Re: Centers in elementary music class

Posted by Vickie Newsome on 12/29/07

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On 4/11/07, music teacher wrote:
> Check out this link for more info on centers.
>
> http://www.musiceducationmadness.com/centers.shtml
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>
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> On 6/25/06, music teacher wrote:
>> Are there any music teachers or elementary classroom
>> teachers who have used centers to teach about music? I'm a
>> certified music teacher, but my background is more
>> performance oriented and I'm unsure where to start with
>> centers. How have you organized centers in your elementary
>> music class, how did you organize topics, what sorts of
>> materials did you require for the centers? Thank you

I use centers with 3-5. I model each center, then divide the
time equally among them. I allow 6-7 minutes at the end to
come back and have the group tell what they learned,
likes/dislikes, suggestions. I usually have 5-6 centers, and
divide the students in groups ex. 20 students would have 4 in
a group for a five center classroom. Centers could include a
listening center...they use headphones and listen to examples
we have been discussing and/or listen to new songs we are
learning to sing. A guitar center---I have 3 3/4 size
accoustic guitars with music stands and chairs. I have used
copies to show hand placements....usually simplified primary
chords and gradully introduce them to simple songs to
accompany. A keyboard center---3 keyboards on stands...begin
with flashcards to finding the individual keys ....later learn
chords....to accompany the guitars. I have a labeling center,
where the students label instruments with the correct name. I
also have xylophones where the students learn to play
melodies....I write out the note names. Ex. Ode to Joy, and
later add a harmony part and/or the keyboards with chords.
Sometimes I bring out a steel drum or digital drum where the
children can learn to play a drum melody or a rhythm game. I
even have a collection of books where students can read
fiction and non-fiction music related stories. If we have a
topic of interest, there can even be a writing center where
the students express themselves for bulletin board displays.
A recent topic I have presented to them was "Is Patriotic
Music Important, or not"? Make sure they put their names on
their work, because you will not finish it in one class
session. The sky is the limit. It is developmentally
appropriate as peer influence becomes of greater importance to
the children. I have class rules, and I tell them to help
each other---there is no down time. I hope this is helpful.

Posts on this thread, including this one

• Centers in elementary music class, 6/25/06, by music teacher.
• Re: Centers in elementary music class, 4/11/07, by music teacher.
• Re: Centers in elementary music class, 4/20/07, by Kathy S.
• Re: Centers in elementary music class, 8/02/07, by SHIRLEY HINMAN.
• Re: Centers in elementary music class, 12/29/07, by Vickie Newsome .
• Re: Centers in elementary music class, 6/21/09, by Shirley .