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In the mid 1900s, Carl Orff (the German composer famous for his cantata “Carmina Burana”) began developing the recorder as a music education tool. Today, many, many elementary schools continue to use recorders because they are inexpensive and relatively easy to learn.
Unfortunately, over the years recorders have also developed a reputation for being noisy and awful. This reputation is largely undeserved.
As an elementary music teacher, trained musician and a recorder enthusiast, allow me to convince you why you should try teaching your elementary students with this noble yet humble instrument.
Benefits of learning to play the recorder
There are many reasons I love to use recorder with my music students.
- The pitches are the same as a child’s vocal range, which encourages their pitch development.
- Recorders are inexpensive (even cheap plastic ones have decent sound if played properly). They are also very portable and you can easily make your own cases if you don’t have any. It makes it very low-risk if you have students who would like to take one home to practice.
- Recorders are easy for children to play. They are easily held by small hands and the embouchure is very simple.
- Recorders are a musical “gateway drug” – the hand positions translate easily to flute and clarinet in particular.
- Many highschool band instruments require the same correct breathing, posture, tonguing, embouchure, and hand positioning. Playing a beginner instrument sets students up with many musical skills that are not instrument-specific.
The recorder trap: Recorders don’t have to be noisy and awful!
Here are some tips to help you use recorders effectively:
Play in small groups. Recorders are chamber instruments and not designed to be used in large groups. When too many students play at the same time, they struggle to hear themselves and therefore end up overblowing. Overblowing distorts the pitch and causes squeaking.
Instead, have only four or five students play at a time. Even though each student will spend less time playing, they will be able to hear themselves and their technique will improve faster.
The other benefit of this small group technique is that the other students will have the opportunity to work on their ear training while other groups are playing. They will learn to tell the difference between good playing technique and bad, and this will carry over into their own playing. (Use “practice mode” – explained below – to keep students engaged even when it is not their turn to play.)
Take some time to learn basic technique. It’s perfectly ok not to know everything. Watch a few Youtube videos to make sure you are placing your hands properly. Learning alongside your students helps them appreciate the learning process.
Select instruments that are inexpensive, not cheap. When purchasing recorders, make sure that they have three separate sections. Recorders from the dollar store only have two sections and don’t have a foot joint that can be adjusted. This makes it extremely difficult for children to reach all the holes with their little fingers.
Recorders that are made from the cheaper plastic are also more likely to crack, making it impossible to play in tune.
Proper Recorder Technique (Yes It Matters)
If you teach the recorder like a real instrument then students will treat it that way too.
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Basics of recorder technique:
- Left hand on top, right hand on the bottom – Many people think that it doesn’t matter which way you play. I often have students who will try to tell me their right hand should go on top because they are right handed. This of course doesn’t make a lot of sense because you still need both hands to play. Also, other wind instruments (such as flute, clarinet or saxophone) have structural features that make playing with the hands reversed impossible, so reinforcing correct hand placement will be very helpful if they want to transition to another instrument in future.
- Half the mouthpiece in your mouth – When looking at the arc in the top of the mouthpiece, about half of that arc should be in the students’ mouth. Too little and they risk loosing air (as well as not having a firm grip on the instrument). Too much and it will prevent their mouth from making the correct shape for tonguing.
- Tonguing – Each individual note is made through a stoppage of air. Many beginner players will try to achieve this by blowing or not blowing, which results in a messy sound. Students should learn to stop the air cleanly by putting their tongue to the roof of their mouth.
Newsflash: Recorders Roll!
If you put a recorder down on your desk, it WILL roll. Before your students ever get the instrument in their hand, teach them to make a “nest” for it (especially if your school does not have cases). Their nest can take many forms – the center of an open book, the top of a soft pencil case, etc.
Teaching students to care for their recorders is an essential skill that translates to any other (more expensive) instrument they may own later in life. (And indeed, any belongings!)
Assessment
When teaching music using a musical instrument it’s important to remember that students will learn at different rates. Some students do not have great fine motor skills which can interfere with their playing ability, even if they are able to read the notes accurately. That’s why it’s important to have a range of ways to assess student progress that do not rely only on playing ability.
- Listening skills – Can your students identify different pitches when they are heard? If they play a note incorrectly, are they able to hear that it is incorrect?
- Care for their recorder – Do students follow instructions for caring for their instrument?
- Skill progression – Regardless of starting point, do students show improvement over time?
- Music Reading – Can students identify notes on the staff correctly? Can they indicate in a diagram how those notes are played on the recorder?
- Instrument Function – Are students able to describe how the recorder creates a specific sound? Do they understand the relationship between finger placement and the resulting pitch?
Give Recorders a Try In Your Music Classroom
Recorders are cool and underrated. And if you still don’t believe me, take a look at this convincing article from the CBC.
Looking for a more guided program?
If you’re not super comfortable teaching music but really want to make sure your students are learning the proper technique, I highly recommend a subscription to Prodigies.com. Their progressive recorder lessons will guide your class from first sounds to playing complex melodies – even if you can’t play worth a darn.
