Music Memory Center Ideas

One way to use the materials in the Teacher’s Resource Binder is to set up review centers in your room after all the selections have been presented to the class. You will have to make adjustments for the equipment you have in your room.

Plan for no more than 4 students at a center at a time. Three seems ideal. It is best if each student has their own packet of worksheets and a rotation page (Print one or see example from this link). However, one could run-off four master copies of the worksheets and laminate them to leave at each center. Students could use overhead pens to write in answers and erase after checking

Centers dependent on equipment:

Keyboards (or Orff Instruments)- Use the “Mystery Tunes” worksheet for this center.

Video- Use one of the Composer Biography Videos or “Fantasia” or a movie of “Peer Gynt.”

Computer Center- Use any of the Music Memory Software here. Magic Maps, Arcade, or Music Memory Review. Remember to choose software that can be concluded within fifteen to twenty minutes.

Games and Worksheets:

Music Memory Worksheets: For Break the Code and Matching Major Works, set up a listening center, with headphones if possible. The students will need crayons for Matching Major Works. These worksheets could be put in two centers if you have lots of kids.

Crossword: Let students work as a group to complete the crossword puzzle.

Seek and Find might be saved as a bonus and used for students who finish early or when other unusual circumstances occur.

Treble Trivia Game: Enlarge the copy of the playing board, mount on poster board and laminate. Copy the cards on colored card stock. Get some game markers and a die. Put the cards, markers and die in a baggie. Print out a simplified direction page in big print.

Catsup Center: Put up a picture of a catsup bottle. Have students catch up on worksheets from the Substitute pages (one for each four pieces) or from selection pages that didn’t get finished during the year.

Other Center possibilities: Recorder practice center could be four music stands set up in a corner. Give them a specific assignment to practice.

Electronic music center could be a collection of toys like Bop-It, or Simon, and electronic drums sets or guitars. Set out acoustic instruments for “exploring”.

The Book center might be a collection of books from the library on music related stories or about instruments or composers.

Games: Card games such as Quartet, FiddleSticks, Music Twister or Music Dominoes work well as a center. These are good for review of orchestral instruments and families.