We have talked with Danni Wei from Blue Jay Montessori about her experience of integrating vinyl record player into the Montessori classroom.
Danni discusses how the tactile and sensory experience of vinyl records enhances the learning environment for her young students. From selecting culturally diverse music to encouraging student interaction with the medium, Danni offers practical tips and reflects on the joy and discovery that vinyl brings to the classroom.
Join us as we delve into a conversation that harmonizes education, nostalgia, and the timeless impact of music on learning.
Katherine: Could you tell us the story of how the vinyl record player appeared in your classroom?
Danni: I’ve owned this vinyl record player since my college days. I bought it for $40 on Craigslist! Our school is also our home, so the player was already a part of the classroom before the classroom even existed.
I’ve always loved the physical feel and smell of records. They’re similar to old books, but for music-enthusiasts like me. Since Montessori is all about refining of the senses, what a learning experience it would be if children could see the large, beautifully designed covers, touch the ridges of the vinyls, and listen to the various music in various languages.
Those thoughts are what prompt me to include the spontaneous listening sessions into our routine.
Katherine: How do you integrate its use into your classroom routine? Are children allowed to operate the player independently, or is it used exclusively during group listening sessions?
Danni: The music player in our classroom can play vinyl records, CDs, cassette tapes, and radio. It is located near the glass sliding door that leads to the outdoor play area. A few vinyl records are placed inside the cultural area for easy access.
Occasionally, during transition periods when children are washing their hands, getting ready to go outside or coming back inside, I use the music player to play these records for them. I also show them how to place the needle gently on the records and use the knob to adjust the volume. Since the records are usually of short duration and the player turns off on its own, they are perfect for transitioning periods and make the process more enjoyable for the children.
Katherine: How do you select the records played in the classroom? Do you focus on specific genres, artists, or themes?
Danni: I have gathered vinyl records imported from various countries, so I would make a display on the cultural shelf. As we are currently studying Europe, I will showcase a few records related to this continent. The music available in the work area mostly consists of German, French, and Italian music. I usually try to diversify the genres, so children can listen to a wide range of genres, from jazz music to even city pop!
Katherine: How involved are the children in selecting the records to be played? Do they have the opportunity to explore the collection and choose what they listen to?
Danni: My students are around 2.5-3 years old, and they enjoy exploring vinyl records based on their sleeve covers. The selection is on the shelf for them to look at and flip through. When they show interest in a particular sleeve cover, I offer to play that vinyl record during transition times.
Sometimes they like it, sometimes they’re indifferent, and other times they ask me to stop playing. In those latter cases, I simply say, “Thank you for giving it a listen!”
Danni: One time, a child who loves horses saw horse patterns on a vinyl sleeve and was fascinated by the cover art. I asked if she would like me to play that record (it was during transition time), and she kept saying, “Listen! Listen!”
Just last week, one of my students noticed the Eiffel Tower on an album cover. That child most likely recognized the structure from our study of France.
Katherine: What are some of the top favorite records among the children? Are there specific songs or albums that they request more frequently?
Danni: A couple of children danced to the easy listening, old-timey music from American musical film classics, such as Jerome Kern’s “Roberta” (Columbia Records, 1965).
We studied Asia last month since it was the Lunar New Year, and a child kept requesting マクロス Macross 88-92 Sailorwave III (Neoncity Records). It was an album that I had hidden away due to it being limited at the time, but my daughter somehow found it one day and opened it. I’m glad she did because now we enjoy listening to it every so often. For some reason, the cover must be very appealing to some children. We also own a CD version that they love to flip through as well.
Katherine: Can you share any memorable moments or reactions from the students when they used the record player?
Danni: An 8-month-old baby joined our class one day and had just recently learned how to stand up. She saw me use the player before and mimicked me by turning a knob. It started playing the radio. She turned another knob and switched the channel to a Spanish station. It sounded like some kind of market sale pitch or an auction. She was so surprised at the discovery and so pleased with herself that she started bobbing her head with her mouth wide open. Everyone who was present bursted out laughing.
Katherine: Besides music, do you also have records that contain stories for example?
Danni: I have a collection of cassette tapes that contain only story-based tracks; however, I also possess some opera records that combine both music and storytelling.
One of the German albums I own has a funny moment when the narrator starts snoring halfway through one of the soundtracks, which made us laugh.
Another one of my personal favorites is “Peter and the Wolf, Op. 67” (Twinkle Records) which is a “symphonic tale.” I used to play the CD version for my older students when I first got thrown to the wolves, sorry for the pun, the first year I began my teaching career, and I had them act out different characters. I haven’t tried it with my younger students, but it is a wonderful opportunity to help children distinguish the different sounds made by various instruments.
Danni Wei is the founder of Blue Jay Montessori, a family learning center located in Yucaipa, California, that offers parent-child classes and caregiver workshops for children aged 16 months to 6 years.
She holds an AMS certification in early childhood education and is passionate about helping families incorporate Montessori principles into their daily routines.
Danni’s love for music, education, and art was nurtured from a young age by her family, inspiring her to earn a Bachelor’s degree in the arts and a Master’s degree in education. In addition to her educational achievements, she is a published illustrator and the proud mother of a wonderful two-year-old, who brings her the joys of parenthood every day.