I think I am going to have to have a long sit-down with a laminator, but I'm wondering if this already exists somewhere. I'm looking for something a bit like music note flashcards, but with more than one copy of each note, and probably without a clef on each one. What I want to do is put them up on a board with a small group of young children, a clef on one card then line up a bunch of notes, get them to read the notes, invite them to shuffle the notes around and play them again in a less obvious order, just to get them familiar with sequences of 2 or 3 notes up and down on a crotchet beat only (initially). Is that a teaching resource that I can buy, or is it me and my laminator again? I don't need, at this point, time signatures or key signatures, but would potentially need those as an expansion as things develop.

You don't seem to have had any replies so i thought I would just commiserate. I usually find that my own stuff is better than anything printed because it is tailor made for my pupils. So take heart, make yourself a strong cup of something and get the laminator out! Best of luck!

Have you tried fuzzy felt? You can make your own notes etc.

Have you looked on ebay, I saw some large flashcards on there. they were not magnetic but you could always stick some of the small magnetic dots on.

You seem to be able to get velcro ones: http://www.musicmotion.com/product.htm?pid=405381

If you like doing DIY teaching resources then continue. If they end up looking good your pupils will thank you as they will appreciate the effort.

Baker Ross sells magnetic strip that can be stuck on using PVA Glue and cut with standard craft scissors.

I tend to get lots of Arts and Crafts bits from them as they have nice ideas for the children (or simply for when I want to play)

Children do want things to look professional these days, so try to be as artistic as possible. Either cut using a Guillotine and check that the corners are right-angles or make things shaped with an even margin of laminate around it.

Be imaginative with colour. It will be appreciated.

In your position I'd actually enjoy making the notes and clefs (whether they exist or not) it sounds like fun!

I made two music staves using A2 sized board which I got from a local art shop, covered it with white felt, drew the stave with a black permanent marker. One board has a treble clef, the other one a bass clef. I then made notes out of coloured card and used self-adhesive velcro 'hooks' stuck on the back of the card - the velcro hook sticks to the felt. You have to be a bit gentle with the felt when taking the notes off. Some of my notes are blank and some of them have letter names on them so I can be flexible using them with pupils.

There's a very well known online printing company - the one that does loads of freebies (begins with V - PM me if you want the address!) - they print thin flexible magnetic panels to go on car doors for advertising, I have just bought a few. You could custom design a couple with staves and notes and then cut out the notes - that should work?

I haven't tried it, but if you fancy magnetic would it be possible to print some notes yourself onto printable magnetic sheets to use?

It is possible to buy A4 magnetic staves. Grand stave on one side, blank staves on the reverse, with round magnets serving as note heads. It comes with a whiteboard pen and rubber. I had to send off to the USA for it, but have found it an invaluable teaching aid.

I use a small baking sheet onto which I place a laminated stave, and I bought small round plastic magnets as notes (available from most stationers). The kids (and adults) enjoy arranging the magnets into scales or specific named notes.

Alternatively you can buy dry wipe staves and get pupils to draw the notes themselves - sometimes useful for drawing stems as well as note placement. These are only about ?5 from well known music suppliers.

Is this the printing company where one admires a word meaning view with 5 letters and rhymes with mister?

Ooh, never thought of round magnets, that seems so easy, thanks!