I have been asked to help at my son's primary school to start a recorder group. There will be a group of about 15 Yr.4 children all beginners. I have done this before but that is now 15 years ago and I have not got time to go to music shops in the near future to browse all the available publication...

Tomorrow is the first class - I am intending to work on their tonguiing using just the mouthpiece, then may be teaching fingering B & A with simple rhythm work. The school has said that there is a small funding to this so I could buy some tutor books. What do you suggert? please? Any advice gratefully received. Thank you, in advance.

I'm still using John Pitt's "Recorder From the Beginning book 1" with beginners.
Get the CDs to go with them and the kids really enjoy the tunes.

Hi. Fifteen in one group of beginners sounds a bit daunting. I usually have no more than eight in the groups I run. That way, I can give a reasonable amount of attention, correct any fingering problems, etc. Would you be able to divide your group up and run two sessions?

For music, there would be two possible avenues.

The first would be to get each child (or parent!) to provide their own tutor book, even if this means you have to order them and then charge the parent. One excellent tutor book I use a lot with individuals and groups is Sarah Watts' Red Hot Recorder. It is approx £5.99, comes with a CD, and although the backing tracks all have a very modern feel (the children love them), the music is very logically taught, with lots of practice and good advice.

Another book is Recorder Magic, which I do use quite a lot, but it would be my second choice. Most music shops would have both of these.

If you feel that the children wouldn't be able to have tutor books for reasons of cost, then perhaps the school budget would stretch to buying you a copy of Recorder Boppers. This is a teachers book with lots of advice, fingering charts, and a CD. The music is photocopyable without permission, but mostly is so easy to pick up that I teach it from memory. Often it is quite enough for a child to get his or her fingers on the right holes at the correct time, without reading the notes as well. It starts really easily - my very beginners - Year 2 - were able to 'perform' to the rest of their class after just two lessons. Saunders Recorders may have it (I don't know how to do those clever links, but it's on Google) or LMS Music Supplies in Exeter. It costs about £28.00 I think.

If you'd like any more info or help, PM me.

Hope it goes well.

I have bought both of the "Recorder Boppers " sets, some time ago, but have still not used them with any groups.

Salrec - do you use all of the tunes or just pick the ones that you really like? I can't yet bring myself to use them because of their style - maybe it appeals to the children more than I think!

The book that I used was the Aulos Descant Recorder Tutor. It costs around three pounds if you buy several copies on a school account. For a group of fifteen you will need to lay down some ground rules about listening carefully and there are some good cartoon pictures in the tutor about do's and don'ts that are useful and fun. Starting with mouthpieces only is a good idea, and I am delighted that you are going to teach tonguing from the start as so many teachers do not either know about it or think it important! Have fun, and remember to play to them too, to show what a super instrument the recorder is. They are old enough to be interested in its history too, so a few words about the earliest recorders would be good .

Sorry to sort of hijack the thread. . .

Garklein: yes, I agree, some of the backing tracks are a bit weird, and certainly not what I'd choose to listen to myself, but the children love them!

In the first book, Get Rappin' is a huge favourite, and one they often ask for as a treat at the end of a lesson, even if they are well beyond that ability level. Hoppity's Hornpipe is again a much-loved one. I've used it several times in performance, with a bit of choreography added in, and it's always gone well. The Samba and Coconut Caylpso are also excellent, and for some reason, lots of children love AGACA, although it's certainly not my favourite. Walking Talking Robot is excellent, especially for reluctant boys (is that a sexist comment?), if it's got a bit of robotic choreography thrown in.

But there are a couple which I tend not to use, as I simply can't seem to connect with them.

In the second book, my favourites include Advance of the Tryons (again, loved by boys!), Hot Line, Roundabout Rag, Bolivian Bolero and Grecian Honey.

Maybe you could give some of them another chance one day?!

[quote name='salrec' date='Sep 27 2006, 09:15 AM' post='397391']
Sorry to sort of hijack the thread. . .

No, no, no, I don't mind reading these posts as they contain a lot of informations and recommendation for my future repertoire! Keep it coming!

I'm just off to the school now... will report back later!

I'm back from the school recorder group session. I thought it went great! I mean that the children responded well and most of them can tongue nicely... We did B & A fingering and learnt a bit of rhythmic reading. I made up some tunes and as they managed to do them, I added improvised piano accompaniment. I am rather encouraged by today's session really! I can, however, see there are a few who will be making quicker progress and another few who might struggle...

All the suggestions regarding possible books are greatly received and will be investigated. I will choose a book in a few weeks' time when I have a better picture of the make-up of the class...

Thank you very much.
hero

Hi, Hero, I'm glad it went well. I've noticed that it is easy to spot those children who are likely to progress easily, and those who will struggle. I get round this by running four groups - at the same school - and swapping them around when necessary.

But, I have never "given up" on a child, even the one who has spent three years learning A, B & C. She has had extra help from me, lots of help from a capable older child, and lots of encouragement from her mum. She has some learning difficulties, but the loveliest nature, and enjoys the classes. Probably, like me, you'll find that one or two will give up anyway after a while, unless it's compulsory . . .

One other book you may like to look at is Sarah Watts Razzamajazz. There are two books, the first uses only five notes, with really jazzy tunes, or at least jazzy backing tracks on the CD. My slightly more advanced ones often buy it, and one or two tunes are suitable for the "own choice" part of the Prep Test which I like to aim towards, but the first few tunes are excellent for real beginners, from memory.

If anyone knows this, a game I play with B Really Groovy - the second tune - is to go around the circle and get them to play one note each, in turn. They have to know the tune well, and to be really concentrating . . .

Hope your next session goes even better.

In the past I have used the John Pitts with added cd piano accompaniment.
I have found the Red Hot series and Razzamajazz by Sarah Watts has gone down very well. The pupils go away huming and dancing.
Good luck.
One tip. Try to have identical recorders for more uniformed sound.

Thank you, aligator , for an interesting advice on "uniformed" sound. Yes, I have already noticed that the children have variety of instruments... I wish I could suggest the everyone has to buy one make... but I really can't at this moment.

So far, the group is going well and I am rather pleased with myself! We had only two sessions and they have learnt B, A & G; tonguiing; crotchets and minims! I have made up all the little pieces with groovy titles to cheer them up! and I improvise the piano accompaniment - I am a pianist by trade - and the kids think I'm cool!

After half-term, they will be performing in an assembly! I believe that the children must get a platform to play, well, "show off" what they can do! I shall report back...

hero