Bonus Lesson: "Helpful hints, rhythm instruments, and props you will need in the course"

Introduction to 

BONUS VIDEOS and PREPARING FOR YOUR MONTESSORI MUSIC STUDIES

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Welcome! 

I am delighted to have you join my eCourse and I look forward to getting to know you and what musical activities you already like doing with your group.

If you are looking for my latest updates to this page, please scroll down.

1. If you haven't already joined the FaceBook page that is set up for dialoging with me and the others in the course, please do! I would love to have you join.

Here's that link:

Musically Montessori eCourse Facebook Group

2. You can access these lessons anytime for at least a year after your initial enrollment in the eCourse. 

3. This course, "First 12 Weeks", is designed to launch your Montessori music curriculum with a little pizazz! We will be covering the basics of:

  • Deciding why you want your group to have music experiences as part of the curriculum and reflecting on the goals you have for them
  • Setting up your music circle time procedures for managing the group, Montessori-Style
  • How to teach a new song to the children, based on the Orff-Schulwerk method
  • Introducing rhythm instruments to children without getting a headache!
  • Planning playful activities for hands-on experiences with the basic elements of music
  • Presenting the step-by-step process in each lesson as well as an appropriate, sequential music curriculum that builds skills
  • Having fun while learning, too!

I have compiled a list of the materials you will need to get the most out of this course and to be able to continue offering wonderful music activities throughout the year, beyond these first 12 weeks!

Necessities:

  1. Music sound system (ex: cd player or iPod with speaker)
  2. These unpitched rhythm instruments for you and the children:

3. A way to print off the visuals from the pdf file for each week's activity (and a laminating system as well)

4. At least one high quality pitched instrument (ex: Montessori brass bells, a true sounding Glockenspiel, etc.) or a pitch pipe

5. A way to download mp3 recordings from Amazon or iTunes AND/OR a way to purchase the the recorded music we will be using in the lessons (ex: Music from Mozart, recordings from Frank Leto, etc.)

6. Time set aside each week to watch the 15 minute videos, review the lesson plans, prepare the materials you will need and to practice a little beforehand

~ Recommended:

  • Tambourines with heads: one for each child and teacher if your budget allows, otherwise rhythm sticks can be used instead. I use this brand: Rhode Island Novelty 5 in. mini tambourines Pack of 12. at Amazon
  • Chiquitas (small-sized maracas with a soft sound) At least one for each child and teacher, if your budget allows, otherwise rhythm sticks can be used instead. A pair for each person is ideal. I like these: Latin Percussion Chiquitas (small maracas) 
  • Sand blocks: a pair for each child and teacher if your budget allows, otherwise rhythm sticks can be used instead. I use these sand blocks from Kindermusik International: Green Sandblocks at $4.95 a pair.
  • "Classical Fun Sing-A-Longs" CD: (SEE NOTE BELOW BEFORE YOU PURCHASE) Unfortunately this cd is not available as an mp3 download, however, when you order the cd, you will get the little booklet of activities to go along with it. In the past, I have purchased this cd packet from: Amazon when in stock

NOTE:

****Fortunately, I have arranged with the Franki family to include the mp3 recordings from "Classical Fun Singalongs" throughout this Musically Montessori eCourse. You will have mp3 downloads for each song featured in each Lesson. However, since this is a royalty arrangement between me and the Franki's, you are not allowed to share these copyrighted mp3 music downloads. They are for your personal use only. 

  • "Rhythm Band Jam" (by Frank Leto) You can download the individual selections that we will use in some of the lessons, but I recommend just purchasing the whole album because there are so many activities you can use from this cd. If you go to Frank's website and purchase the cd, then you will get the little booklet that outlines the sequence of activities and how to do them. Otherwise, you can download the mp3 selections we will use from Amazon: HERE.
  • "Movement and Singing Games" (by Sanford Jones) This is another resource that is not available on mp3 yet. The cd is well worth the purchase ($20. from Montessori Services) because it comes with an insert about the activities. I will be using some of the songs from this cd here and there throughout the next 12 weeks. It is available at Montessori Services: HERE

Here is Bonus Video #1:

BONUS VIDEO #1: RATIONALE

"WHY DEVELOPING YOUR 'RATIONALE' WILL HELP YOU CREATE A SUCCESSFUL MUSIC CURRICULUM"


WHY DO YOU OFFER A "MUSIC CURRICULUM"?

Here are some things you can explore that will better prepare you for the course:

I think it is very helpful to have a clear rationale for offering music education as a component of your Montessori curriculum for your group. When you have clarified your rationale then it will be easy for you to explain to others, particularly parents and administrators, why you are doing so much music with the children. This may come in handy for raising funds to purchase nice sets of rhythm instruments and props!

Also, when you have developed your rationale, you will be able to set the goals you have for the children in their music studies. These goals can be expressed at your parent conferences and they can also be a great help for you when you are planning your music curriculum. 

I personally think there are a gazillion GREAT reasons to offer children early music experiences. (the earlier the better!) There have been many studies over the past ten years that point out the cognitive benefits of early music for children. Not only are there cognitive benefits, but also, amazing benefits in all areas of development, especially  social-emotional, independence, coordination, listening skills, creative problem solving, and self confidence. 

You can read more about developing your rationale for music at these posts on my Blog:

Early Music Education for Young Children: A Rationale!

Musically Montessori: Do You Have 5 Reasons Why Young Children Need To Make Music?

You can also check out my video exploring the benefits of early music. Here is the link OR VIEW VIDEO ABOVE. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR1DaR-QDy4


Here is Bonus Video #2:

BONUS VIDEO #2 PREVIEW TO MUSIC SHELF WORKS

HAVE YOU SET UP A "MUSIC SHELF"?

I highly recommend setting up a MUSIC SHELF. 

If you have limited shelving, you might combine Music Activities, Movement Activities, (ex: materials/ props for movement on The Line) and Drama Activities (ex: Montessori style command cards) on one shelf.

Right off the bat, you can display a picture of your favorite composer (even if it is the Beatles/ John Lennon!) and you can have a basket with one or two sets of rhythm sticks. You can add a tray with a small board book that illustrates a familiar song(ex:"Itsy Bitsy Spider") and include props, such as a child size puppet, felt board characters, or plastic replicas so that the child can act out the story of the song while "reading" the book and singing the song. If you choose the board book, "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", then you can display a picture of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, since he put this traditional French nursery song to a beautiful composition for his mother, "A Vous Dirai-je, Maman". I download pictures of composers from Google Images and as long as you don't market the picture as part of a paid educational product you don't have to worry about copyright infringement. (If you do make Printables to sell, then you can use a picture of the composer that is part of the public domain or from a stock photo site.)

And, you can even invite children to take out the Moveable Alphabet and build the words to the song! (Got that idea from the wonderful workshop by Cathie Perolman "Making the Most of the Moveable Alphabet" from Trillium Montessori Summer Summit) ! After a child builds the words, you can take a picture of his/her work and add it to their portfolio or send it home and parents will be delighted!

You will be accumulating materials for your Music Shelf throughout this eCourse and it will soon become a popular learning center in your environment. I've created this little video to show you some of my ideas.

Investing in a high quality pitched instrument, such as a Glockenspiel, will be useful throughout your music activities. If you have the Montessori Brass Bells, then you have an ideal pitched instrument!

Here are some links for an Orff-Schulwerk style Glockenspiel.

Studio 49 Economical Glockenspiel (this is a new product, that I am not personally familiar with, but I trust the quality of Studio 49)

Studio 49 Soprano Glockenspiel (this is the one in the video)

Studio 49 Alto Glockenspiel ( I have one of these, too)

Here is Bonus Video #3:

BONUS VIDEO #3: THE MONTESSORI LINE

HAVE YOU CREATED A "MONTESSORI LINE" FOR MOVEMENT?

One of the classics in the Montessori classroom is "walking on the line" and I have come up with some ways to offer the children musical activities for walking on the "Line".

You can create permanent or temporary "Montessori Lines" in your classroom as you will see in the following video.

A permanent "Montessori Line" for your group can be created with this cloth tape from Montessori Services: Cloth Tape for Walking on The Line

You can also create a more temporary "Line" using:

  • Masking tape
  • Ordinary chalk

You can make a portable "Line" using:

  • Rope
  • Flat ribbon

Once you have a "Line" set up for the children, you can introduce various activities for movement on the line that have a musical component:

  • Bells on a string
  • Flags
  • Props for pretending like the "Line" is a tightrope accompanied by circus/tightrope type recorded music. Here's a great tight rope song from Frank Leto: "Tightrope"

I hope you will consider movement on the Montessori "Line" as something you do everyday in your Montessori environment.

Carolyn's NOTE: I recently transferred my Musically Montessori eCourses to this Teachable Platform and decided it would be nice to bring over some of the student's comments over the years. Here are a few:

  • Sung Shin Park a year ago
  • Hi Ms Carolyn 
  • I am so glad to start e-course.Also I am very intersting waking on the line use to rope and look forward next step.
  • Carolyn Lucento
  • Welcome, Sung Shin,. I am looking forward to hearing more about your group!

  • Emily Krampe 3 years ago
  • I am very excited about this course and look forward to new ideas!

  • Carolyn Lucento 3 years ago
  • Welcome, Emily! I am excited to be working with you in a musical way. 
  • stephanie 3 years ago
  • Thank you so much, Carolyn! I'm so excited. I've briefly skimmed the first three lessons and used the walking on the line with the bell in a class last week! Since our composer of the month is Debussy, we walked the line with bells to his "Golliwogg's Cake-walk". The kids had a lot of fun. :)

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  • Carolyn Lucento 3 years ago
  • Hi Stephanie, 
  • OK, I LOVE your idea of inviting the children to walk on the Montessori 
  • Line to Debussy's music. Perfect way to make these eCourse lessons work for 
  • your environment. And the "Golliwog's Cake-Walk" is a wonderful choice for 
  • The Line! Your groups are lucky to have such a creative teacher as you are!
  • Debra Jones 4 years ago
  • Hi Carolyn! 
  • I am so pleased to be taking another course from you and this introduction has me excited about what I will learn from you during the course. 
  • Thank you for sharing the link to Anita Collins's Ted Talk "What if every child has access to music education from birth?" on your website/blog. It is amazing what Neuroscientists are learning about the brain and the impact music has on brain development. 
  • edit ×
  • Carolyn Lucento 4 years ago
  • Hi Debra. You are adding so much positive energy to this group of students enrolled in this eCourse, but especially me. Yes, I agree, there is so much benefit for children to have experiences with music in physical, sensorial, hands-on ways! 
  • Barbara Klein 4 years ago
  • Hi Miss Carolyn! Just watched the ted talk and the 3 bonus videos. You are so thorough and informative. These teachings adding to many of the lessons I’ve done for years and you’ve already introduced so many I haven’t! So excited to add these extensions. Thank you for all the time and effort you have put into these lessons, not to mention your blog too! Looking forward to the rest of the class! 

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  • Carolyn Lucento 4 years ago
  • Hi Barbara, it is great to hear from you! Your comment here is very helpful to me. I'm always wondering if the activities work as well for others as they do for my groups. Thank you for your comment. I truly enjoy putting these Lessons together.
  • Donna May Tomboc 5 years ago
  • Thanks for the great insights Ms Carolyn! I have just started viewing your videos and it got me excited for the next lessons. I love the tips about having less expensive alternatives for the Montessori bells and more durable options for the line. Thank you so much! 

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  • Carolyn Lucento 5 years ago
  • Wow, Donna, I so value your feedback and I am so happy to hear that you are going through the lessons. I love on-line courses because you can go back to them when you have the time! Looking forward to hearing some of your other ideas. Missing you!

  • ×
  • Miss Mana 5 years ago
  • I love this e-course ! So I now know what I am doing on my Sundays. Magical Movement Company. Yeah! This is so helpful Miss Carolyn. I love this and hope to take all your e-courses you offer in the future too!

  • edit ×
  • Carolyn Lucento 5 years ago
  • Thank you very much, Miss Mana. I so value your opinion and your feedback, since I know you are an amazing music/dance/and drama teacher. Please keep me posted about how it goes with your groups!


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