All 3rd grade students in the Newton Public Schools get an extra half hour of music each week for the purpose of learning the recorder. Recorder was added to the 3rd grade curriculum because it reinforces music literacy skills, teaches students performance etiquette, builds fine motor coordination, and is a great way to introduce the physics of sound to students. Recorder also acts as a stepping stone to learning a more advanced band or orchestra instrument in the 4th grade.
At the Burr School, I use a recorder curriculum called Recorder Karate. In September, all 3rd grade students receive a folder of all of the music they will be learning that year. Songs in the folder get progressively more difficult as new skills and notes are added. When students have mastered the next song in their folder, they may play it as a solo for the class or by calling the recorder hotline in order to earn their next karate belt.
All students should come to their recorder class with their recorder, recorder folder, and a pencil. Recorder classes meet on Fridays.
At the Burr School, I use a recorder curriculum called Recorder Karate. In September, all 3rd grade students receive a folder of all of the music they will be learning that year. Songs in the folder get progressively more difficult as new skills and notes are added. When students have mastered the next song in their folder, they may play it as a solo for the class or by calling the recorder hotline in order to earn their next karate belt.
All students should come to their recorder class with their recorder, recorder folder, and a pencil. Recorder classes meet on Fridays.
Learning Objectives for 3rd Grade Recorder Students:
Fine Motor Coordination
- Students will use particular fingers in specific locations on the instrument in order to play correct notes.
- Students will produce a complete seal around the holes being covered to assure a pure tone.
- Students will use gentle, warm air to produce appropriate recorder tone.
- Students will develop a working knowledge of reading standard treble clef notation while playing the recorder.
- By the end of third grade, students should be able to recognize and perform:
- Songs in 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4
- Sixteenth, eighth, quarter, half, dotted half and whole notes
- Quarter rest, half rest and whole rest
- Notes in the D scale
- Students will demonstrate "Resting position," "Ready position," and "Playing position."
- Students will enter the stage space with poise and quiet presentation
- Students will watch the director for cues
- Students will demonstrate focus and concentration during performance (including between songs)
- Using the recorder as a visual, students will learn that lengthening the column of vibrating air, creates a lower pitch.
- Covering more holes lengthens the column of air.
- Interrupting the air column by an insufficient seal will result in a squeaky tone. ("Leaks cause squeaks!")