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!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

[petrat]

I think that you need to write a short lesson plan. Talk about the instrument a bit first and show them how to put it together gently by twisting the sections. Tell them what the main parts are called; Head joint, body, foot joint, window, thumb hole and finger holes and then play them something jolly.
Begin with lots of practice holding the recorder around the foot joint with their right hands and then using their left hands on top. Check that they are all doing it correctly and keep checking this at every lesson until it becomes automatic.
Give them lots of simple tunes to play by rote at first. Get them to tongue from the start too. When they can all play B do some echo playing work with them. You play a few notes and then they play after you, copying what you do.
When they can manage B and A they could play Rain, Rain, Go Away.
Don't be in too much of a hurry to teach them reading. That will follow soon enough. Get them playing first.
Good luck. I am sure that you will have lots of fun.

[Bagpuss]

I start with rhythm games introducing crotchet, quaver & crotchet rest with rhythm names and actions rather than using the scary proper names. I have large rhythm cards for these games and these rhythms cover you for the first 2 tunes in Recorder Magic.

Then I introduce B (playing, not reading off the stave yet) and we play an echo game - you play a rhythm on B (VERY simple) and get each child to copy it. This way you will suss instantly which children naturally tongue and those that do not. Then you can look at B on the stave - the first tune in Recorder Magic is just on B, saying and doing the actions for the rhythm first, one line at a time. I agree re the dexterity issues of such young kids - personally I prefer to start at Year 2.

Finally I start some singing games - based on the descending minor third soh & mi. I sing the song with words then they copy, then in solfa, then singing rhythm names. Within a couple of weeks you can then PLAY that tune on C & A without the complications of reading notes off the stave.

Do drop me a PM if I can help anymore - this isn't the best explanation of how Bag goes about it all...

...good luck,

Bag x

[aspiringmusicteacher]

Thank you both so much for this, it's really helped. I've been furiously writing down my ideas... and yours!... since this afternoon. By the way, does anyone know where I can get sample lesson plans from so I can type up the lessons formally?

[Bagpuss]

Do you need to type the plans up formally? If so, just....type what you're planning! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Believe me, plans end up becoming just vague pointers after a while as you learn to take each lesson where the children take it...

Drop us a PM any time,

Good luck,

Bag x

[salrec]

I've found that Red Hot Recorder is much better than Recorder Magic for group teaching of beginners. You can teach them the first couple of notes, B & A, then they can play several tunes without needing to read the music.

Learning to read the notes on the page is often too much of a challenge for young beginners. Holding the recorder properly, getting their fingers sorted out, tonguing, breathing, listening to the sound of the group as a whole, etc, is often more than enough. Beginners of this age are still sometimes struggling to read text, they won't always find reading music easy.

If you can budget for it, Recorder Boppers is brilliant for beginners, it's a teacher's pack of music and CDs, not something the children have themselves. I use it a lot, the children love some of the pieces, and ask to play them as a 'treat' long after they've progressed further. PM me if you'd like more details.

[sarah123]

When I learned the recorder when i was 5 or 6, we had a book that you had to colour in all the notes in different colours throughout the book. It was a kind of fun way to get the notes on the stave sorted in your head. As far as i can remember, we were given it right from the very beginning and i don't think anyone struggled to get the hang of it quickly. The books probably out of print now and i can't remember what it was called, but it had a red and yellow front cover with a wizard, in case that rings any bells with anyone.

[superflute]

I don't know much about it really, but have you researched the Suzuki recorder method? It sounds a bit different and alternative, but is aimed at getting ridiculously young children (ie 3) playing various instruments. The recorder one is something to do with taping over keys. Not sure if this is any help (probably not, if you've already started another way, but it's still quite interesting to look into)

[hero]

I have just had one year of teaching a group of Yr.4 & 5 children - well, they are now Yr.5 & 6 - and like you, started from scratch! I did not use any books for a while but did rhythm games, tonguing, breathing etc, as well as B one day, A next and so on. The school did not have a budget for this group - voluntary teaching - so I have made up lots of tunes and I improvised the accompaniment on the piano. Used sme easy flute pieces (BAG) - Sarah Watts' tunes are great for this - and the children loved it. I have 20 minutes for this group and I have to move on quickly in the lesson otherwise they get noisy and chatty! I am very pleased with the progress they have made and this half of the term, they are beginning to play several Christmas Carols - yes, I have to write those out all in G or D majors!!!

The success of the group is that you keep your lesson "up-beat", give them performance opportunities using assemblies and concerts, and giving them (all) certificates at the end of each term!

The school is pleased and now I have just started a new group of Yr.4 & 5s!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Best of luck!
hero

[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.

[lemonlinctus]

Hello ,
What a lovely opportunity for you.

I cannot offer anything relevant really, except that I too was taught recorder from a very early age.

In dealing with very short attention spans, tuition does not have to remain centred on the instrument. Singing is very relevant as mentioned. La la..ing tunes. Also, rhythmic games, drumming with hands and feet. Foot and hand tapping to a tune, covering march, waltz, 4time, etc. Can be separated from note playing. Rhythmic finger tapping on desk, book or different sounding surfaces. Simple dance steps can be taught in a circle to use up some energy. In short, variety. and ease. Hope this is of some little help.

Sounds like fun.

[Alison]

I don't know much about it really, but have you researched the Suzuki recorder method? It sounds a bit different and alternative, but is aimed at getting ridiculously young children (ie 3) playing various instruments. The recorder one is something to do with taping over keys. Not sure if this is any help (probably not, if you've already started another way, but it's still quite interesting to look into)

I experimented with this with my own children when they were 3 - 4. Not the whole Suzuki method, but the taping over the holes bit. It was fun, and I can see the advantage of it, but they found it REALLY hard to blow gently enough to make a bottom D sound good. I just don't think they have the breath control at that age. We did all the stuff with feathers etc, but it was still hard. In the end we got bored with all the taped up holes and reverted to the traditional method and they got on fine.

I use Pam Wedgwood's Recorder World with 5 year olds, although I think it's really aimed at older children. Some of the accompaniments are a bit fast once you get half way through, but at the beginning it was great to play along to the CD. The stickers are great, too.

I expect you have had so much advice by now you are drowning in it, but if you want any more from a different perspective feel free to PM me.