Using musical instruments in the preschool classroom

There are a variety of ways you can use musical instruments in the classroom.

Create a music center and try adding...

• Baskets of musical instruments
• A CD Player
• A pretend microphone
• A mirror
• A little platform for a stage (square)
• Posters and books about music, composers, notes, and nursery rhymes.
• Staple together little books of notation paper and add drawing tools for children to create their own songs. 
• Baskets of movement props like paper plates, ribbon sticks, and scarves. 
• Home made instruments: Check out these awesome homemade drums and drumming activities from Irresistible Ideas for Play Based Learning!
• See this music book from Fleet of Fun

Music Box

Create a music box. Choose a different type of instrument to put in the music box each week. If you choose to use a music box - make sure you have plenty of instruments to go around because it will be a big hit.

Rhythm Stick

In your circle time, add musical instruments to a familiar song. Here are a few examples:

• Add a rainstick to the song "Itsy Bitsy Spider".  Let the children shake the rain stick back and forth to make the sound of the rain.
• Add a rythm stick for tapping noises to songs like "Johnny Works with One Hammer" or "One Little Hammer Went Tap Tap Tap!"
• Add instruments to songs like ... "If you're happy and you know it" (ring a bell) (tap a drum) (shake a maraca).

Telling stories

Try adding musical sound effects when retelling favorite stories or making up new ones.  For example, "Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What do you hear?  I hear a tambourine shaking in my ear!"


Instead of children telling you a story - try having them dictate to you a song.

Instrument Games

Play an instrument and see if the children can guess what it is.

How else do you use musical instruments in your classroom?

Before you go - read this article written by Lorri at PreK 360: Music Center: Open Daily