Using instruments with preschool and kindergarten music class is one of the most exciting things for kids, but looking for stuff to do with your youngest kids can be difficult because those instruments are expensive.

You need to instruct them on how to hold, use, and treat them properly because replacing them can be a huge budget decision.

You still need to control the environment until they know how to use them.

In this post, I’ll offer some tips you can use right away on using instruments with preschool and kindergarten.

6 Steps For Instrument Procedures

Procedures are the key to setting your kids up for success. In this section, I offer the essential elements I think about when setting up instrument procedures.

#1 Explain How To Use It

Before they get their hands on anything, explain how to use it. I don’t let the kids pick an instrument that they do not know how to play yet.

#2 Demonstrate

Demonstrate the proper way to hold, play and put away. I insist that if my kids don’t use it properly they get it taken away.

They all know the rule and I enforce it. Sometimes, it’s about making sure their classmates don’t get hurt, as in with rhythm sticks.

#3 Don’t Let Mass Chaos Ensue

You TOTALLY already know this, but don’t let mass chaos ensue.

Call kids up by what they are wearing, or in groups of 3-4. Draw sticks.  SOMETHING to contain them all running.  Or pass them out yourself.

#4 Put The Instruments Down

If everybody has an instrument, I have them put it in front of them in their seat and put their hands in behind their backs.

This is great because I can see who has an instrument, and also who is following directions. If it is one instrument in the middle to be passed around, I will put it on a small stool or table in the center so it doesn’t get stepped on.

#5 Let Them Try It Out

I do let them try it out before we get going.  Because they are kids and they are dying inside for every second they have to wait.

By the time we get to this, they have shown so much self-control that I think it’s ok to let them try. AND it lets me quickly see if they can all play it the right way. (Especially those dangerous rhythm sticks!)

#6 Enforce Consequences

Enforce consequences if rules are broken.

General Tips When Using Instruments In Preschool And Kindergarten

There’s a lot to consider about using instruments with younger grades, but here are some general tips that you may find helpful.

• Sing to match the beat they play.  Don’t let them be wrong!
• Remind them of the rules EVERY time you use the instruments.
• Make a big deal that they are big kids who can use the instruments.

When To Introduce Instruments

I have a lot of my 4-year-old preschool students and PreK students in 3-year-old preschool. Because so many of the students are familiar to me and are already participating well, I give them instruments in the first few weeks.

Why? I want them to be excited, and it helps the few newer ones feel more comfortable in the room.

Also, the students who already know me feel like they are big kids right away. In my situation, I’ve found that introducing them to the kids quickly helps them take the rules a little more seriously too.

But always make sure the kids are doing alright first. Wait until the tears are gone, the wandering, and if they are singing with you or after you.

If they are engaged, that’s awesome. One of the reasons to wait with a class of completely BRAND NEW to YOU students is that you need to find out how they respond to you before you add in an element that may cause a little overexcitement.

Lesson Ideas

Beat

Any beat keeping activity is king.

Pick a chant, pick recording, pick a song they know. Let them play to the beat.

Have them play in groups, solos or any other combination you can think of.  And you can totally get in an assessment on your kids without them realizing it.

Some of my favorites:

• I Climbed Up the Apple Tree
• Engine Engine
• Bee Bee Bumblebee
• Listen, Listen Here I Come
• Queen Queen Caroline
• Apple Peach Pear Plum (not with preschool–lots of them don’t know their birthdays!)
• Cinderella At the Ball
• Johnny Works With One Hammer
• 2468
• Stars & Stripes Forever
• ANY march

Pro-tip: For your Kindergarten kids, once they know beat vs rhythm, split them into groups with different instruments.

One group keeps the beat, the other plays the rhythm. Then switch (I switch instruments too!)

Melody/Singing Voice

High/Low

Put out sol/me boomwhackers or High Do/Low Do. Use the high end and low end of an Orff instrument, use an otomatone, or anything else you can get your hands on that the kids can try to show high/low.

Put patterns up and let them try playing high and playing low.  Otomatones are also GREAT for vocal warmups! Let the kids create their own that the kids have to sing back.

Creativity

Shape Composing

This is great for letting them try out some instruments and be creative.

It’s important to let even your youngest kids be creative, so I let them pick only 2 of the instruments that I show so they are not overwhelmed by choices.

The idea definitely isn’t just to make noise.  When you do this, it is helpful if you have already discussed patterns with the kids.

A good pre-lesson for Shape composing is to write your own shape patterns and let the kids play them.  For my preschool kids, I let them play patterns, but won’t let them compose yet.

With short classes, I don’t want to spend my 30 minutes a week trying to set them up for this.

Color Composing

Same idea, but with boomwhackers or handbells.

This is so fun for so many reasons! More instruments, individual work, practicing high/low patterns…

I don’t do this one with preschool.  I reserve this for K or 1st Grade as a first-time lesson.

I hope this gives you some great ideas for using instruments with preschool and kindergarten.

On the flip side, if you’re struggling with the older kids, check out these 5 great songs for upper elementary.

How do you use instruments in your room with your youngest students? I’d love to hear your great ideas!