Do you love seeing your children happy, engaged, and learning?
This on-line eCourse Training, "Musically Montessori Instruments of the Orchestra" is filled with enchanting music, amazing visuals, and unique activities presented in more than 50 instructional videos. And, it can all be viewed in the convenience of your own home or on your laptop at your favorite coffee shop!
The twelve lessons have many extensions that can make this curriculum stretch over more than just 12 weeks. My groups ask for these activities over and over, even months (or years!) later.
Watch my video to see this
curriculum in action!
Sample of Activities from Musically Montessori "Instruments of the Orchestra" featuring The String Family
12 Fun Weeks of Learning... the Musically Montessori Way!
This online course brings to life the many sounds of the instruments of the Orchestra, including the "families" :
Brass,
Strings,
Woodwinds,
and Percussion.
Young children are engaged in each lesson with a series of musical warm-ups followed by movement and focused listening activities coordinated with the lesson concept. There are authentic mp3 orchestral recordings and of course, there are many fun activities featuring a variety of child-size rhythm instruments for exploring the foundations of music.
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What's inside this 12 week eCourse Training
Welcome!
I would be 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.
There is a BONUS LESSON for you to explore before you start the eCourse. There are videos and lists for you to see and gather your resources, prepare yourself, and prepare your environment.
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. This course, "Instrument Families of the Orchestra", is designed to present the 4 basic divisions of instruments of the Orchestra in a hands-on manner using Montessori principles of instruction.
I will be covering the basics of:
Focused Listening: offering short excerpts from well-known classical music pieces for children to listen for particular instruments playing in the pieces.
Categorizing the divisions of instruments in a traditional orchestra including:
- The Brass Family
- The String Family
- The Woodwind Family
- The Percussion Family
Featuring famous composers of the music offered in each lesson
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!
- Circle Games
- Exploring instruments
- Movement, dance and drama activities
- Individualized shelf works
- Art projects
- Simple music performance ideas
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:
- Music sound system (ex: cd player or iPod with speaker)
- These unpitched rhythm instruments for you and the children:
- Rhythm Sticks: a pair for each child in your group and for each teacher in the setting. The rhythm sticks should be short (no longer than 8 inches) These are my favorites: Basic Beat rhythm sticks at Amazon.
- Finger Cymbals: a pair for each child in your group and for each teacher in the setting. I use this brand: Dozen Metal Finger Cymbals from US Toy at Amazon. (I usually have to replace the elastic on these every few years.)
- One Pitched Percussion Instrument: choose from Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Montessori Brass Bells, or Piano/ Keyboard.
- Scarves for movement activities: one for each child, but, I cut these scarves in half so that each child can have two, one for each hand: Rhythm Band Large Multi-Color Rhythm Scarves (pack of 12)
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. 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
6. 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.)
This eCourse Includes the following music for you to STREAM or DOWNLOAD in Mp3 format:
~ Links to stream or buy commercial recordings from my favorite children's music artists.
~ Music from various famous composers that I have compiled for you in Mp3 format from public domain recordings, that you may download or also STREAM from the course playlist located at the end of each lesson.
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: Basic Beat Chiquitas at West Music
- 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.
- "Baby's First: Instruments of the Orchestra" This wonderful cd is not available in mp3 format, but it is a very helpful and orderly introduction to the Instrument Families of the Orchestra. Unfortunately, it is also out of print, but it is possible to obtain from Amazon. I love this album. It has clear and lovely recordings of each instrument from each of the four families.
- "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.
Got your music shelf set up?
You'll have lots of musical activities for your children to explore with each Lesson. So, you'll want to set up a music shelf! Each Lesson has a set of templates and/or Printables for you to create activities for the children to choose at work time.
There are:
- traditional Montessori 3-Part Cards
- along with pre-reading matching activities
- small group and individualized materials for music games
- and always a lesson-related art project to reinforce the learning in a fun hands-on way
Join hundreds of educators from all over the world who are benefiting from my Musically Montessori eCourses! Here are some things they have to say about this eCourse.
Jean M.
Montessori educator & eCourse student (Feb. 2019)
"My students have loved some of each of the families of the orchestra. They are particularly fond of when we did percussion and they got to play (a variety of) drums. They also very much enjoyed listening to the recordings of the flute, trumpet and violin. Finally, the opportunity to 'conduct' and several of the shelf works were popular. But, most notably, the chance to make the booklets of each family of the orchestra were a favorite activitiy. My students love these lessons!"
Emily K.
Montessori educator & eCourse student (May 2020)
"{In each lesson} We sing the hello song and then do breathing and hand warm ups---I love the ones you provide. Then, we always do the "Macaroni Pony song" (from the first lesson in this eCourse) before transitioning into the movement activity.
I think they (my students) benefitted from seeing the individual parts of the orchestral instruments. It solidified the experience for them to use their ears, eyes and mouths (I have them repeat the names of the parts) when learning about each instrument.
I think the pictures of the audience, orchestra pit, etc. were very helpful. So many of my students have never been to a concert, let alone an orchestral one. So it was a treat to be able to explain the experience with pictures."
Linda K.
Montessori educator & eCourse student (Sept. 2019)
"Carolyn, you have been a wealth of insightful information in regards to working with children and keeping them interested, focused and in control. I have learned to always prepare the children ahead and let them know what we will be doing, asking many of the (routine) questions about the handling of the instruments in a respectful and safe way. They love all the songs we sing while passing out and collecting the instruments. Clear expectations are on the road to success. Thank you for your wonderful presentations!"
Give your group a wonderful season of music, the Montessori way!
OFFER THIS UNIT OF CLASSES ANY TIME OF YEAR!
I have offered this series of lessons to young children for many years now and it is always greatly loved by the children (and me!)
When you offer these lessons to the children in the Autumn, they are ready for the wonderful Winter Orchestral Performances that are geared to children, in particular Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite."
When you offer these lessons in the Winter months, the children may have already been to a Winter performance and so they have already had that concrete experience that makes these lessons even more meaningful, especially if the children saw a performance with a live orchestra!
When you offer these lessons in the Spring or Summer, the children will be able to really enjoy the outdoor classical music concerts for children that happen in that time of year!
In this eCourse, we will be exploring the 4 Instrument Families of the Orchestra:
~ Brass
Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn, and Tuba
~ Strings
Violin, Viola, Cello, and Upright Bass
~ Woodwinds
Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon
~ Percussion
Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Timpani, Piano, Xylophone, Glockenspiel and various rhythm instruments.
I will be relating these topics to specific Famous Composers, as well as Basic Music Concepts, such as Tempo, Dynamics, and Pitch.
Along with my video demonstrations, you will receive:
- Pdf Downloads of the Lesson Plans
- Visuals for circle time
- Templates for children's shelf work
- And, mp3 Music Downloads for Movement Activities & Focused Listening excerpts to illustrate the instruments being featured.
Course Mp3 music for you to download or stream right from this site
Each Lesson brings a fun Movement Activity to the children that is based on the music concept, famous composer, or world music that the lesson features. Then there is a Focused Listening segment that reinforces the music in the Movement Activity. I have prepared much of this music myself and I have sourced the classical selections from the royalty-free music site, Musopen.
These are one-minute long....perfect for young children!
Did you know that you can receive Continuing Education Units from Loyola University when you complete this eCourse?
We have partnered with Trillium Montessori to offer this eCourse with the option to get CEU's from Loyola University.
More Student Testimonials
- Hedy (2021) "Love the miniature instruments! I bet the children will love them too if we have some in our environment. Love the Jazz version of Itsy Bitsy Spider.! Through these lessons, the children know more about the orchestra, how it looks like on the stage and how the different musical instruments combine together and perform a song. They also learn to identify which musical instruments belong to which orchestral family and why they are being categorized in the same family. Thank you , Carolyn for another great lesson this week."
- Debra J. Retired Montessori teacher and grandmother. (2018)"Thank you for another wonderful week and your encouragement to follow along at our own pace. I like going back and rewatching the portions of the lesson that are new to me. I don't have a music education backgrounds am relishing all your insight! Also, thank you Carolyn, for suggesting I look in Google Images for a picture of Mozart as a child. I found the same picture you used in the lesson (which is a lovely portrait) and I am looking forward to sharing it with my granddaughter. I think she will enjoy seeing Mozart, as a child, playing the piano!....Dear Carolyn, I just finished your course and wanted you to know how much I have enjoyed learning from you. Since we have never met in person, this may sound funny, but I will miss our time together! Thank you for offering this course online and I hope to take another course from you soon."
- Elizabeth S. (2018) "I really like your phrasing about using the strong muscles to control the mallet, rather than telling them what not to do. Also, I like that children can be practicing the same rhythms with their rhythm sticks while the drum gets passed around. That way everyone's hands are busy and less likely to become silly. That is most likely what I will be trying with my Elementary kiddos."
- Genevieve (2018) "As I also followed your course, 'The First 12 Weeks", our procedure at Music Time has already been set up. I use a very similar structure to yours, but we added the learning of a song in English every week, since we are francophone. Also, the children's favorite activities are the movement activities. They especially liked moving like a swan and learning the history of Swan Lake....We are lucky to be located close to the Music Conservatory of our city. Every month, we participate to 'midi-musique' , a short student performance where instruments of musical types are presented. So this week (Week 5 'Here Comes the Strings') we will talk about the stringed instruments, we will meet violin students, who will present us their instrument.The children love the activities in your course."
- Ashley. (2018) "Thank you for a wonderful set of lessons, Carolyn. From this eCourse, I have learned to use clear actions start, stop, and listen at Music Time, keep Circle Time short, especially for younger toddlers and focus on movement. Also, set up clear rules to watch personal space when moving our bodies. Fortunately, we have small groups, so the children in our program can easily move around the room during our movement activities. I am excited to implement these lessons in my programs."
If you are looking for a BASIC MUSIC TRAINING COURSE,
I recommend my eCourse: "Musically Montessori First Twelve Weeks"
CLICK BELOW TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MY MUSICALLY MONTESSORI ECOURSE: "FIRST TWELVE WEEKS"
About Carolyn Lucento
I have been teaching Montessori children for more than 3 decades and music is by far, the most engaging of lessons we can offer as Montessori educators! During my 20+ years as a Montessori head teacher and site director, I offered these music activities in my preschool classroom and the children greatly enjoyed them, year after year! With my Orff-Schulwerk training and my Montessori background, I decided to become a Music Specialist in 2013. I found myself working with more than 750 children each week in several Montessori schools in the San Francisco Bay Area. That is when I really learned what truly engages children musically and so that is how I developed my Musically Montessori curriculum and then my eCourses to share my secrets of success. You too can enjoy creating a successful music program in your educational setting. I welcome you to meet me inside this eCourse soon!
