Recorder Resource Kit 1 - 2
The Recorder Resource Kit is my collection of ideas for teaching recorder to children in Grade 3, 4 or 5. It is an eclectic approach, incorporating aspects of Kodaly, Orff and activities that will help kids learn while they have fun. I like to start recorder in Grade 4 after Christmas break although many teachers use it very succesfully with Grade 3. The recorder unit usually takes 10-12 weeks to complete with two thirty-minute periods per week. The kit provides the teacher with projectables, and reproducible student pages. Although you may photocopy all the student pages and copy the accompaniment CD, you will save a lot of time by ordering “The Recorder Resource Kit Student Book” and CD. The student book AND CD is only $5 in class sets. In Canada, Themes & Variations sells a recorder package with either a Handel or Yamaha recorder (German or Baroque), the Book and CD for just $10. If you order 10+ sets, we pay the tax and the shipping. In the USA, you can order the recorder packages from West Music and other vendors.
Canadian Teachers:
Link to $10 Package - HANDEL GERMAN RECORDER
Link to $10 Package - Yamaha Baroque Recorder
Recorders, Books and other packages are available! Visit www.musicplay.ca and select Recorders.
USA Teachers - Link to West Music Recorder packages
The Recorder materials are also available as part of our online resource: www.musicplayonline.com
For a limited time, new subscribers will get 3 months free! It's a great time to try out the site!
ADAPTING RECORDER FOR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN
Down Syndrome: Students with special needs may find recorder very challenging. I had a student with Down Syndrome who was a wonderful singer and dancer, but had limited fine motor skills. He could play one note songs (Just B, Just A, Just G) but playing songs with more than one note proved to be too difficult for him. I put together a small tub of non-pitched percussion instruments. He would sing the letter names or solfa with the rest of the class, but instead of playing the song on recorder, would choose a non-pitched instrument, and play the rhythm of the song on the unpitched instrument. He really enjoyed this adaptation, and often one of the other members of his class would volunteer to play with him.
Autism: Some autistic children will need to wear headphones in recorder class, as the high pitch of the recorder can be disturbing.
Cognitive Delays: When children with cognitive delays play recorder, the complexity of reading notes, remembering fingerings, tonguing and good tone can be overwhelming. If I ever see a child trying to play by copying the fingers of the child next to them, I know that they will benefit from using kids notes. Kids notes have the notes imprinted right on the note head. The children still see the note placement and read the rhythms so it's a better adaptation than pencilling in letter names. Kids notes reproducibles are included in the Recorder Resource Kit.
Physical Disabilities: I've had a student with only one arm. They could play BAG, but after that, I had them play on a keyboard instead of on the recorder.
Projectables: The Recorder Resource Projectables includes PowerPoints, Smart Notebook files and QuickTime movies of all the content in the Recorder Resource Kit. There are PowerPoints and/or movies to teach the theory and history of the recorder. Kids notes print the letter name right on the note - a huge help to your weak readers.
Apps: The Recorder Resource Kit is available as an app!
Learn and Play Recorder App has all the songs in the Recorder Resource Kit!
Recorder App ITunes
Recorder App Google
If you have purchased this kit without the Digital Resources you can order the Digital disk separately.
Sequence of Notes:
This method uses the sequence
BAG in songs 1-8
E (to involve the right hand early) in songs 9-17
D in songs 18-22
C’ in songs 23-26
D’ in songs 27-30
F in songs 31-36
low C in songs 37-38.
If you prefer to start with G-E, you can begin at song 9, and then go on to songs 1-8.
Many of the songs are pentatonic, suitable for use in either Orff or Kodaly programs. (Orff and piano arrangements are available - see below!) The students’ sight singing will greatly improve if you sing the songs in solfa, as well as letter names, before playing them.
Accompaniments:
The kids enjoy playing along with accompaniments. Since I began using accompaniment CDs, I’ve found that children who have a copy of the CD practice more, and are more focused in their home practice than children who have only a recorder and a book of songs. I don’t use the accompaniment CD in every lesson, and I don’t use it for every song. Usually I will teach the song unaccompanied and when the students can play it well, I’ll introduce the accompaniment. This accompaniment CD has “orchestral” styled accompaniments for the symphonic themes. Your students will enjoy the change in style when they reach these pieces.
Piano and Orff arrangements are now available for all the songs in the Recorder Resource kit. These arrangements are great to use in performances!
Au Claire de la lune - Orff Arrangement, by Daphne Price
Au Claire de la lune - piano arrangement, C. Cassils
RECORDER PERFORMANCES:
The Orff and Piano arrangements are especially nice to use in recorder performances. One year I had my grade 4 classes perform. Each child got to choose which song in the program they wanted to play. My little down syndrome student played "Just B" - my gifted students could play any song in the kit. Most of the students played in small groups. They sat on chairs in a group, and when it was their turn to play, they stood up. It was a nice way to feature the kids, everyone was able to participate, and it wasn't overwhelmingly loud for our audience.
Fingering Charts: Would you find a large sized set of recorder fingering charts helpful?
Do you have combined classes? For teachers with Grade 4/5 combined classes, we've created duet parts for the Recorder Resource 1. The beginners will play the songs as sequenced in the kit, and the second year players can play the duet parts. The duets are now included in the Kit, but if you have an older version of the kit, I'm happy to give you the duet parts. Send a photo of the teacher's guide from the Kit to denise@musicplay.ca to request the free duet parts.
$10 Recorder Packages
For our Canadian Teachers, we still offer the $10 Recorder Package - a Handel or a Yamaha Recorder, The Recorder Resource Student Book AND CD
- order 10+ Packages and we pay the tax and shipping. With the drastic change in the US dollar, we may have to increase prices, but we're hoping to keep the $10 package available as long as possible!
Link to $10 Package - HANDEL GERMAN RECORDER
Link to $10 Package - Yamaha Baroque Recorder
Recorders, Books and other packages are available! Visit www.musicplay.ca and select Recorders.
LINK to FREE RESOURCES: Jan. 25 Free Recorder Resources!
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