Recorder
In third grade, students spend a lot of time learning note names on the staff, gaining rhythmic reading fluency, developing their singing voices, and playing and reading music. Students sing, dance, say, and play in a variety of different musical styles, languages, and cultures to help expand their musicianship skills.
In third grade, students spend a lot of time learning note names on the staff, gaining rhythmic reading fluency, developing their singing voices, and playing and reading music. Students sing, dance, say, and play in a variety of different musical styles, languages, and cultures to help expand their musicianship skills.
However, in January of the 3rd grade year, students get to combine all their musical skills together when they begin their recorder unit! At Horsehead 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. Students also play a number of songs with recorder and an Orff instrument ensemble (xylophone, metallophone, Glockenspiel, auxiliary percussion)!
The third graders play recorder in two concerts each year: one at school and one at the Big Flats Community Center Open house! What a fun way to give back to the community!
After practicing and learning all the Recorder Karate and ensemble songs, third graders put on a concert! Check out some pictures from the 2015-2016 school year concert!
The third graders play recorder in two concerts each year: one at school and one at the Big Flats Community Center Open house! What a fun way to give back to the community!
After practicing and learning all the Recorder Karate and ensemble songs, third graders put on a concert! Check out some pictures from the 2015-2016 school year concert!
Recorder Compositions
After learning how to play the recorder through the Recorder Karate program (click HERE for more information about Recorder Karate), students combine all their musical skills and create their own recorder composition. Students write a ten measure piece of music that reflects a word, poem, or animal that they decided to write about. Through this process, students reflect on their personal playing skill and preferences, and create a piece of music that is customized to their own unique talents and likes! Check out Mrs. Comer's class working on their compositions!
Part Singing
In conjunction with learning how fluently read music, 3rd grade students also spend a lot of time learning how to sing in parts. We start the year by singing lots of rounds and partner songs. These songs range from Row Row Row Your Boat to multi-cultural songs in different languages. Through this process, students learn how to be independent musicians, as well as how to work as a team to reach a common goal. Students will often reflect on their own performances and complete a self or group evaluation. Click HERE to look at an example of one of our self-evaluation worksheets!
Check out Mrs. Comer's class singing our Hello Song in a two part round!
In conjunction with learning how fluently read music, 3rd grade students also spend a lot of time learning how to sing in parts. We start the year by singing lots of rounds and partner songs. These songs range from Row Row Row Your Boat to multi-cultural songs in different languages. Through this process, students learn how to be independent musicians, as well as how to work as a team to reach a common goal. Students will often reflect on their own performances and complete a self or group evaluation. Click HERE to look at an example of one of our self-evaluation worksheets!
Check out Mrs. Comer's class singing our Hello Song in a two part round!
Community Singing and Recorder Playing
A big part of our success as a school comes from the help and support of the Big Flats community. So each year as a way to give back to the community that does so much for our school, the students perform at community events. Third graders have the opportunity to sing and play their recorders at multiple functions at the Big Flats Community Center.
On December 17, 2016 the third graders went caroling at the Big Flats Community Center for the 1st Annual Winter Festival. For this event, students hand selected the songs for the concert program and created a set list! Check out Mrs. DiPetta's class practicing to sing at the Community Center!
