Treat Yourself!
I learned long ago that there’s nothing so satisfying as finding a great quality version of a product. We work hard, and we have various tools that we use over and over. As choir directors/teachers, school supplies are front and center. As a stationery geek and lover of all things excellent, I have compiled a listing of affordable items that can enhance your day to day workflow.
Check these out, then click on the links to TREAT YOURSELF!*
DRY ERASE MARKERS
Pilot V-Board dry erase markers are so good, you’ll never buy an EXPO again! They are refillable, which is good for the environment, but also use a liquid delivery system that keeps them vibrant from first use to the last, unlike the Expo markers which tend to slowly and frustratingly fade across time. V-Board markers are about 10% more expensive and about 200% better. A must-buy.
Five colors
Five colors with one refill each
2-pack black
2-pack black with 4 refills
5 colors with magnetic eraser and pen holder
PENCILS
You might not think there’s any difference in pencils. But you’d be wrong. There is a huge range of quality in pencils. Can a pencil challenge your concept of what greatness is? You bet. I found a pencil so good that I now bequeath it to my top choir in a ritual. You can read about it by clicking here or just take my word for it and order it by clicking the link below.
Blackwing 602 - The greatest pencil ever?
If you like a mechanical pencil, check out the Kuru Toga. It has a special technology that rotates the lead slightly each time you lift it off the page, which means that your point is always sharp.
Kuru Toga .5 mm
Kuru Toga .7 mm
Do you have big hands? Do you like a thicker pencil? Smooth, dark lead? You want the Ticonderoga Laddie
ERASERS
White, polymer erasers generally do the best job of any. Here’s three options - one as a pencil-sized stick, and two bundles of “brick” style.
Clic eraser stick
Pentel hi-polymer eraser 3-pack
Pentel hi-polymer eraser 10-pack
ERASABLE PENS/HIGHLIGHTERS
Some singers just prefer pens and highlighters over pencils. Thankfully, I found the FRIXION line by Pilot, which uses heat-based ink. The result - these pens and highlighters REALLY erase! They are so good that I allow students to use them instead of pencil in my rehearsals if they wish. Many options below.
Frixion pens:
3 black/3 blue + 2 refills each color
10-pack assorted colors
3-pack black
6-pack fineliners (like Sharpie Pens)
Frixion highlighters:
3-pack yellow
3-pack assorted color highlighters
5 pastel/3 traditional highlighters
5 assorted colors dual-tip highlighters (chisel and fine point)
PLANNERS
Do you like to plan out your days on paper? Here’s a few great options for the analog crowd.
The Write Notepads Weekly Planner (Landscape) offers plenty of room to plan where you need it most - side to side! You fill in the dates, so you can buy it at any point and get going!
The Field Notes 56-week planner is a more traditional format, but oozes hip with its thick chipboard covers. You fill in the dates, so you can buy it at any point and get going!
If you prefer keeping a bullet journal, get the original: Leuchtturm 1917 Official Bullet Journal
MISCELLANEOUS AWESOMENESS
You can do a lot of brainstorming and project planning on this HUGE Rhodia No.38 graph pad
This Piano Drawer will add functionality to your piano or clavinova.
If you use a laptop you need this combination laptop stand and storage!
Constantly using and loaning out your keys? Make your life much easier with this Nite-Ize Magnetic Carabiner
Enhance your Google Slide presentation skills or help point out key areas of sight-readibng with this Laser pointer/presenter
These Field Notes Pocket Notebooks will help you capture ideas and jot down to-dos throughout the day.
In my opinion, the greatest gel pens of all time are the PaperMate Inkjoy:
Inkjoy gel 4-pack black
Inkjoy gel 8-pack assorted
Inkjoy gel 14-pack assorted
Thank you for reading! We hope you enjoy these fantastic upgrades to your daily workflow!
*disclosure - many of these are affiliate links. Choir Bites will receive a small commission for purchases, but your price will not be affected. We appreciate your support.
