Bringing Music Into the Primary Classroom Through the Bells & Song
Description
Marcia Perez joins the podcast to share her expertise with Montessori music curriculum and materials. Long before the technology existed to prove it, Montessori realized that music was key to children's neurological development, and language development in particular. The Bells, therefore, can not be thought of as an "extra." Instead, they are an essential part of the Sensorial curriculum in the Primary classroom.
Marcia briefly shares the history of the development of the Bells and Tone Bars. She then encourages Guides who are intimidated by the music work to think of it simply as pitch and rhythm. They can be studied individually, or together in the form of song. Marcia dives into how to incorporate rhythm, pitch, singing, movement, and music appreciation into a rich experience woven throughout the curriculum.
Marcia does a deep dive into how the Bells should be set up, introduced to the children, and used by the Guide when singing. She talks about how to use the White Boards (the singing charts), which introduce pitch and pattern, and the Rhythm Patterns (clapping charts), which work on rhythm. These materials become centerpieces for the child training their ear in music, which in turn, improves the child's ear for the development of language. Marcia says, "Music IS language!"
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