“…success [in music education] is bound up with the need for the production of plenty of music around the child, so that there is set up an environment calculated to develop musical sense and intelligence.” Maria Montessori, The Discovery of the Child
Tomorrow is World Music Day! Music – including music appreciation – is an important part of Montessori education. You’ll find some Montessori thoughts about young children and music in this article by Mario Montessori, Maria Montessori’s son: Man’s Spiritual Expressions: Language and Music, 1956. Music: an Integral Part of the Montessori Curriculum from North American Montessori Center also tells more about Montessori music education.
Although young children enjoy simple rhythmic activities and many kinds of musical expression, I want to focus on music appreciation today because of a special printable offered for a dime for World Music Day. I also want to provide some musical appreciation materials for families studying instruments in various parts of the world during a world travel unit study or while using Montessori continent boxes this summer.
While many aspects of music can be taught from a young age, children can enjoy classical music – along with many other types of music – when they’re exposed to it early. Here are some printables and Montessori-inspired activities that can help your child and/or students develop an appreciation of music.
Montessori-Inspired Music Appreciation Printables
Free Instrument Nomenclature Cards from Counting Coconuts
Free Instruments Nomenclature Cards from The Helpful Garden
Free World Instrument Cards (9 cards) from Montessori Materials
Musical Composers 3-Part Cards and Control Chart from Montessori Print Shop
Music Materials available for purchase from Montessori Print Shop
Music Materials available for purchase from Montessori for Everyone
Free educational materials from Maestro Classics (Maestro Classics offers classical music for children that fits well with Montessori education, and their educational materials give extension activities for specific classical pieces.)
Montessori-Inspired Music Appreciation Activities
Montessori-Inspired Music Unit Studies
- Montessori-Inspired Music Appreciation
- Montessori-Inspired Music Appreciation: Peter and the Wolf
- Montessori-Inspired Music Appreciation: Swan Lake
- Montessori-Inspired Music Appreciation: Carnival of the Animals
- Montessori-Inspired Activities for the Tortoise and the Hare
- Montessori-Inspired Activities for Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
- Montessori-Inspired Music Appreciation: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
- Montessori-Inspired Activities for Casey at the Bat
- Montessori-Inspired Music Appreciation: My Name is Handel
- Montessori-Inspired Music Unit Studies
- Free Nutcracker Printables and Montessori-Inspired Nutcracker Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Little Passports Early Explorers Activities – Music
- Montessori-Inspired Music Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers
- Making Music Activities from Montessori By Mom
- Montessori-Inspired Music Appreciation: Juanita the Spanish Lobster (Juanita la langosta española) Activities
- Free Bell Printables and Montessori-Inspired Bell Activities
- Fun with Cleaning, Movement, and Music Appreciation
- How to Have Fun with Classical Music for Toddlers and Preschoolers
- Montessori Music History and Music Theory Resources for Preschool Through Elementary
- Kids’ Music Activities Pinterest Board
Lots of Montessori music appreciation activities from Magical Movement Company
Music Series Round-Up, including Musical Instruments & the Symphony Orchestra from Montessori for Everyone
Age 3-6+ – Montessori Music from Michael Olaf
Music and Art Shelves (Photo from Counting Coconuts)
Music and Art Shelves from Counting Coconuts
Montessori music posts, including Music Listening from What DID We Do All Day?
Say ‘Cello’ and Visions of Sugarplums (The Nutcracker) from To the Lesson!
Introduction to Music for Preschoolers from Carrots Are Orange
Music Lessons from Just Montessori
Music posts from The Adventures of Bear
Composers, Instruments of the Orchestra, and Who Am I? Cards and Composers Definition Stages from Montessori By Hand
Music History Lesson from Montessori Mom
Composer Posters (Photo from The Homeschool Den)
Composer Posters and Picture Cards from The Homeschool Den
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Montessori Monday Link-up
Kate - An Everyday Story says
June 18, 2012 at 4:47 amYou know my little guy is hugely passionate about music. It seems to truly be a part of his soul. I think we will definitely have to do something special for International Music Day.
Deb says
June 18, 2012 at 6:19 amThat’s wonderful, Kate! I’ll love to hear what you do for World Music Day! 🙂
Beth says
June 18, 2012 at 4:50 amYou always have such great resources!! Not sure if you saw this or not, but wanted to share my {free} Music Lapbook with you (http://www.livinglifeintentionally.blogspot.com/2012/05/kids-learn-music-free-lapbook.html) It includes resources for learning about music & instruments =-)
Beth
Deb says
June 18, 2012 at 6:20 amThanks so much for letting me know, Beth … I hadn’t seen it. It became my Free Printable for the Day at the Living Montessori Now Facebook page! 🙂
Jessica says
June 18, 2012 at 6:07 amThese resources are great!
It is also “Pollinator Week” which ties in with Biology, but we’ll have to do something with music today too!
Deb says
June 18, 2012 at 6:22 amThanks so much for your kind comment, Jessica! It’s great that it’s “Pollinator Week,” too! I love lessons that can tie in with the calendar … calendar observances always seem to add spice to learning activities! 🙂
Marnie says
June 18, 2012 at 7:01 amHi Deb,
I love, love the instrument cards and what a steal for a dime! I downloaded them already! 🙂
Deb says
June 18, 2012 at 7:23 amI’m happy to hear that Marnie … it’s definitely a great deal! 🙂
Becca B. {ironicadventures.com} says
June 18, 2012 at 7:46 pmOh thanks for sharing the music links! My husband is a (former) music teacher and he will love this.
Deb says
June 19, 2012 at 3:45 pmMy pleasure, Becca … thanks for your comment! I’m so glad my post is helpful! 🙂
Maureen Sklaroff says
June 18, 2012 at 10:30 pmCool! I can really use this! I have had literally no music history/appreciation education in my life, so it has always been a tough subject for me. This is a great selection of resources, thanks!
Deb says
June 19, 2012 at 3:53 pmThanks so much for your kind comment, Maureen! Music was my main extracurricular activity in high school, so I always enjoy having a chance to focus on it. 🙂
Tonya says
June 18, 2012 at 11:56 pmThanks for sharing all of these great music resources!
Deb says
June 19, 2012 at 3:54 pmThanks, Tonya! It’s my pleasure … I really enjoyed searching for them online! 🙂
crystal says
June 20, 2012 at 6:35 amWhat a wonderful collection of music resources. Thanks for sharing!
Deb says
June 20, 2012 at 11:00 pmThanks so much, Crystal! I’m a definite music lover, so I had a lot of fun with this! 🙂
Ali says
June 20, 2012 at 6:35 amThanks for sharing an amazing list of resources.
Deb says
June 20, 2012 at 11:01 pmThanks so much, Ali! Isn’t it awesome that so many great resources are available?! 🙂
tricia says
June 20, 2012 at 3:54 pmthese music resources are fabulous!!!!!!
Deb says
June 20, 2012 at 11:02 pmThanks, Tricia! I think they’re great, too! 🙂
Ness says
June 21, 2012 at 7:04 amYour round ups are awlays so helpful. Thank you! I haven’t introduced enoguh music appreciation to my son. This has inspired me.
Deb says
June 21, 2012 at 11:34 pmThanks so much, Ness! It’s great to hear that my roundups are helpful! I hope you have fun introducing music appreciation … I always loved doing those sorts of activities with my kids! 🙂
The Iowa Farmer's Wife says
June 22, 2012 at 5:54 amThanks for this post! I’ve been looking for more ways to teach classical music and these are perfect resources! Printed a few things from Counting Coconuts. We also watch a few things on starfall.com about a few composers. 🙂 Her fav is Tchaikovsky.
Deb says
June 26, 2012 at 8:18 amIt’s great that you’re introducing classical music already! I’m glad this is helpful for you! 🙂
PlayDrMom says
June 22, 2012 at 6:51 amWowza! What a bunch of great ideas! I especially love the composer cards! Thanks so much for sharing on this week’s Kids Co-Op link up!
Deb says
June 26, 2012 at 8:19 amThanks so much for your kind comment! I’m glad you found some ideas you can use! 🙂
Candy Olivares says
June 24, 2012 at 12:46 pmThanks for hosting the link up! I couldn’t find a comment section on that post. Sorry!
You have an awesome site!
Please come check out ours as well.
http://www.SweepstakesMama.com
Candy-
SweepstakesMama Team
Deb says
June 26, 2012 at 8:25 amThanks for your kind comment, Candy … and thanks for linking up! It’s true that there isn’t a comment section on the giveaway linky page. You have some great giveaways at your site, too! 🙂
Allison says
June 25, 2012 at 3:25 pmHi Deb, what a great round up of musical activities. As a musician, teaching children early is close to my heart. I’m pinning this. Thanks for sharing with The Sunday Showcase!
Deb says
June 26, 2012 at 8:27 amThanks for your kind words and for pinning my post! I appreciate it! 🙂
Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas says
June 30, 2012 at 7:02 amthank you as always for taking the time to share your fabulous montessori round-ups on the Sunday Showcase! I have pinned this to our board.
Deb says
June 30, 2012 at 8:42 amThanks so much, Bern! I appreciate your pinning my post … and I always love the Sunday Showcase! 🙂