Montessori Music Curriculum: Fun With Composers Program

“…There should be music in the child’s environment, just as there does exist in the child’s environment spoken speech. In the social environment the child should be considered and music should be provided.”
- Maria Montessori, Lecture #13, p. 9,London, 1931

Educators, behavioral scientists and researchers, medical professionals, and child development specialists are confirming that musical training can significantly enhance child development. Several studies indicate that exposure to music— listening, learning, and playing music, does have beneficial effects for children of preschool and elementary age. Active musical training, in particular, can improve their problem-solving skills, physical coordination, poise, concentration, memory, visual, aural and language skills, self-discipline, as well as their self-confidence and ability to learn.

The purpose of the Montessori musical program is to develop the children’s nonverbal affective communication, to increase their understanding and enjoyment of music within our culture, and to enhance their ability to express themselves through music. For many Montessori teachers who do not have a formal music background, creating and implementing a rich music curriculum can be daunting. This is why NAMC is always looking for ways to enhance our programs and offer resources in specific disciplines for Montessori educators.

A few years ago, NAMC was introduced to Deborah Lyn Ziolkoski, an educator and music specialist who has developed the Fun with Composers classical music series. This is a dynamic music program that is simple to implement and follow, and designed to develop in children a true love and appreciation for classical music. Today, Fun with Composers is being integrated into preschool and elementary music and piano curriculum around the world.

Montessori Music Curriculum: Fun With Composers Program

Fun with Composers embraces much of the Montessori philosophy and method, and NAMC has recommended this program to Montessori teachers and schools that are seeking a complete classical music program in a user-friendly package including the student and teacher handbooks, CD and DVD.



Deborah has a B.Ed music major, and her Masters Orff level from the University of Memphis. In addition to her international work with Fun with Composers¸ Deborah also works with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra designing the Teacher-Guided Activities for the VSO’s Elementary School Concerts.

We invited Deborah to write a little about Fun with Composers for our readers:

Let me introduce Fun with Composers…
Fun with Composers is a proven powerful orchestration of storytelling and song that draws children into the intriguing world of classical music while creatively weaving in concepts corresponding to the National Standards. Charming storybook characters like Magical Chefs, Ringmasters and Hatching Chicks are just a few of the fascinating characters that appeal to the musical imaginations of children, taking classical music from a complicated, mysterious form to one that is child-centered, fascinating, and so much fun! Before you know it, children will sing, dance, act and play to the music of Strauss, Mozart, Tchaikovsky and other great composers. It’s a brilliant sight to see; children transforming so quickly from apprehension to appreciation!

Teacher Guides…
Our Teacher Guides are designed for a successful outcome for those with little or no musical background. The 27 Orff-based lesson plans are clearly laid out in a dynamic ensemble featuring movement choreography, rhythmic play, listening questions, reproducible activity sheets, composer images, art activities, cross-curricular integration and FWC’s very own Music Maps – a visual presentation of music in an organized child-centered format. The guide for teachers also includes a CD and an instructional DVD that guarantees success demonstrating the teaching process and final outcome of each selection in a real classroom setting!

Just For Kids Guides…
Fun with Composers Just for Kids Guides are designed with the parent and child in mind. Large-font stories, composer and character coloring pages, art activities, Music Maps and a CD which includes orchestral music with fun-filled lyrics and a recording of the orchestral music as it was originally intended. Perfect for the school library or for any parent wishing to give the gift of music to their child.
For a limited time, Deborah is kindly offering a special 15% discount when you click on “NAMC” under “How did you hear about us” on the order page of her website: Fun with Composers. Review the complete program package, and see what others have to say about this dynamic classical music program.

If you have implemented Fun with Composers into your Montessori music curriculum, we would love to hear from you! The NAMC 3-6 Sensorial Development and Music Enrichment manual contains activities for introducing music into the Montessori Preschool/Kindergarten curriculum.

As much as possible, NAMC’s web blog reflects the Montessori curriculum as provided in its teacher training programs. We realize and respect that Montessori schools are unique and may vary their schedules and offerings in accordance with the needs of their individual communities. We hope that our readers will find our articles useful and inspiring as a contribution to the global Montessori community.
© North American Montessori Center - originally posted in its entirety at Montessori Teacher Training on Friday, July 24, 2009.