Listening Maps!

The very worthwhile and informative book Making Music in Montessori (outDecember15th2020preorderyourcopy now) introduces in chapter 11 a follow-up idea in which children can construct listening maps for pieces of music in your classroom’s music library. The example used in the book is the "Danse Macabre” by Camille Saint-Saëns. A seven-year-old child in our class created a listening map for that particular piece, and so I thought I’d share it with you.

Here he is working earnestly, taking inspiration from the book Dance Macabre by Anna Harwell-Calenza (details on where to find that book can be found in the aforementioned tome Making Music in Montessori). After listening to the piece and reading through the story, he and I talked through the events of the piece. Then he set to work drawing a big snaking track on a piece of large poster paper.

Next, he filled in the spaces on the track with sequential drawings that correspond to events in the music. I helped him sketch out some of the ghosts and skeletons on his listening map, but only as a model. He did most of the drawing, as you can see from this drawing of Mr. Death.

I love how Mr. Death’s head is too small for his huge hood.

Here’s another detail. I don’t know how those ghosts can get their spectral hands around the neck of the cello.

And here’s the finished map. All he needs to do now is add some color.

When it’s finished, this listening map will go into our classroom library so that other children can listen to Dance Macabre and follow along.