Material name: Bells Staff Boards Set
Area: Sensorial & Music
Purpose & developmental benefits:
The Bells Staff Boards Set supports children in connecting musical pitch with notation on the staff, extending their experience from listening and sound discrimination to reading, understanding, and reproducing musical symbols. Clearly reflecting the Montessori progression from concrete to abstract, this set helps children understand that music is not only heard but can also be recorded, organized, and read in a logical and orderly way.
Skills supported:
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Connects pitch with note placement on the musical staff
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Recognizes the structure of the five-line staff, distinguishing lines and spaces
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Becomes familiar with musical clefs, primarily the treble clef in early stages
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Identifies and names musical notes (do–re–mi / C–D–E, etc.)
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Develops basic music-reading skills
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Strengthens sequential thinking, logic, concentration, and musical sensitivity
Recommended age:
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Minimum: from 3 years (introductory exploration of the staff, lines and spaces, and sound association)
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From 5 years and up: full use in combination with the Montessori Bells Set for accurate note reading and placement
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Can be extended in the 6–9 age group, depending on the child’s readiness
Material & design:
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A set of multiple staff boards made of wood or other durable materials, in line with Montessori standards
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Clearly displays the five staff lines and spaces for hands-on work
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Designed for use on a table or work mat
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Supports self-correction through listening and visual comparison of note placement
Use in the classroom / at home:
Used in the Music area together with the Montessori Bells Set. Children listen to a bell, identify its pitch, and place the bell or corresponding note card in the correct position on the staff while naming and reading the note. Teachers typically introduce and guide the work using the Three-Period Lesson.
At home, this set is best suited for children who already have experience working with the Bells and who have access to a quiet environment that supports deep listening and musical exploration.
