I am just about to start teaching Recorder to Year 2's. Can anyone suggest appropriate books to use for this age group?

I use John Pitt's Recorder From The Beginning series.
I find the accompanying Cds very useful.

Thanks. I am thinking about using Recorder Magic which is a bright, colourful book and only costs £3. My only reservation is that it launches straight into quavers, not sure if that is a good idea for 6/7 year olds. Anyone else have any other suggestions?

I make my own worksheets for the early stages, with exercises using the relevant notes and simple traditional tunes.

I used Abracadabra recorder when i started teaching myself the descant recorder, and it was very good.

Hi - I prefer Recorder Magic although I still feel the Ideal Tutor does not exist! However I must disagree with Hotair - I think it is BETTER to start with crotchets and quavers - you can do bags of preliminary rhythm work using rhythm names and movements well in advance of reading them. I also use Kodaly - simple soh/mi songs first which can be sung then played on C to A again well in advance to reading these notes off the stave. It works, trains the ear and doesn't pressurise little ones with the dexterity issues. Oh and they ENJOY it!

Not very helpful for you I suppose, but I have made my own tutor books from beginners to about grade 2. Good old Sibelius. I have been able to tailor them to exactly the way I want to teach and include all the tunes (traditional) they like and a little theory.

Thanks for all your helpful suggestions. I have decided on Recorder Adventure Book 1 by Faber Music. It starts with familer tunes on one note to a backing CD or piano accompaniment, comes with stickers and is clearly presented. I think it will great for 6/7 year olds.

I have been asked to teach recorder to whole classes of Year 2's. Anyone any experience of this?

Yes!!
How many lessons do they want - I have done 2 terms with class recorder groups before now but have decided that this is too many sessions with such a large group and have decide to offer only one term's class tuition in future (- hopefully with follow up groups)
I should think that the material you use with such a large group would depend on how many sessions you would like to offer-amongst other things.
I did ask for some advice on this topic earlier in the year and folks were generally helpful.
Do a search on "class recorder" maybe to find the thread.

I can really recommend Red Hot Recorder Tutor by Sarah Watts. Published by Kevin Mayhew. Comes with a great CD. I've used it with everyone from my own three year old to 13 year olds, individually, groups, etc. There's now a treble version but I haven't seen it. Great fun pieces sound good from the start.

I should also have mentioned Recorder Boppers by David Moses. These are excellent with groups, start teaching by rote to get them playing, fun pieces with CD again and PHOTOCOPIABLE! I've used these loads in schools and on recorder days with large groups and again with my own children.

I've used 'Red Hot Recorder' too! My daughter really enjoyed it, and Sarah Watts has such a reputation for making fantastic books!

Happy Playing!

You don't work for Kevin Mayhew do you? It's just your two posts thus far have recommended publication's fro their catalogue?

Actually, no i don't. Publication not being my forte! I play but i can't write!
A friend handed me their catalogue when i was having problems with encouraging my children....and quite frankly I'm a convert!!! Any other recommendations are always welcome, but it works for me!!

I use "play piano", but generally I'd be careful recommending music from a single publisher even if Mr Mayhew is currently expanding this area of his catalogue.

Is he? Do you know if there is any way to get on a mailing list? I've found the things I've used so far very helpful for my musical (sometimes vocally, sometimes instrumentally) children! I'm sorry, although they haven't been playing too long, I'm not aquainted with many different publishers, so I thought the best plan of action would be to recommend what I've tried and tested!

Try the website. I know my hubby is on their mailing list but that's for his church requisite list, and they got his details from crockfords.

I think I'll have to phone...can't find the option! Thanks for helping anyway...any thought on the electro-acoustic dilemma???

Sorry don't play the guitar. Someone on Viva strings may be able to help!