Recorders

The 4th graders started recorder this month. As always, I spent a day showing them the different sizes of recorders. We talk about soprano, alto, tenor, and bass and how they all sound higher or lower. I always save the bass recorder for last and the kids get so excited when they see how big it is! Then, I take a picture of my smallest 4th grader holding the recorder so we can see how big it really is. :)

A recorder consort!

So sad! :)

Recorders

4th graders are so excited! This week, we are starting recorders! I always like to start off the unit by showing the kids how a recorder is made. I love the Discovery Channel "How It's Made" videos. Here is the one I show the kids. How It's Made-Recorder

After showing the video, I show the kids 4 different sizes of wooden recorders. I have no idea where they came from, but I was pleasantly surprised to find them in a box one year when I was cleaning my classroom! I always start by showing them the smallest one first, and then work my way up to the biggest one. I wish I had a camera to show you their faces when they see it! I play "Hot Cross Buns" on each one so they can hear the difference in pitch between the sizes.

I know some people joke about the awfulness or recorders, but it is one of my favorite parts of the year! It's great to see kids get so excited about playing an instrument and it is the one thing we do that combines all of the stuff we have learned in music up to this point. For some, it is the only instrument they will ever play.

Recorder Karate

The 4th graders are just finishing up Recorder Karate and it has been great. We study recorders for about a month and a half (or until the first few students reach black belt). We practice 2 days a week together and then test in class the 3rd day. I also allow students to come in after school on music days to test.

I am always looking for new ways for the students to track their belts, so here is a picture of what I tried this year. Each student had a name tag and they moved it from cupboard to cupboard as they passed each belt. They really enjoyed moving their karate person along. I only had 7 cupboards, so brown and black belt are both on the last door. Here's how it looked:

 

 

The last week, we did a composition project. After composing their piece, each student performed it for the class. Here is the sheet I used: