Montessori-Inspired Music Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

I LOVE sharing musical activities with young children. Music was my top extracurricular activity when I was in elementary- and high school, and I’ve never lost my love of music. Even when I was a Montessori school director and no longer teaching full-time in my Montessori school, I still taught music twice a week … simply because I had too much fun with it to stop. It was also one of my favorite subjects to teach as a homeschooler.

There’s SO MUCH you can do with music in Montessori education. I can’t cover it all here, but I do want to share some of the main ways you can explore music with toddlers and preschoolers either in the classroom or at home. I won’t go into detail about the Montessori bells since they aren’t very practical for the home environment. I really loved having them in my school, but I wouldn’t purchase them for a homeschool.

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The Montessori Music Scope and Sequence, including the Montessori Bells

Although music is a cultural subject, it’s sometimes included in Montessori trainings as part of the sensorial (auditory) curriculum:

• sound boxes – See “DIY Montessori Sound Cylinders” for tutorials and presentation ideas.
• bells – See What DID We Do All Day? if you’d like to make DIY versions of the Montessori bells and green boards. Grace and Green Pastures has DIY Montessori bells.
• writing music – green boards
• reading music – white boards
• listening to music
• musical instruments
• rhythm
• walking on the line to music
• dancing

Circle Time Activities with Nursery Rhymes and Traditional Preschool Songs

Even if you’re trying to follow Montessori principles, I think it’s great to introduce a wide variety of traditional nursery rhymes and preschool songs. I don’t worry about whether or not they reflect reality. I think the sense of rhythm and the love of music young children gain is far more important than whether a specific song or rhyme is realistic.

This post lists some of my favorite CDs that work especially well for both babies and toddlers: Favorite CDs for Babies and Toddlers.

I have some new favorite CDs, too. Nancy Kopman (Music with Nancy) sent me copies of her 3 CDs to review. My granddaughter, Zoey, and I fell in love with them. They have a sweet folk-like feel to them, and the songs give positive messages to children or have helpful learning ideas. There are even some songs that work especially well for babies and toddlers.

Nancy’s albums are used in many schools, including Montessori schools. I can see why because they’re fun with a calming feel to them. They work very well with Montessori circle time/line time activities. They’re available on iTunes.

There are even some fun songs specifically for babies in Wonderful You. There are also songs for toddlers and preschoolers. “Stepping” is great for walking on the line, and “Wonderful You” is a sweet song promoting self-esteem.

Zoey’s favorite song from I Know I’ll Grow is “Hello, Hello.” It focuses on body parts and has a very catchy melody. (Actually, all of Nancy’s songs have catchy melodies.) “Planets, Planets” is an especially fun educational song.

Fingerplays and Action Songs are Perfect for Toddlers and Preschoolers

In the photo, Zoey is doing one of the actions to “Hello, Hello.”

I think all three albums are great. If I could only choose one of the albums for preschoolers or Montessori preschool (primary) classes though, The Seasons is the one I’d choose. It has a number of songs that are perfect for circle time activities. Here’s a YouTube video of “Walk Around,” one of the songs I like to use for moving on the line:

And I love “7 Continents, 5 Oceans” as an extension for Montessori continent work. Here’s a YouTube video of that song:

Here’s Nancy’s YouTube channel so you can get a better idea of her lovely music: Music with Nancy.

You’ll also find a variety of music ideas for circle time in my post “Free Educational Songs for Circle Time” (and the related holiday and seasonal song posts linked to at the end of the post).

Introducing Classical Music to Young Children

Using Classical Music for Movement Activities on the Line

I start introducing classical music to babies. I simply play classical CDs, similar to the Montessori tradition of having art masterpieces in a baby’s room. For toddlers, I like to have classical music as background music, and I also like to introduce walking on the line to classical music. (Note: I use electrical tape to make my line. When I had a Montessori school, my line was in the shape of an ellipse because of the available space. Now my line is in the shape of a circle.)

For preschoolers, I introduce classical stories to music. My favorites are on Maestro Classics CDs and MP3s. A favorite starting point is Peter and the Wolf. I have Montessori-inspired music appreciation activity posts for most of the Maestro Classics albums. I use the Maestro Classics CDs with Zoey, too, although I simply play the complete musical compositions as background music until she’s a bit older.

Musical Composers Layout

Preschoolers can easily learn about musical composers along with many classical music concepts.

Using Rhythm Instruments at Circle Time (or line time if your line is in the shape of an ellipse)

I still have a set of rhythm instruments from when I had a Montessori school. We often used them in our homeschool, and I now use them with my granddaughter. We use them to accompany all types of music.

Playing the Drum at 19 Months

Playing Cymbals at 20 Months

Learning to Use Finger Cymbals at 20 Months

Introducing Young Children to Musical Instruments

Playing the Xylophone at 20 Months

I like to begin by introducing real musical instruments whenever I can. I enjoy playing guitar to accompany kids’ songs, so that’s one of my first introductions I give to musical instruments. I’ve played soprano recorder for Zoey, and we have two authentic drums that Zoey uses along with her other drum for rhythm activities. Zoey also likes to use a xylophone.

Musical Instrument Picture and Object Matching

Hands-on activities help preschoolers identify musical instruments. Preschoolers can learn to identify the sound of each instrument as well.

Walking on the Line in Time to Music (or Marching, Skipping, Jumping, etc., on the Line in Time to Music)

Walking on the Line at 20 Months

Sanford Jones had wonderful music for movement on the line back when I was a Montessori teacher. At the time, I used his book of piano music for moving on the line. Now, there’s a CD that’s perfect for classrooms or homes.

Dancing

Dancing to “Waltzing Matilda” at 19 Months

My daughter danced a lot from the time she started walking. Zoey loves to dance, too, although her natural dance style is different from Christina’s. For toddlers, I simply encourage spontaneous dancing to a variety of music. In the photo, Zoey is dancing to world music from the CD that came with the Little Passports Early Explorers Music package.

With older preschoolers, it’s fun to teach traditional folk dances. My daughter loved starting ballet lessons as a preschooler, too.

Montessori-Inspired Music Units

For all my Montessori-inspired music activities, see my “Montessori-Inspired Music Unit Studies” post.

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This post is part of the 12 Months of Montessori Learning series!

Amazing blogs involved in the 12 Months of Montessori Learning

Natural Beach Living ~ The Natural Homeschool ~ Living Montessori Now ~ Planting Peas

The Kavanaugh Report ~ Mama’s Happy Hive ~ Study at Home Mama ~ Child Led Life

Every Star Is Different ~ Grace and Green Pastures ~ The Pinay Homeschooler

Learn more about my eBook Montessori at Home or School: How to Teach Grace and Courtesy! I’m also one of the coauthors of the book Learn with Play – 150+ Activities for Year-round Fun & Learning!

May be linked to Afterschool Express, Thoughtful Spot, Hip Homeschool Hop, The Mommy Club Resources and Solutions, Mom’s Library, A Little Bird Told Me Linky Party, Learn and Play, Homeschool Link-up, TGIF Linky Party, Preschool Corner,Ultimate Homeschool Pinterest Party, Sharing Saturday, Share It Saturday, Tot School Gathering Place.