Many music teachers have a love-hate relationship with centers. In theory, they are awesome. Students are able to the practice skills they’ve learned in a small group setting and explore their musicality on an individual basis. In practice, however, it is difficult to create a music center that is not too LOUD.
While centers can be a great way to allow students to try instruments when there are a limited number to go around, it is important to balance this sound with quieter activities. Here are some quiet music center ideas that will keep the peace in your music classroom!
1. Lego Rhythm Composing
Lego rhythms is a great way for students to understand the relationship between the different rhythms and works perfectly as a quiet center activity.
This activity can be implemented TWO ways. For younger students, giving them pre-drawn legos allows them to simply build rhythms with ease. For older students, you can explain (or have a worksheet explain) which rhythm should be drawn on which lego and have THEM write out the rhythms on the correct lego.
A TIP- make sure that you are using a SHARPIE marker to write these rhythms on your blocks, and let them fully DRY before you give them to students. Even so, expect some pen to wash off and anticipate re-writing these rhythms from time to time.
2. Story Time
Another quiet activity option is to have students popcorn read (meaning each student takes a turn) a short story, or even article about a musical figure or concept.
My younger students are even willing to take turn singing a “story song” that we’ve already learned in class. For ideas on this, check out my collection of recommended story song books:
3. Musical Matching Game
There are so many fun ways that a matching game can be implemented into music centers. Students can match rhythm patterns, tonal patterns, vocabulary words, pictures, etc.
Here are some matching games available on my store!
4. Scratch Art Compositions
My students LOVE scratch art. I will often use these little sheets with simple directions like “write a composition in duple meter” or “copy the treble and bass clef on the board,” but your possibilities with these are ENDLESS.
A Tip- With younger grades, I will often give students a dime to write instead of the sharp stick.
5. Puppet Improvisation
Improvisation is an ENORMOUSLY important musical skill that is difficult to develop with whole group instruction. In centers, however, students are able to explore their voices with many more opportunities to share and listen. This might not be a silent activity, BUT typically my students do not sing very loudly when improvising, so this tends to be a quieter activity.
To encourage my students to sing, I will often offer a prop. A great one for centers in finger puppets. Students get to select which puppet or puppets they will use to sing and then have the freedom to make up their own song.
There are MANY finger puppets available on amazon at a low cost.
6. Highlighting Parts
With my older students, a great quiet activity for centers is to highlight a particular section of a piece of music (melody, harmony, piano line), etc. While this skill needs to be taught ahead of center time, centers is a great place to practice this skill OR prepare student music for an upcoming concert!
7. Yoga Pretzels
While not DIRECTLY musical, yoga helps students learn to breathe, connect with their bodies, and develop coordination, all of which can be highly impactful in the music learning process.
My younger students ADORE these yoga pretzel cards. During centers, they chose one from the deck and complete the card. It is a great independent activity that tends to add variety to other centers
8. Music Concept Worksheets
Sometimes a short, simple worksheet that is based in the content you are learning can be a great way to break up other activities.
Check out these worksheets available on my TPT store!
Thanks For Reading!
Please share any other quiet musical activities in the comments!
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