Recorders

    

        I have been teaching recorders for the past few months in the 5th grade. I am not huge on using instruments in the classroom, I find them inhibiting.  My philosophy of music education is "get the kids singing young, gives them lots of opportunities to perform, and encourage them to make a joyful noise!" they have middle and high school to play instruments, but if they are strong singers (or at least have the fundamentals) then they will be more likely to pick up an instrument later on....

         HOWEVER, I do enjoy teaching recorders in 5th because they get a taste of hands on "music reading" without the words aiding as a guiding crutch. They might then decide "I'd like to be in band next year because recorders rocked!" or they might say, "this is disgusting with the spit and all...I'll pick a string instrument!" or decide to join choir instead. I have students who have said all three.

Poster I created to keep up for reference (made in about 5 mins, so it's pretty crappy.)

Here is how I teach recorders:

1.      Day 1: Distribute recorders and "handbooks" I've put together (which I have available, just e-mail me if you want a copy.) I give them a speech about responsibility and discipline: “You need to take care of your instrument, bring it to class, and keep track of your booklet.”  We then learn B (1), A (2), G (3).

2.      Day 2: Read several lines of nonsense music that has B, A, & G in them.

1.      I work one-on-one with students who keep getting "the squeaky sound" (which is almost always because they are rolling their pointer finger off the hole when they play A and G.) 

2.      I show them how hard to blow into their recorders by holding up a tissue and blowing really hard "this is what you're doing, see the tissue flap all around?" Then I blow very gently and it hardly moves a bit, "This is what you should be doing, it will improve your sound if you can control your airflow!" This trick pretty much solves all my headache-sounds.

3.      Day 3: Start testing the first belt in Recorder Karate (Musick8.) From there I set up testing periods in the mornings before the bell rings, and during their weekly class period. And they pretty much teach themselves. It's a great little method, in love.

4.      Days 4-8: I keep testing karate levels and I give them several short rhythm and note ID quizzes along the way, to make sure they are learning the note names and not just the "hole numbers."

1. Buy lunch for the first black belt winner in each class and all of a sudden there is this incredible race to the finish!

Simple and to the point. I've attached some pictures of my aids I've created.

 

Just a reminder I keep up for the kids to remember the note names

 

The "Yellow Belt" music I turned into a poster so we could learn it as a class

Plank Publishing has great quizzes that teach right to the point for these kids. This worksheet clears up all the plroblems they come across in their recorder music. Check back soon for my lesson plan, it turned out really well.