The 2 Bells Mounted: E is a Educational Materials Montessori material designed for children aged 3-6, crafted by Nienhuis Montessori to AMI standards.
This set of two mounted bells, tuned to the musical note E, forms an essential component of the Montessori bells material for auditory discrimination and musical education. Each bell features a polished metal dome that produces a clear, resonant tone when struck, mounted on a stable square base for precise placement during matching and grading activities. The identical pitch allows children to explore concepts of sound matching, develop acute listening skills, and begin their journey into musical notation.
“The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind.”— Maria MontessoriEducation and Peace
“The hands are the instruments of man's intelligence.”
— Maria Montessori, The Absorbent Mind
The 2 Bells Mounted: E exemplifies Maria Montessori's profound understanding of how children develop auditory discrimination through hands-on exploration. These identical E-tuned bells address the child's sensitive period for refinement of the senses, particularly hearing, which peaks between ages 3-6. The polished metal domes produce precise, resonant tones that isolate a single auditory quality - pitch - allowing children to focus their attention without distraction. By providing two bells of the same note, this material creates opportunities for the child to discover the concept of 'same' through their own sensory experience. The square mounting bases ensure stability during striking, eliminating variables that might confuse the learning process. This deliberate simplicity in the bell design reflects Montessori's principle that materials should isolate difficulty - here, the child concentrates solely on matching sounds without concerns about handling or positioning. The clear E tone becomes a reference point in the child's auditory memory, building the foundation for later work with the complete bell sets and eventual music notation.
Each order includes everything needed for proper presentation and long-term use.
Follow the Montessori method of presentation for optimal child development.
Strike the first E bell gently with the mallet, listening until the sound completely fades
Strike the second E bell with the same gentle motion
Alternate striking each bell, allowing the child to observe they produce the same sound
Invite the child to strike each bell themselves, discovering the matching sounds
Play a listening game where you strike one bell while the child closes their eyes, then they find and strike the matching bell
Each material supports multiple areas of child development simultaneously.
Matching identical pitches develops acute listening skills and prepares for more complex sound grading work.
Introduction to specific musical notes builds understanding of pitch relationships and notation systems.
Focused listening to subtle sound qualities enhances attention span and mindful awareness.
Isolating the sense of hearing through bell work strengthens overall sensory perception and discrimination abilities.
Designed for child-sized hands
Professional tips from AMI-trained guides to maximize the educational value of this material.
“Present the E bells early in the sensorial sequence, as matching identical sounds is easier than discriminating different pitches”
Observe whether children naturally close their eyes when listening - this indicates deepening auditory concentration
Use the E bells to assess readiness for the complete bells material by noting accuracy in matching activities
Create a dedicated quiet space for bell work where environmental sounds won't interfere with pitch discrimination
Everything you need to know about this material.
Having two identical E-tuned bells is fundamental for the Montessori matching exercise, where children first learn to identify when two sounds are the same before progressing to distinguishing different pitches. This builds a strong foundation for auditory discrimination.
Children can practice sound matching by striking both bells and confirming they produce the same tone, play memory games where they listen to one bell then find its match, and use them as part of the complete bell set for pitch grading exercises and early musical composition.
The bells refine auditory discrimination skills, develop concentration through careful listening, enhance hand-eye coordination when striking, and isolate the sense of hearing as children focus solely on sound quality rather than visual differences.
The bells feature polished metal domes that produce clear, resonant tones mounted on stable square bases. Clean the metal surfaces regularly with a soft cloth to maintain their shine and sound quality, and ensure the striker is stored properly to prevent damage.
These E bells are part of the larger Montessori bells set that typically includes 13 pairs of bells spanning a chromatic scale. They can be used alone for initial matching work or integrated with other bell pairs for advanced exercises in pitch recognition and musical intervals.
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