Jun 10 2007
Setting up a music center
My goal was to have an area to set up JBug’s new Montessori bells. I wanted to find a place that I could leave them set up in order, and for her to be able to access them to play whenever she wanted. Plus I wanted them to be at the correct height for her to stand and play them. But they take up a good bit of horizontal space, and as you know, that kind of space is hard to come by. And what I really wanted was a full-fledged music center where I could set out not only her bells, but all of her music-related materials:bells, rhythm instruments,recorder, drum, lap harp, symphony puzzle, and all of the felt materials for music instruction (lined feltboard and felt notes and symbols).
I decided that there was a shelf in an old wardrobe that would work. Long enough and just the right height. It’s the cabinet I had been using for materials storage, but it really wasn’t working well for that. I’ll show you why:
It is a jumbled mess! I had so much stuff in it that it is very difficult to get to anything, and I didn’t even know half of what was in there, so it rarely got used. Time to reorganize!
I am still using the top for storage, but it is scaled way down. I may try to add a shelf in there to help organize that even more. The center section is her music center and the bottom is for the drum, her sewing basket, and her color box and color mixing tiles.
Here is a closer look at the music center section:
The bells are set up and ready to play, with the matching set behind, waiting for listening exercises to be set up. I added two small wire shelves to make better use of the space, and on them are the felt board, felt materials and rhythm instruments in baskets, and her recorder. There are also her harp and symphony puzzle underneath the shelf.
JBug loves to open the cabinet doors and play away with the bells. I can’t wait to start giving her some listening exercises to do and Modgirl will be giving her music lessons!
Speaking of Modgirl and music, here is her latest musical endeavor:
*Sigh* I think it is bigger than she is!
And on that “note” I will say goodbye!LOL! I have lots more organizing to do!
wonderful, theresa! excellent ideas, as usual! I laughed out loud when I saw Modgirl’s “latest music endeavor!” That is QUITE an endeavor, you’re right! But shouldn’t EVERY “modgirl” play a Suzaphone in front of a St. Francis statue among the rolling valleys and hills of North Carolina? LOL!
LOL! Suzanne, you crack me up!
Tell me you didn’t notice the condition of the yard! Yikes!
Your music center looks great — and out of reach of little ones, too
(Around here recorders are used as weapons… sigh).
I must know more about those bells!!!! Email me or PM please!!! What do you do with them? Where do you get them? I am hoping to start a little music reading with my kids this summer.
Love the marching tuba! She must be one strong girl. Those things are heavy!
Hi Matilda! I got them from the Montessori and Such catalog, online.
There are presentations for them here:http://homepage.mac.com/montessoriworld/mwei/sensory/sbells.html
I will PM you with the details.
Angela-yes, that is a big bonus! The cabinet has a lock way up high!
Theresa,
I love seeing your music center set up! What a great idea for the wardrobe! Makes me start to wonder where I can set up my music area!!!
So great! Love your re-orginization!! It turned out super and I’ll bet she’s already loving it. Wow, a TUBA, impressive and I do think it is larger than she!!
That looks so great! I love it!