Recorder Tutorial

I've created several video segments on how to the play the recorder.  The first video outlines the basics, how to hold the recorder, breath and tonguing.  There is a segment on how to read the fingering chart and BAG on the staff.  Another on how to practice and play Hot Cross Buns, Closet Key and Merrily We Roll Along.  I've included a trouble shooting video and improvising with BAG.   I hope this guide will be helpful to our musicians as they work to master the recorder.  Practice builds confidence and skills as students work to produce the most beautiful tone; demand excellence, you can do it!

Recorder Basics
How to Play BAG
Recorder Troubleshooting 
How to read BAG

Playing Hot Cross Buns - part 1
Playing Hot Cross Buns- part 2










Playing Closet Key

How to play Merrily We Roll Along

Improvising to Higgelty Piggelty Pop

5th Grade Blue Group Sings The Little Birch Tree

The 5th graders are working on a choral arrangement of a Russian folk song entitled The Little Birch Tree.  The blue group sounded so good I had to record them.  Click on the link below to hear them sing.  Enjoy~ The Little Birch Tree

1st Graders Sing Purple Light

First grade singers are working on building their confidence, singing independently with a clear beautiful tone and matching pitch using a singing voice.  Enjoy the piece Purple Light; click on the text to watch each link.  Yellow Group   Red Group   Blue Group

4th Grade Red Group Shares Rhythmic Compositions

4th graders composed four beat rhythm patterns with a partner using quarter notes, eighth notes, sixteenth notes and rests.  Here they are performing their pieces with a partner interspersed into the song Dog and Cat.  Each composition should include one sixteenth (tikatika) rhythm; listen for partners who are playing together.    4th Grade red

Kindergarten Students Sing Solos

Kindergarten students are working on finding and using their singing voice.  As part of this work they take turns singing on a microphone a lot during music class.  This method allows students to hear themselves, build their confidence and their performing skills.  In the excerpts below, you will hear our fabulous student teacher singing the call and students echoing her.  Listen for children who are using their singing voice, if they match pitch bonus~ that's the end result we working toward!  Click on the links to hear the children sing.
 K Yellow Group.    K Red Group       K Blue Group

5th Grade Graduation

5th graders sang Dream Keeper, music by Rollo Dilworth and text by Langston Hughes at their graduation celebration.  The students sang in harmony in this beautiful piece about a dream keeper who keeps their dreams safe from the "too rough fingers of the world"  The students had the opportunity to share one of their dreams (personal, societal or global) with the audience.  We also had tryouts and a fine fifth grade gal played with us.  Listen for the round at the end;  the boys sang first and then the girls.  I'm proud of them.
5th grade graduation piece

4th and 5th Grade Arts Night

I've posted video of students sharing their pieces from arts night.  We had a terrific turnout.  60% of 4th graders and 50% of 5th graders attended the evening.  Thank you to parents, relatives and friends for supporting the arts!  Enjoy the clips below.
4th Grade Sings My Paddle
4th Grade sings Cindy 
4th Grade Sings My Goose 
4th Grade Chant w/Recorder Improv
4th Grade Recorder Pieces
5th Grade Marjorie
5th Grade To Stop the Train 
5th Grade Little Birch Tree
5th Grade Duke's Place
Unfortunately, I cannot post the jazz ensemble playing; I used our student names, sorry.