Google Skills to Master This Summer (So You Can Relax and Stay Organized)

Summer is the perfect time for music teachers to step back, recharge, and take a well-earned break from the nonstop pace of the school year. But before you fully unplug, take a few minutes to set up some simple Google skills for music teachers that will help you stay organized and save time later. Whether it’s managing emails to scheduling lessons and collecting student info, these Google tools can help you streamline your summer and start the next school year on the right foot. Let’s dive into a few easy ways to set yourself up for success—without giving up your well-deserved downtime.

Gmail – Vacation Responder 

If you are a music teacher, during the summer you should not check your school email every day, or even every week! Instead, create a “Vacation Responder,” also known as an out of office message, to inform people who contact you that you will be away from your email for the summer. In Gmail, setting up a Vacation Responder is very easy. 

1. Click on Settings (the gear icon) and select “See All Settings” 
2. Scroll to the bottom to find the Vacation Responder options. 
3. Create a subject and message, and decide the start and stop days for your message. 
4. Be sure to click “Save Changes” at the bottom of the window. 

Now you can relax, knowing your messages will be there when it’s time to think about back to school preparations!  

Want to learn more? Check out this video: Gmail – Advanced Settings

Google Calendar – Appointment Schedules

Any music teacher who has students (or parents) schedule specific times for auditions, lessons, etc. can benefit from using the Appointment Schedule feature in Google Calendar. You specify the times that are open for appointments, then students select their own time—without the unnecessary back-and-forth to coordinate. You can even have Google Calendar send reminder emails, to ensure the appointment isn’t missed! 

1. From within Google Calendar, click the down arrow in the “Create” button. Select “Appointment Schedule”
2. Choose when you will be available for appointments. You will be prompted to select either recurring dates or specific dates. There are numerous additional customization options. 
3. Once the Appointment Schedule has been created, share the link with your students so they can begin to sign-up! 

Appointment Schedules are great for scheduling summer lessons, beginning of the year ensemble auditions, parent conferences, and more. 

Want to learn more? Check out this video: Google Calendar: Appointment Schedules 

Google Forms – Student Registrations

It’s time to do away with paper registration forms for good! Most paper forms that students (or parents) would need to complete and return can be made into digital forms, which will save you time searching for misplaced forms, reduce clutter, and contribute to a more organized teaching environment. You can easily re-use the collected information for other purposes – such as copying names for a concert program or email addresses for a contact list. Additionally, all collected information is stored in a spreadsheet for easy reference later. 

1. Create a new form using the “New” button in your Google Drive, or simply type forms.new into the URL bar. 
2. Choose from a variety of question types, such as short answer, multiple choice, and check boxes. 
3. Customize your Form using the “Customize Theme” button at the top of the page (it looks like a paint palette). You can change the font, color scheme, and header image. 
4. If needed, within the Settings menu, adjust the Responses so people outside of your domain can complete the form. Within the Presentation, consider customizing the Confirmation Message. 
5. When your form is ready, click “Publish” and copy the responder link to share. 

Hint: when asking for student names, use separate questions for first name and last name. This will make sorting in the spreadsheet even easier. Also, specify that parent names should include first and last name, since parent last names can sometimes differ from their child’s.

Want to learn more? Check out these videos: 

• Google Forms – Question Types, Response Validation, and Settings 
• Google Forms – Settings, Customize, and Sending

Set Yourself Up for Success

Whether you’re unplugging completely or just easing into back-to-school prep, taking the time to learn and set up these Google skills now can make a big difference later. A few small steps today can lead to less stress, more organization, and smoother communication when the school year kicks off again. So go ahead—set that vacation responder, put your systems in place, and get back to enjoying your summer knowing you’re already a step ahead.

Want to see these tips in action?

Join me for a free live webinar:
Google Skills to Master This Summer (So You Can Relax and Stay Organized)
🗓 Wednesday, June 19 at 4pm EDT / 1pm PDT

In just 30 minutes, you’ll learn how to use Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Forms to save time, stay organized, and set yourself up for a smoother school year—without giving up your summer!

👉 Click here to save your spot!

Want more Google tips just for music teachers? Check out some of these options: 

• Seven Google Add-ons and Extensions for Music Teachers
• Three Tips to Organize Your Google Drive
• Music Snippet: Music Notation for Google Docs and Slides