Blog Posts

Starting Recorders

Denise Gagne

Beginning the RecorderRecorder

January is the month when many teacher’s decide to teach a recorder unit. My own preference, is to start recorder in January of Grade 4. The students have had another year of musical instruction, the hands are bigger, and they progress more quickly than students who begin in Grade 3.

Before beginning the recorder your students should be competent at the following:

- Reading rhythms
- Reading notes using letter names
- have good handwriting skills

If the students have good handwriting, they probably have the fine muscle dexterity that is needed to play the recorder. Don’t let parents buy a recorder for the child who is in kindergarten! Kids who start too young often play with the wrong hand (the right hand) at the top of the recorder and develop terrible playing position and skills.

Should you use school recorders or have students order their own?

In some schools that are in areas of high financial need, asking students to buy their own recorder is not possible. However, if at all possible, students should have their own recorder. Even in low income areas, you can offer the students the option of having their own recorder.

What if the school cannot charge compulsory fees!compulsory fees!

In some provinces, schools are no longer allowed to charge a fee for students to participate in a curricular subject. If your school does not allow fees, but still offers students the option to order books from Scholastic, the music teacher should also be able to offer the recorder as an optional purchase for students. If students don’t purchase one, you’ll have to give them a “loaner” recorder, but the majority of students will still purchase one if given the opportunity.

Dear Parents:

Students at this school have the opportunity to purchase reading books from their classroom teachers through Scholastic book order forms. As the music teacher in this school, I’d like to give the students the option to purchase their own recorder, student book and practice CD. If you wish to purchase the optional package that is offered through the school please fill out the form and return it to school with a check for $10 payable to

___________ School. This will be the students property, and the student will own it. The package consists of a good quality recorder, a student book and a CD to practice with at home. Students who do not purchase the package, will be loaned a recorder and booklet by the school to use in class.

Sincerely Yours,

Music Teacher

Students name:
_____________________________

Phone:
_____________________________

Homeroom teacher:
_____________________________

When handing recorders out to students who have ordered them, label both the recorder and the case with the students name and grade. If one gets left behind in the music room, you’ll know who is missing a recorder.

Here are the first 5 of my Hot Tips for Teaching recorder, along with some newly posted YouTube videos for some of the tips.

Kids playing when you talk?
* If you play before I say, I’ll take your instrument away!
Kids overblowing
* blow warm/cool air onto your hands. Ask - which will sound better? Warm air!
* blow bubbles
Ask - if you are blowing bubbles how should you blow? Gently - blow too hard and it breaks.
* model poor and good sound * talk softly and play CD tracks softly * blow through straws
Squeaky notes, especially on low D or C.D or C.
* Squeaks mean leaks. Cover holes with your fingerprint - not the finger pad
Kids with the wrong hand at the top of the recorder
* put a silly band or scrunchy on the child's left hand, then ask the children seated next to them to help watch
Kids who forget their recorder at home at home
* loan a recorder, but ask for collateral to secure the loan--- a shoe. They get the shoe back when they bring in their agenda with a note to mom or dad. Backpack rule: Keep your recorder in your backpack