Free Musical Instrument Matching Game Printable

The musical instrument matching game is a fun and engaging way to help young kids learn to recognize common instruments while practicing focus and memory skills.

We’ve used this during music lessons at home, and it’s always a hit—especially with kids who love hands-on learning.

If your child enjoys free printable memory games, this one adds a creative twist with colorful illustrations of drums, guitars, flutes, and more.

Flat lay of a printable musical instrument matching game for kids, featuring illustrated cards of children playing instruments like harp, flute, piano, clarinet, cello, bagpipes, drums, maracas, saxophone, trumpet, and guitar. Some cards show colorful swirl patterns on the back, while others are face-up showing either instruments or characters playing them.

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Table of Contents

How to Use the Music Matching Game Printable

This free memory game is a great way to add some fun to your homeschool music curriculum—or just enjoy a quiet, screen-free activity with your kids.

Supplies Needed:

Cardstock (regular paper works, but images may show through)
Scissors or a paper cutter
Laminator (optional for durability)

Overhead view of printed musical instrument matching game sheets for kids, showing cartoon illustrations of instruments and children playing them. Instruments include violin, saxophone, trumpet, guitar, harp, flute, piano, clarinet, cello, bagpipes, drums, and maracas. The sheets include simple instructions for cutting and playing the memory game, with matching instrument-only cards and character cards labeled with the instrument names.

How to Set Up the Game:

The musical instrument matching game includes 24 illustrated instruments across 2 pages. To play, you’ll need to print the pages twice so each image has a matching pair. We recommend printing on cardstock for best results.

Once printed, cut along the borders to separate each card. We often decorate the back of each card before cutting—it’s a fun extra step that makes the game feel more personalized.

If you’re laminating, do it before cutting to save time. I usually use a paper cutter for clean, quick edges, but scissors work just fine.

How to Play:

Lay all 48 cards face down on a flat surface. For younger kids, arrange them in rows (we like 8×6); older kids can handle a more scattered layout.

A printable musical instrument matching game is displayed mid-cut on a paper trimmer, featuring cartoon kids playing instruments like harp, flute, piano, clarinet, cello, bagpipes, drums, maracas, saxophone, trumpet, and guitar. Some cards show individual instruments or children labeled with instrument names, while others display colorful swirl designs on the back.

Players take turns flipping two cards at a time. If they match—either two of the same instrument or an instrument paired with a picture of someone playing it—they keep the set. If not, flip them back and let the next player try.

The player with the most matches at the end wins!

Memory-style musical instrument matching game in progress, with several cards flipped to reveal cartoon illustrations of kids playing instruments like harp, saxophone, clarinet, bagpipes, and piano. Matching cards show just the instruments, and unflipped cards display colorful swirl patterns in purple, blue, green, and yellow.

We’ve used both types of matching (instrument-to-instrument and instrument-to-player), and either works well—choose whichever fits your learners best.

Want more matching fun? Check out our free clothes memory game printable—perfect for practicing early vocabulary and fine motor skills!

Educational Benefits of a Music Memory Game

Playing a musical instrument matching game isn’t just entertaining—it helps young kids build key learning skills. Some of the most valuable benefits include:

Visual recognition: Kids begin to identify instruments like tambourines, trumpets, and violins through repetition.
Memory development: Matching pairs strengthens short-term memory and recall.
Vocabulary growth: Hearing and saying the names of each instrument builds musical language.
Focus and attention: Flipping cards and remembering locations helps kids concentrate.
Confidence-building: Success with simple matches boosts self-esteem.
Music appreciation: Kids connect images to sounds, laying a foundation for music education.

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Our Top 3 Musical Instruments for Preschoolers

If your child loves this music memory game, here are a few favorite beginner-friendly instruments to extend the fun:

Pound & Tap Bench – Combines a xylophone with a hammer toy to encourage rhythm and cause-effect play.
Wooden Egg Shakers – Perfect for tiny hands and ideal for introducing basic rhythm.
Mini Tambourine – A fun, durable way for preschoolers to explore beats and sound.

Get the Music Memory Game Printable Here!

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Last Updated on 24 April 2025 by Clare Brown