When I started implementing centers in my elementary music classroom, I had no idea what I was doing. It wasn’t until the third year of doing centers that I figured out a pretty good system. There really is not “one size fits all” approach, and it’s completely up to each teacher to find what works for you.
When doing centers, split your students into 5- 6 groups with 4-5 students per group. Students will rotate to two different centers each time you do centers in music. Then, they will start at the center they left off at the next time around. Once all groups finish all the centers, then set up new instructions (you’ll leave these at each center) at each center with new melodies, rhythms, or ideas.
In this blog post (and on podcast episode 170) I share my favorite elementary music center ideas. Remember it’s your classroom, so think about the students you teach and how often you see them. Then, use the center ideas I provide, as well as others you want to implement and make them work for you.
1. Boomwhacker melodies
Boomwhackers are so much fun to use with your students. If you haven’t used them yet, they truly are inexpensive yet completely worth having in your classroom.
For using boomwhackers in centers, use a pocket chart to put color coded melodies in. You can use any simple melody, or write one out, then color the notes with the matching boomwhacker color.
With your lower elementary students, use a 2-3 note melody with simple rhythms and with the upper grades make it a little more challenging.
2. Computers or tablets
“I didn’t have many resources to work with” when I started teaching. I’ve talked about this in my Facebook lives, and on my podcast.
So you know what that means? I had to wait two years before getting another teacher’s hand me down computers. Yet, I was so excited! I knew I wouldn’t be able to do much with two computers, so along with using them to watch orchestra videos, I implemented them into my centers rotation.
Whether you have dinosaur computers like me or a class set of tablets, here’s some ways to use them as a center.
- compose music
- watch a performance
- play a music game
There are some awesome orchestra websites where kids can play games and compose music. Also, the students can watch performances of dances, instruments, or singing from the culture of the month you’re going over.
3. Listening center
The listening center can be done a couple of different ways. If you have audio books about music, kids can listen to them with headphones on. Or, the group of students can listen to music and draw or write about the song they hear.
The older students can go a step further and write about what that composer was feeling, why they think they wrote the song, or talk about the instruments they hear performing.
4. Keyboards
The pianist in me was so excited to have keyboards in my music classroom. You can read more about how to use keyboards in the music classroom here. To use keyboards in centers, students can play a simple melody, compose music, learn to play piano, or explore with the different sounds.
You can get super technical or leave it simple. Remember, you know your students and what your comfort level is.
5. Recorder or xylophone
If your older students have already learned recorder, then using them in centers will be lots of fun. They can even just simply practice the music you have already learned together.
For the younger kiddos, they can practice steady beat or a simple rhythmic pattern (like C- EE- C- EE) on the xylophone.
There are of course several things you can do with recorders and xylophones in centers, but these simple ideas will help get you started.
6. Music games
There are so many great music games kids can play. This can be a board game like music bingo, a game from a song you learned in class, or rhythm relay games. But also, students can do music activities together as well like popsicle stick rhythms.
On the instructions, have different rhythms typed out that students can lay on the floor with their popsicle sticks, like ta ta ti-ti ta. If students finish this activity quickly, have them take turns being the leader and the other students lay out the rhythm that the leader said.
There really are so many centers you can do with your students. The possibilities are truly endless. Feel free to change it up throughout the year too. What centers do you do with your students? If you haven’t started centers with your students, what is holding you back?
I’d love to hear all about it in the comments below or share your thoughts on social media as you share this post.
Also, I’d love for you to share this post or any of the resources on my website with a friend or colleague who you know NEEDS to see it.
P.S. Are you feeling frustrated or stuck as an elementary music teacher? Check out these free resources to help you teach elementary music with confidence!
*This post contains affiliate links
