• The Music Area

    Getting Started

    The Music Area should be a well organized, inviting space where students can easily access familiar instruments to create their own music, explore sounds, dance, and play. It should be located in an area that allows for movement and the enjoyment of sound without interrupting other children's play during work time.

    When setting up your Music Area, consider:

    • Does the Music Area feel like it is a part of the classroom space, or does it feel as though it is "set apart" from the rest of the room?
    • Is there enough space in the music area for students to play larger instruments comfortably (floor toms, tubanos, hand drums, xylophones) and move creatively?
    • Are all instruments easily accessible?
    • Are all instruments organized in a way that makes play and clean up easy for students?
    • How will students interact with Song Cards and other music manipulatives?

    Give Students Permission to Explore

    Barricaded, covered, and isolated shelves tell our students that these materials are "off limits" to them. Although it is an effective classroom management tool, it does not allow our students to guide their own learning. Rather than beginning the year with a fully stocked Music Area that is barricaded, covered, or shoved into a corner, consider beginning the year with a minimally stocked Music Area and growting it as instruments an materials are introduced. Scarves, wrist ribbons, egg shakers, and jingle bells are great "first step" music materials that children can use to explore and create from Day 1. As you introduce new instruments through large group and small group activities, add them to your instrumentarium so students can continue to construct knowledge.

    Song Cards and Recorded Materials

    The music center should include song cards for individual or small group use. These songs should be familiar to the students. Teachers can rotate song cards but should keep some of the childrens' favorites available at all times. A listening center can be placed near the music center for easy access to the classroom music CD collection. Other props (scarves, ribbons, puppets) can be stored in the music center to promote creative movement.

    Organizing Your Music Area

    Including pictures of instruments on your storage containers and shelves are extremely helpful when preparing the Music Area for student use. You can draw pictures, take pictures of your own equipment, or use the files below:

    CLICK HERE for the Shelf Instrument Labels.

    CLICK HERE the Basket Instrument Labels.

    When you are putting things on shelves, consider whether or not students can independently access all of the materials. For example, while it makes sense from a "space" standpoint to put the Xylophone on top of the shelving unit, children will need assistance getting the instrument down. Consider putting it on the bottom-most shelf to increase student access. By the same token, materials like scarves and wrist ribbons can be placed on the upper-most shelves as they are lightweight and easy to move.

    Need help organizing your music area? Contact the PreK Music and Movement Specialist for suggestions and support!