Create a Vibrant Music Corner in Your Classroom

Music is a powerful tool in early childhood education, fostering creativity, self-expression, and a love for learning. One of the best ways to incorporate music into your classroom is by creating a dedicated music corner—a space where children can explore instruments, engage with songs, and let their imaginations soar. In this guide, I’ll share practical ideas for setting up a vibrant and engaging music corner that your preschool and kindergarten students will love. Be sure to check out my FREE list of favourite music time resources too, including so many fun singable stories!

1. Setting the Stage: Music Decor

Let’s start by adding some musical decor to create a colorful and playful atmosphere. Adding pictures not only brightens up the space but also invites children to explore and create music. For instance, these printable piano, drums, and guitar posters, displayed at eye level, help little ones identify different instruments -- sparking curiosity and conversations about music. Another idea it to incorporate an "M is for Music" black-and-white illustration featuring different instruments—this could be put up on the wall or left out for children to color and enjoy. These simple additions make the music corner vibrant and interactive, inviting young learners to explore the world of music.

2. Interactive Elements: Song Choice Cards

I love song choice cards and how versatile they are. In the picture, I’ve displayed them in a bucket on the shelf, each attached to popsicle sticks. When playing in the music corner, children can pick a card and sing the familiar nursery rhyme with a friend or by themselves. If a teacher is exploring the center with them, everyone can sing together. These song choice cards are the perfect addition to a music center because they give children a sense of leadership and decision-making by allowing them to choose the song. This simple activity encourages independence and fosters a love for music in a playful, interactive way.

3. Visual Exploration: Singable Stories and Printables

Displaying song visuals for well-loved songs in the music corner can truly spark creativity and imagination. Children can interact with the visual cutouts as they sing, using them to act out the songs or even invent their own tunes and stories. For example, I’ve paired the Five Little Monkeys visuals with the corresponding singable story, creating a fun and engaging experience. Singable stories are a must-have in any music space for young children. There are so many available based on popular children’s songs, and kids love seeing the pictures that bring their favorite tunes to life.

4. Adding Movement: Scarves and Percussive Instruments

A great way to encourage movement is by adding a basket of dancing scarves and simple percussive instruments like shakers. You can also include a variety of small instruments for children to explore, such as bells and rhythm sticks. Engage with the scarves while singing by moving them up and down, side to side, in circles, with big or small movements. A favorite activity among the children I work with is scrunching the scarves in their hands and then tossing them high into the air.

Playing instruments offers a wonderful multisensory experience that engages children’s auditory, tactile, and visual senses. Explore musical elements by shaking the instruments high or low, fast or slow, quiet or loud, or by playing a stop/go game—where children get to shake and groove, then stop and freeze until it’s time to play again. Children can also take turns being the leader, with others copying how they shake their shakers. Another engaging activity is call and response, where you play a rhythm and the kids echo it—for example, rhythms based on favorite foods can be a fun twist. These activities are not only enjoyable but also promote the development of gross and fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and an understanding of musical concepts like tempo and rhythm.

5. Keeping it Fresh: Rotating Materials

To keep the music corner fresh and exciting, consider rotating song cards, visuals, and singable stories each week. This simple practice keeps the space engaging and encourages children to explore new songs and stories regularly. By introducing new materials, you maintain their interest and curiosity, making the music corner a place they love to revisit. You might also consider adding songs and visuals that relate to your weekly theme, tying the music corner into the broader classroom activities. This approach helps reinforce the theme and provides children with a more immersive and cohesive learning experience, ensuring the music corner remains a dynamic and inspiring environment.

6. Free Resources and Circle Time Song Bundle

To help you create an engaging and dynamic musical experience, I’m sharing a free list of my favorite music resources, which includes a great selection of well-loved singable stories. Be sure to download it HERE for some extra ideas!

For those looking to bring even more music into their classroom, I’ve also created a Circle Time Song Bundle. This bundle includes song cards, visuals, music activity ideas, session plans, and bonus activities to extend the learning and fun. Whether it’s in a dedicated music corner, during circle time, or integrated throughout your daily activities, this bundle provides a versatile and enriching toolkit to make music a joyful part of your classroom. Learn more HERE!

Creating a music corner in your classroom is more than just setting up a space—it’s about sharing the joy of music, encouraging creativity, and providing children with opportunities for self-expression. By incorporating playful decor, interactive elements, and a variety of song props and instruments, you can transform any corner of your classroom into a vibrant and engaging music center.