Montessori Inspiration Weekend!

We are offering a weekend of inspiration regarding Art and Music in Montessori on 23 & 24 May 2025!  On Friday there are optional talks and tours, on the Saturday we will enjoy lectures offered by AMI Montessori Trainers on Art and Music in primary Montessori education at the International Montessori Institute. 

Registration is now open! 

Montessori trainers Elina Rautasalo and Bo Mynett, will share their wealth of knowledge within this theme.

Register quickly because there is limited space available! 

We look forward to seeing you there!

You can register here: 

Art and Music

In an AMI Montessori setting, Art and Music are crucial for stimulating the senses and fostering cognitive, emotional, and physical growth. They help children refine their understanding of the world by introducing rhythm, tone, movement, and creativity. Music supports coordination, pattern recognition, and auditory skills, while art nurtures fine motor skills and self-expression.

As children grow, art and music enhance emotional expression, social connections, and independence. They also lay the foundation for language development and academic learning, helping children build confidence and joy. These experiences foster a deep connection to creativity and the world around them, supporting lifelong learning and a strong sense of self.

Dr. Montessori viewed art and music as part of a broader cosmic education for children aged 6-12, meant to be integrated into the classroom and guided by the teacher, not isolated as separate subjects. Artistic expression, a universal form of communication, develops both creativity and critical thinking, strengthening children’s connection to the world and their place within it.

How touching it is that man has this instinct, this joy and sentiment for music. Through the little children these things, art and music, remain forever with humanity – over time music has been recombined and developed throughout humanity. ” 

Maria Montessori , The 1946 London Lectures

What will the weekend be like?

On Friday the 23rd of May 2025 we offer an optional program:

There will be a possibility to visit the brand new location of Casa school (a Bilingual Montessori School in Pijnacker). This location includes a Nido, Toddler community, the Children’s House, the Lower Elementary, and the Upper Elementary.

Further, there is a possibility to visit AMI head office in Amsterdam and join a talk by Joke Verheul regarding her collaboration with Carolina Montessori on the Montessori Archives. Her talk will be in Amsterdam at AMI head office. 

On Saturday the 24th of May 2025 after check-in we will have a Children’s house lecture series (3 – 6 years old) and an Elementary lecture series (6 – 12 years old) on Art and Music. 

These two lecture series will take place simultaneously. You can choose a lecture series of your interest. 

The detailed program can be found on our Program page. 

AMI 3-6 trainer – Elina Rautasalo

Elina Rautasalo is an AMI 3-6 Trainer with over 30 years of experience in the field of education, working with both children and adults in her native Finland and abroad. 

Her Montessori journey began in London at the Maria Montessori Training Organisation, (now the Maria Montessori Institute), in the early 1990s. Elina was a member of the MMI’s training team for over 20 years.

In addition to London, Elina has directed AMI’s 3-6 courses in South-East Asia as well as in the Czech Republic and Switzerland.

Elina is an AMI examiner and lectures internationally. She has given seminars and workshops in various countries in Europe, as well as in Asia, North and South America. 

In her spare time, she enjoys books, music and playing the violin.

AMI 6-12 trainer – Bo Mynett

Bo Mynett is an AMI 6-12 Trainer with 13 years of experience in the field of education, working with both children and adults.

She has been working as an Elementary Montessori guide in the United States (San Mateo) as well as in the Netherlands at Casa Bilingual Montessori School, where she returned as a guide in the Elementary after two years of Training for Trainers in Bergamo, Italy, under the guidance of Baiba Krumins Grazzini.

Last year Bo was the trainer of the first AMI 6-12 Diploma course ever held in the Netherlands. 

In her spare time she rides her horse and she makes materials for her classroom. 

How much does it cost?

Registration and fees for this weekend are:

EARLY BIRD (until the 31st of March) – €180
REGULAR BIRD (in April) –  €185
LATE BIRD (1st of May till 11th of May) – €190
LAST MINUTE BIRD (11th of May till 22nd of May) – €195

Payment can made directly after registration via the registration page. You can pay by iDeal or Credit Card. 

The fee covers the full program of the Montessori Inspiration Weekend.

Although the visit of Casaschool (Pijnacker) as well as the talk by Joke Verheul are optional, they are included in the ticket fee. Some people prefer to come to the lectures only since they have been to Casa and/or AMI before, this is totally fine! However, no reduction of the event fee will be provided in this case.

Travel to and from Casa & IMI will have to be arranged by each participant individually. Look for public transport options here

Coffee & tea, sweet treats, a lovely lunch and drinks with bites are included! We recommend/ ask you to stay after the last lecture for the drinks so we can meet, share, connect and inspire each other!

Bringing your full school team?! Ask for the group discount code at events@imi-global.nl for a discount according to the group size!

Event locations

Friday 23rd of May 9:30-11:00
Casa School

Groen van Prinstererlaan 1
2641 CA Pijnacker
0031 15 2010376

Friday 23rd of May 15:30-17:00
AMI Head Office

Koninginneweg 161
1075 CN Amsterdam
0031 20 6798932

Saturday 24th of May 9:00-17:00
International Montessori Institute

Oude Delft 114
2611 CG Delft
0031 642067136

Impressions from previous Inspriation Weekends at IMI