In January of the 3rd grade year, students begin their recorder unit. The school district purchases every 3rd grade student a brand-new Baroque Soprano Recorder of their own to use through the year and take home in June. These recorders are a wonderful way for the students to prepare for playing band and orchestra instruments in fourth grade.
At Horseheads Central School we use a recorder method called “Recorder Karate.” As the students master playing certain songs on the recorders, they earn recorder belts, progressing from white (easiest) to black (hardest). Students pass belts by earning a score of at least an 8 out of 10 on the Recorder Karate Rubric found here at the bottom of the page. Each student works through the Recorder Karate program at his or her own pace and are graded on their effort, preparedness, and participation.
Recorders at home:
Once students have mastered the basics of the recorder, they will be allowed to take them home to practice. Parents and students should designate a specific time and place to practice the recorder to establish as practice routine. This will help ensure student success with the recorder and a band or orchestra instrument in fourth grade.
Parents should also sit with students as they practice for encouragement and to help remind them of recorder basics. You do not have to be a musician to know if something sounds good or to give a helpful tip to make something sound better. A little bit of encouragement and guiding force goes a long with learning to play an instrument.
Recorder Basics:
- Left hand always on top
- Sit up tall with good posture
- Cover the holes with the pads of your fingers (Remember, leaks squeak and be a member of the finger moon club!)
- Blow softly (slow warm air – less is best. “Never play louder than lovely”)
- Tongue each note (say too with your tongue before each note)
It is also helpful to remind students that the recorder is an instrument and not a toy. Recorders should only make soft beautiful sounds and not loud piercing noises.
To aid in practicing, there is also a website for the Recorder Karate program, where your student can play along with the same recorded accompaniments we use in class. The website is located here. (https://www.musick8.com/rkdojo/rksounds.php)
**The username is karate and the password is rubric
It is very important that all third graders bring their recorder and recorder book/folder to every music class. If students do not bring their instrument or music, they will have to use a practice recorder without a mouthpiece, and they will not be able to test for their next belt. Student’s grades may also be affected if they do no bring their recorder to music class for 5 or more classes each marking period.
The third grade teachers are very good at reminding students when music days are in the six-day-rotation. However, most students find success in remembering their instrument by placing the recorder and recorder folder back in their school bag right after practicing.
Recorder Concerts
Each year, Big Flats Elementary holds a 3rd Grade Recorder Concert in June to celebrate the students’ success in learning a new instrument. Please join us in June to celebrate your child’s new talent!
Third graders are also invited to perform at community events, such as the Big Flats Community Center Open house in June.
Differentiated Recorder Instruction
As a way for all students to participate in the recorder unit, Miss Walruth and the Special Education team have found and App for the IPad that can simulate recorder playing! The App is for students who are not physically able to play the recorder due to medical or physical constraints. The App allows these students to work through the Recorder Karate program by pushing the color coded fingerings on the IPad screen. When the picture of the recorder is touched, each button or fingering produces a pre-recorded notes from an actual recorder. This allows all students in the class to play the recorder and for it to sound the same!