sheet music | A publisher's printed edition may have its own protection or terms. Engrave your own version instead. |
| Recording | Every recording is protected separately, including recordings of public-domain pieces. |
| Translation | A modern English translation of an old song can be protected. |
Traditional folk songs and older classical works are your best material. Make your own arrangement, engrave it yourself in notation software and say it is your own arrangement. For anything newer, teach the concept with music you composed.
Copyright terms differ between countries, and a piece that is public domain in one country may not be in another. When unsure, leave it out. TeachLessons does not check resources for third-party rights, and the seller is responsible for any claim. Copyright basics for teacher-authors explains the general rules.
How do I build listening guides without copying recordings?
A listening guide is your questions and structure, not the recording. Point teachers to a source they can access legally and let them play it in class.
- Name the piece, composer and movement, and add timestamps for what to listen for. Timestamps differ between recordings, so say which kind of performance you timed it against, or use musical landmarks ("when the oboe enters") instead.
- Do not include audio files of commercial recordings, and do not embed copied lyrics of protected songs.
- If you want to include audio, record it yourself: your own performance of a public-domain piece or your own composition.
Can I sell audio files and notation files?
Yes. Put everything for one resource in a single ZIP: the PDF worksheets, MP3 files of your own recordings, and notation files if teachers will want to edit them. Name files clearly, for example Rhythm-Reading-Level-1-Track-01.mp3, so they match the worksheet.
- Keep each resource under 100 MB. MP3 at a reasonable bitrate is usually enough for classroom use.
- Say which notation software opened the source files, and include a PDF so buyers without that software can still use the score.
- Slides for rhythm reading or note naming work well as PPTX or Google Slides. Test them on another computer to check that music fonts display correctly.
Music fonts and symbol clip art need commercial-use licenses like any other font. See using clip art and fonts in resources you sell.
How should I describe music resources for different countries?
Terminology differs, and music teachers notice. US teachers say quarter note, half note and eighth note. UK, Australian and New Zealand teachers usually say crotchet, minim and quaver. Make two versions of note-value resources if you can, and label them clearly. For curriculum links, name what the buyer uses: national music standards in the US, KS2 or KS3 music in England, or the Year level in Australia. Describe the link honestly; do not suggest a standards body or exam board endorses your resource.
How should I preview and price music resources?
Previews and thumbnails as PNG or JPEG are required. Show one worksheet page, one page of the answer key and, for slides, a few slides as images. Audio cannot be a preview image, so list the track names on a preview page instead. More in how to make previews and thumbnails.
You set your price in US dollars; our optional suggestion is at least $4.99 for a single resource.
| Music resource | Example price | Payout per sale |
|---|---|---|
| Rhythm flashcard set | $3.50 | $2.38 |
| Theory worksheet pack with key | $5.00 | $3.40 |
| Listening guide set for one unit | $5.00 | $3.40 |
| Beginner band method with your own audio | $20.00 | $13.58 |
Try other prices in the payout calculator.
How do I start selling music resources with TeachLessons?
Apply with the short application form. We email you the seller documents, including the Resource Rights Checklist. For music resources, note for each piece whether it is your own composition, your own arrangement of a public-domain work, or public domain as published.
Send documents, files, previews and thumbnails in one email to support@stifo.de; for audio-heavy resources, one Google Drive, Dropbox or WeTransfer link that opens without a login is easier. We confirm receipt within 2 business days and set up your pages. Resources go live once set up, with no extra approval round. Music games and task cards are covered in more detail in the games and task cards guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I include lyrics of popular songs?
No. Lyrics of popular and recent songs are protected by copyright. Use public-domain songs or lyrics you wrote yourself.
Can I sell my own arrangement of a folk song?
Yes, if the original tune and words are in the public domain and you engraved the arrangement yourself. Check that the version you started from was not a protected modern arrangement.
Can I include recordings in my resource?
Only your own recordings of your own or public-domain music. Link to other recordings rather than copying them.
Should I use quarter note or crotchet?
Use the terms of your target market: quarter note for US buyers, crotchet for UK, Australian and New Zealand buyers. Two labeled versions work well.
Is there a file size limit for audio?
Yes, up to 100 MB per resource. Use one shared folder link for several large files.
How much do I earn on a $5 music resource?
You earn $3.40 per sale, paid monthly by the 15th via PayPal in US dollars.
Ready to sell your teaching resources?
Apply with the short form. We email you the seller documents, you send your final files with previews and thumbnails, and we set up your product pages, your author page and landing pages. You keep 70% of net revenue, with no fees and no exclusivity.
Keep reading
General information about the TeachLessons Seller Program, not legal, tax or financial advice. The signed Seller Agreement sets out the binding terms. Questions: support@stifo.de.