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January is recorder season in my classroom, and the excitement of students having an instrument of their very own in their hands can’t be beat! As we dive into learning the recorder, students face many challenges on the path to a successful sound—from squeaks and overblowing to note reading and fine motor skills. That’s why it’s so important to have many strategies in our teacher toolbox to meet the needs of all learners. This week, I’m excited to share some tried-and-true approaches I use in my classroom to support students struggling with fine motor challenges, squeaks, or overblowing.
One saying I learned from Denise Gagne is, “If you squeak, you have a leak!” When we listen to our students, it’s important to check whether they’re having trouble fully covering the holes. We often talk about making a “circle stamp” with their fingerprint to seal the holes, but some students with fine motor challenges still struggle. Here are a few strategies to help them succeed.
Some students have trouble covering the back thumb hole. When we start B–A–G, every note needs that hole closed, which can be tricky! One tip that works really well is to put a small piece of painter’s tape over the hole and gives students instant success and less frustration for little fingers.
This strategy takes a bit more prep, but gives students a tactile way to “feel” the holes on the recorder. I keep a few of these recorders ready for students to borrow until they’re comfortable using their own instrument again.
I haven't been able to find the exact paint I used on this recorder, but this link has something similar: https://a.co/d/dGb0Qhr
Sometimes I have students who are eager to participate, love holding a recorder, and can play a few notes, but are still working on breath control, which can make the sound a bit challenging for the class. Mute flutes have been a great solution. These plastic pieces fit into the mouthpiece of the recorder and can be rotated to reduce the sound by up to 80 percent, allowing students to keep playing and everyone’s ears to stay happy.
These are unfortunately expensive. I purchased mine off Amazon Canada: https://a.co/d/hsCQaiD
Nuvo recorders are a great alternative to traditional recorders, as they feel more like pushing buttons than covering holes with fingerprints. The buttons do the work! I’ve purchased a few of these recorders and keep them available for students to borrow when needed.
Nuvo Recorders: https://www.nuvoinstrumental.com/products/recorder/
You may encounter students who can not physically hold, place fingers, or blow into the recorder. In these situations, consult with a learning specialist in your building first. Brainstorm some solutions, then discuss with the student what they are comfortable with. Below are some virtual options available on MusicplayOnline.
Watch the Video to Learn More! (Click on image below)
Virtual Recorder Features:
Choose between Baroque or German fingering systems
Play using your keyboard or by clicking/tapping notes on the screen
Select specific notes for students to focus on
Customize the note set by removing accidentals or adding sharps and flats
Glockenspiel Playalong Features:
Use with Recorder Kit 1
Select song and students can play along with the glockenspiel on the screen or keyboard controls.
Add accompaniment track
with Ruth McCartney
Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 @ 10:30-11:30 MST (60 Minutes)
A recorded version will be available if you are unable to watch live.
Join Ruth McCartney for a review of Awesome Ostinato, a Themes & Variations publication.
We wanted to take the opportunity to share some updates from the team: