Teaching Recorder To Primary Beginners...., advice and tips needed please! Options

[aspiringmusicteacher]

Hi everyone!

I have my first school position teaching Recorder to 2 groups of 15 children, one group being Reception/KS1 (don't get me started on teaching Reception children recorder, I'm against it personally as I don't think they have the dexterity, but there are only 4 out of the 15), and another group being KS2.

I'm looking through all the tutor books I have.... Recorder from the Beginning, Recorder Magic, Abracadabra.... and perhaps it's because I'm too afraid to develop my own ideas, but I've suddenly frozen up and don't know what to do! I keep asking myself the same old questions... should I use 2 different tutor books according to the 2 different age groups, perhaps Recorder Magic for the yong'uns and Recorder from the Beginning for the older ones? Should I write teaching plans in advance? How on earth do I start?

I think it's because I'm panicking, but any advice on how to approach the first couple of lessons, no matter how small, would be much appreciated. I've never taught a large group before and I'd really appreciate some guidance!

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[petrat]

Remember that children love repetition too. Play through their repertoire of favourite tunes often and they will love it. With younger ones you need not be in any hurry to get them playing from musical notation. When they understand how to play you might begin to introduce some reading work. Practising with the recorders in chin position is very useful too as they will be able to sing note names, song words and rhythms whilst fingering too.