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If you’ve ever caught your little one banging on pots and pans like they’re leading a symphony, you know kids have an innate love for music. You can make music with just about anything, and kids definitely try too! With our pots and pans, kitchen spoons, boxes, tubs, and the list goes on. Children love music and will seek ways to make music in their lives.

Why not introduce them to the varying range of notes with glasses of water? It’s one of those simple, magical preschool music activities that turns everyday items into an orchestra. How do we achieve deep tones or high pitches? The size of something matters because of how vibrations travel. Read on for more ideas to turn your child’s curiosity into educational lessons all about music and sound.

As we dive into this fun world of preschool music activities, we’ll explore why music is such a powerhouse for young kids, recommend some great books to spark their interest, suggest types of music to play during playtime, and share a handful of other creative music crafts and activities. We’ll also get into the nitty-gritty of our star activity: the water xylophone. This isn’t just about making tunes—it’s a sneaky way to blend science and music, helping little minds grasp concepts like pitch and vibration without even realizing they’re learning. By the end, you’ll have a toolkit of ideas to make music a daily adventure in your home.

I Am In Need Of Music
by Elizabeth Bishop

I am in need of music that would flow
Over my fretful, feeling fingertips,
Over my bitter-tainted, trembling lips,
With melody, deep, clear, and liquid-slow.
Oh, for the healing swaying, old and low,
Of some song sung to rest the tired dead,
A song to fall like water on my head,
And over quivering limbs, dream flushed to glow!

There is a magic made by melody:
A spell of rest, and quiet breath, and cool
Heart, that sinks through fading colors deep
To the subaqueous stillness of the sea,
And floats forever in a moon-green pool,
Held in the arms of rhythm and of sleep.

Why Music is Important for Kids’ Development and How It Boosts Their Intelligence

Music isn’t just a fun pastime for preschoolers; it’s a cornerstone of their overall development. From the moment babies start cooing to nursery rhymes, music weaves its way into their world, supporting everything from emotional growth to physical coordination. For kids aged 3 to 5, preschool music activities like singing, dancing, or playing simple instruments help build neural pathways in the brain that are crucial for lifelong learning. Think about it: when your child claps along to a beat, they’re practicing rhythm, which strengthens their sense of timing and sequencing—skills that translate directly to reading and math later on.

One of the biggest perks is how music enhances language development. Songs introduce new vocabulary, rhyme, and patterns, making it easier for kids to grasp phonics and storytelling. I’ve seen this firsthand with my own boys. We emphasize reading and reciting poetry, as well as listening to varying types of music in our home and their vocabulary is rich for their age and their reading levels are well beyond grade level.

Music also fosters social-emotional skills. Different feelings can be tapped into depending on what the composer wants you to feel and kids are even more tuned into these feelings than adults are sometimes. When my eldest, Marty, was about 3 years old we were driving and listening to a classical music station on the radio. My husband and I weren’t paying very clos attention when Marty piped up from the back, “this song is scary. I don’t want to listen to it! Turn it off!”

Later, after further research we realized that the song was Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, which has a very haunting and dramatic melody. Overall, music can evoke various feelings of emotions such as empathy, fear, sadness, and more. Talk about an amazing way of expressing oneself.

Now, let’s talk intelligence boosting—music is like a superfood for the brain! Studies show that regular exposure to music can improve spatial reasoning, which is key for problem-solving and even geometry down the line. For instance, understanding how notes rise and fall in pitch helps kids visualize patterns, much like puzzles or building blocks. It also amps up memory; repeating lyrics or melodies trains working memory, making it easier to remember instructions or sequences in school. Emotionally, music regulates moods—upbeat tunes can energize a cranky toddler, while lullabies soothe bedtime jitters.

Physically, preschool music activities get those gross and fine motor skills firing. Shaking maracas works hand-eye coordination, while marching to a beat builds balance and spatial awareness. And don’t overlook creativity: music encourages improvisation, letting kids invent their own “songs” that boost divergent thinking. In essence, music isn’t a frill—it’s a practical tool that holistically boosts intelligence across cognitive, emotional, and physical domains. Incorporating it daily, even for 15 minutes, can yield big developmental dividends. So, grab those spoons and start tapping; your child’s brain will thank you!

Books About Music for Kids: Stories That Sing

Reading books about music is a fantastic gateway to preschool music activities, blending literacy with rhythm in a way that captivates young imaginations. These stories not only entertain but also introduce concepts like instruments, orchestras, beats, and emotions through music, making them perfect read-alouds before or after hands-on play.

Pokko and the Drum by Matthew Forsythe is a favorite of my boys and one that I adore. This book explores the world of music in a whimsical and beautiful way. Pokko, a young frog, discovers the power of her drum to bring joy (and a bit of chaos) to her family, highlighting how music can express feelings and unite people. The illustrations are stunning, and it’s a gentle nudge toward appreciating rhythm without overwhelming little listeners.

Zin! Zin! Zin! A Violin by Lloyd Moss. This alphabetical introduction to orchestra instruments builds from one lonely trombone to a full ensemble, teaching kids about harmony and ensemble playing. It’s rhythmic in its wording, almost like a song itself, and great for expanding vocabulary around music terms.

Meet the Orchestra by Ann Hayes is a vibrant introduction to musical instruments for preschoolers. It takes kids on a whimsical journey through an orchestra, personifying each instrument with charming animal characters—like a lion playing the trumpet or a mouse on the violin. The playful text and colorful illustrations make it easy for young readers to understand the roles of strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion, sparking curiosity about how music comes together.

88 Instruments by Chris Barton follows a young boy exploring a music store filled with, you guessed it, 88 instruments. Through bouncy, rhyming text, he tries everything from tubas to banjos, weighing the pros and cons of each with humor and excitement. The lively illustrations capture the joy of discovery, making it a perfect read to inspire kids to experiment with sounds and instruments in their own preschool music activities.

Another gem is The Listening Walk by Paul Showers, which takes a simple stroll and turns it into a symphony of everyday sounds—from birds chirping to leaves rustling. It encourages mindfulness and auditory awareness, tying perfectly into exploring music outside of instruments like our activity today using water glasses.

These books, with their vivid pictures and engaging narratives, make preschool music activities come alive off the page.

Types of Music to Listen To

Exposing preschoolers to different types of music broadens their horizons and enhances those developmental benefits we talked about. It’s not about forcing classical symphonies on a wiggly toddler; it’s about curating a playlist that matches moods and activities, making music a comforting constant in their day.

Classical music is a timeless choice for focus and calm. Composers like Mozart and Beethoven have pieces that are gentle yet structured, helping with concentration during crafts or quiet time. For example, Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik has a playful bounce that’s perfect for drawing or building blocks, while Beethoven’s Für Elise offers a soothing melody for winding down.

Folk music brings storytelling and cultural roots to your day which is great for imaginative play. American folk tunes like “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” encourage movement and narrative, while “This Land Is Your Land” by Woody Guthrie fosters a sense of community. Internationally, try Irish folk with The Chieftains’ lively jigs—think The Irish Washerwoman for energetic dancing that builds coordination. Additional suggestions: Sea Shanties, Cajun music, folk singers such as Peter, Paul, and Mary, Mary Hopkin, The Lumineers, and many more.

World music adds adventure, introducing rhythms from around the globe. African beats, like those in Miriam Makeba’s Pata Pata, are infectious for clapping and stomping, enhancing motor skills. Latin rhythms from La Bamba by Ritchie Valens get hips swaying and teach cultural diversity. For a softer vibe, Japanese koto music or Australian didgeridoo sounds can spark curiosity about instruments. Don’t be afraid to play music that is sung in different languages, these provide amazing opportunities for kids to hear vocal sounds from other languages that aren’t used their native speaking language.

As always don’t forget some songs specifically for kids. In our home we focus on songs that get us dancing or tie into a lesson. Think The Alphabet Song, I’m In the Lord’s Army, Old MacDonald, and so on.

Mix it up: Use classical for calm mornings, folk for storytime, and upbeat world tunes for playtime. Streaming services make it easy—create a family playlist and watch how different genres light up your child’s responses. This variety not only enriches preschool music activities but also nurtures a lifelong appreciation for diverse sounds.

Fun Music Activities and Crafts for Preschoolers

Preschool music activities don’t have to be complicated; sometimes, the simplest crafts double as instruments, sparking creativity and sensory exploration. Here are a few ideas to get you started, each one designed to engage little hands and ears without needing fancy supplies.

In our home we love the pan flute because of how easy it is to make and it’s durability. Similar to the xylophone different pitches are achieved based on the length of straws. Your child will love playing it by blowing across the top and you’ll love that the sound it makes is subtle!

One delightful option is crafting egg shaker maracas from plastic eggs filled with rice or beans, decorated with stickers or markers. These homemade shakers let kids explore rhythm by shaking along to songs, feeling the gentle vibrations that mimic rain or waves, all while practicing fine motor skills through the assembly.

Another crowd-pleaser is a paper plate tambourine, where kids glue plates together and fill with beads or beans. The jingling sound encourages experimentation with volume and tempo, turning snack time plates into a percussive delight that boosts coordination.

A drum craft is easy and provides hours of entertainment. All you need is an empty container, string, and glue! Your child will be tapping out a beat in no time.

For a visual twist, try ribbon wands made from sticks or dowels with colorful ribbons tied on. Twirling them to music helps with gross motor development, creating flowing patterns in the air that visualize beat and flow, perfect for dance parties.

A sensory favorite is the rainstick craft, using a paper towel carboard tube, poked with toothpicks, and filled with dried beans. When tilted, it produces a soothing rain-like sound, ideal for calming transitions or mimicking weather in music stories.

For something string-inspired, a simple rubber band guitar stretches bands over an old tissue box. Plucking the bands produces twangy notes, teaching tension and vibration basics through hands-on strumming.

Not looking for a craft but something that’s just buy and go? Purchase a xylophone for kids and let them play! The one we have I love because it comes with song cards that are easy to try out.

These preschool music activities and crafts are all about low-cost, high-engagement fun. For a comprehensive list with step-by-step guidance, head over to our post Music and Movement for Preschool. It’s packed with even more ideas to keep the beat going strong.

Why the Water Xylophone is an Excellent Activity to Combine Science and Music

What makes the water xylophone one of the best preschool music activities? It’s the perfect storm of science and music, sneaking in physics lessons while your child thinks they’re just playing. This activity demonstrates how sound works through vibrations and frequency, concepts that are foundational in both fields. By adjusting water levels, kids intuitively learn about pitch—higher with less water, lower with more—without textbooks or lectures. It’s hands-on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) disguised as a musical game, fostering curiosity and critical thinking.

Diving deeper into the science: sound is created by vibrations traveling through a medium, like air or water. When you tap a glass, the vibrations ripple through the water and glass walls. Less water means fewer molecules for the vibrations to push against, so they travel faster and produce a higher-pitched sound—think of it as a quick, zippy vibration hitting your ears at a higher frequency.

With more water, the vibrations have to navigate a denser, heavier mass, slowing them down and creating deeper, resonant tones. It’s like comparing a light jog through an empty field (high pitch) to trudging through thick mud (low pitch). This ties directly to real instruments, like xylophones where shorter bars vibrate faster for higher notes.

For preschoolers, this combo builds interdisciplinary skills: music enhances emotional expression, while the science angle sharpens observation and hypothesis-testing. “What if we add more water?” they might ask, leading to experiments that boost problem-solving. Plus, the visual appeal of colored water makes abstract ideas concrete. In a world where kids are bombarded with screens, this activity reconnects them to tangible cause-and-effect, proving education can be playful and profound.

A Water Xylophone is the Best of Preschool Music Activities

As far as preschool music activities go, this is a special one for my boys. They are 7, 5, and 4. Anything that involves water is already going to interest them. Then when music is thrown into the mix, it’s definitely a winner! You’ll love that the setup is simple. All you need are several clear glass glasses that are the same. But be sure that they are the same because otherwise the mass of the glasses will be different. You’ll have more factors to consider than simply water levels.

We use small mason jars to keep things consistent but any glass drinking glasses from a set will do. Additionally, I like to use food coloring to easily distinguish the water levels from each other. Lastly, you’ll need metal spoons, chopsticks, or something similar for tapping on the glass.

Set the glasses up in a row. Then pour water into each with a pitcher. Be sure to change the water level in ascending or descending order. Pour from glass to glass until the water levels are approximately changing the same each time. Then, add a drop of food coloring to each. Use a different color for each glass to achieve the full xylophone effect. Lastly, have your child stir to mix the colors in. You’ll want to demonstrate how to gently tap the glass on each jar. Ask your child to listen to the different tones. Compare the glass with the lowest water level to the glass with the highest. Play from lowest to highest quickly.

Test the various sounds and encourage discussion with questions. For example, “why does the glass with the most water give a deep, rich tone?” The vibrations depend on the mass they are having to travel through. The bigger or thicker the mass, the harder it is to move that object. In other words, the vibrations are slower and produce a low tone.

After you and your child have explored the world of musical notes through discussion and testing, it is time to let them be creative with their water xylophone. Lastly, monitor to ensure they’re tapping the glass gently. But mostly let them play with the water xylophone while you both sing along or clap your hands. Overall, make it fun and playful!

Creative Preschool Music Activities for Homeschool

Creating music is exciting and intriguing for 3-5 year old’s. Because of this preschool music activities should be fun and engaging. Water is an awesome addition to a lesson when practical and useful, in this case it’s perfect! This water xylophone lesson is among a week’s worth of preschool music activities, Xx is for Xylophone. You can also check out Dd is for Drum for more preschool music activities. Either week of lessons features free printables that include coloring pages, book suggestions, and play based learning preschool music activities.

In wrapping up, preschool music activities like the water xylophone remind us that learning thrives on play. Whether through books, playlists, crafts, or this watery activity, music nurtures growing minds in ways nothing else can. Give it a try this week—your home might just become the next concert hall!