The Google Slides are my new sinful pleasure and I used them for all of my presentations. I have made a presentation which includes loads of recorder tutorials, sheet music and audio files. This is still a work-in-progress as I keep adding more items to it. I update it regularly. So, here it is!
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9/30/2020 0 Comments "Just A" Recorder CompositionThis is the second composition that I work on with my beginners' recorder class - "Just A". This composition introduces the note A and teaches the simple rhythmical patterns of whole, half and a quarter notes.
9/30/2020 0 Comments "Just B" Recorder compositionWith the new school year come the new compositions I work on with my recorder students. These compositions range from the very beginners to advanced Elementary school age students. I work on these in class and also post tutorials for students to be able to practice at home when needed and desired. The first composition we are working on this year is the "Just B".
5/18/2020 0 Comments Baa, Baa, Black Sheep"Baa, Baa, Black Sheep" is a famous nursery rhyme, so very easy to sing and very entertaining. This is the last composition I work with my Advanced Recorder students, not because it is the hardest to play, but because it uses all the notes in the C Major scale. The only new note in this composition is the F, which can be very tricky to play. By now, the students should be able to know how to properly utilize both the Right and the Left hand on the recorder, produce proper sounds without making shrill noises, and use the appropriate breathing and blowing techniques while playing.
Rhythmically, this composition is not very challenging, so the students can concentrate on the correct finger position and correct blowing in the recorder's mouthpiece. Here is the sheet music and the video tutorial. Have fun! 5/18/2020 0 Comments Alouette, Gentille Alouette"Alouette, Gentille Alouette" is a well known French children's song. All of the Elementary students who take French in my school learn how to sing this song. The tune is very catchy and it helps with learning the body parts in French. It is also a cute little composition for Advanced Recorder students. It does not introduce any new notes, but it does have some tricking parts - the transitions between D (low D) and D' (high D) in the measure 7. I suggest working on this note combination and transition first before teaching the composition to the students. The composition also teaches the ABA form (lines 1 and 3 being the A, and the line 2 being the B part), and there is a great opportunity for a lesson in music forms. Here is the sheet music and the video tutorial. Have fun making music!
5/18/2020 0 Comments The Farmer in the Dell"The Farmer in the Dell" is a traditional children's song, but it is perfect for the Advanced Recorder program. The only new note it uses is an E' (high E). The trickiest part of this composition is the transition between the D'-E'-B-G notes, and you could have the students practice these notes in rhythm of the second line if the composition (measures 6 and 7). A great way to bring in the music theory lesson with this composition is teaching the students about the syncopation (a shifting or displacement of the beat) which is a characteristic of this composition. Also, reviewing the terms, such as an "eighth, quarter, dotted quarter and a tie" is a suggestion before actually attempting to play this composition.
Here is the sheet music and the video tutorial of the composition. Have fun! 5/18/2020 0 Comments Ode to Joy"Ode to Joy" is an infamous 4th movement of Beethoven's Symphony No.9. There isn't a person who does not recognize this amazing melody. The theme of "Ode to Joy" is also the first recorder composition I work with my Advanced Recorder students. By this time, the students should have mastered the breathing and blowing techniques, know exactly how to hold the fingers properly over the holes, and how to produce the correct note on the recorder without making any shrill sounds. By now, the students should be able to play the following notes - D,E, F#,G,A,B,C', and D'. This composition has no new notes, so the students are reviewing the notes they should be already familiar with.
Here is the sheet music and the tutorial. Have fun! 5/14/2020 0 Comments Amazing Grace"Amazing Grace" is the last composition I work on with my Intermediate Recorder students. This one uses six notes - D,E,G,A,B and a D' (high D). I start the lesson by introducing the D' making sure that the students know that the hole in the back of the recorder plays a significant role in playing the note D' correctly. Uncovering the hole in the back in order to properly play the high D is a must! I have the students practice the transition from B to D' a few times following the rhythmical pattern in measures 8 and 9 to insuring the proper movement on the Left Hand Thumb in D'.
This composition also uses a variety of note values (eighth, quarter, dotted quarter, half, dotted half) as well as the terms such as a tie, fermata and 3/4 time signature, which is a marvelous opportunity for the additional music theory lesson between the playing sessions. Here is the sheet music and the tutorial. Have fun! 5/14/2020 0 Comments Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star"Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" is the next on the list of the recorder compositions I do in my class. This one is definitely for my Intermediate recorder students, since it uses six notes - D,E, F#, G,A and B.
The new note introduced in this one is F#. The students should be able to hold the recorder properly by now, blowing properly into the mouthpiece, and covering the holes with the right finger and appropriate pressure to avoid the shrill sounds. This composition uses quarter and whole notes, so there is a definite music theory lesson opportunity within the composition, as well. Have fun! 5/13/2020 0 Comments When the Saints Go Marching in"When the Saints Go Marching In" is definitely the more advanced recorder composition for the Intermediate Recorder players. This one introduces two new notes C' (high C) and D' (high D'). The students should be made aware that they will "uncover" the back thumb hole in order to play the D'.
Also, this composition uses a term "tie" which is another great opportunity for the music theory lesson. The sheet music and the tutorial are below. Check it out, and have fun making music! 5/13/2020 0 Comments Old McDonald Had a Farm"Old McDonald Had a Farm" is a composition that I usually work on with my intermediate recorder students. This composition introduces a new note D to the five notes that the students know how to play already - E,G, A and B. It really does help that this is a very famous song which all my students know, therefore, it is not difficult for the recorder players to recognize and play the melody.
The students should be able to know by now, that the LEFT hand plays notes G,A,B and the RIGHT hand is reserved for notes D and E. Also, correct breathing is a must, as well as the correct posture. This composition also introduces a quarter note rest and a dotted half note, which is an additional music theory lesson in itself. Sheet music and link to the tutorial are attached. Have fun! 5/13/2020 0 Comments It's Raining"It's Raining" is the last composition I work on with my beginner recorder students. After the students have mastered the G,A and B notes, I introduce the new note - E. This note requires both hands, LEFT hand continues to play on the top of the recorder for G and A, and the RIGHT hand to play the note E.
This composition also uses the eighth, quarter and a whole note, which signifies broadening of the music theory expectations and learning for the beginner recorder players. Here is the sheet music and the link to the tutorial. Have fun! 5/13/2020 0 Comments Merrily We Roll Along"Merrily We Roll Along" is my third composition that I work on with my beginner recorder students.
It also uses the three basic notes - G,A and B. By now, the students should be able to blow correctly into their recorder to produce the correct sound, and hold the fingers of their LEFT hand on the recorder with no issues or confusion. Here is the sheet music and the link to the tutorial. Have fun! 5/13/2020 0 Comments Gently Sleep"Gently Sleep" in another recorder composition which I like to do with my beginner recorder students.
This composition also uses three basic notes - G,A and B. This composition introduces the breath mark which is a "must know" for all wind instrument players. Have your students practice it on each note, following the rhythmical pattern of the composition - which you can definitely turn into another music theory lesson within the playing sessions. Here is the sheet music of the composition, and my tutorial. Have fun! 5/13/2020 0 Comments Hot Cross Buns"Hot Cross Buns" is a very famous children's song and a recorder composition which uses only three basic recorder notes - B,A,G. This is THE first compositions that I work on with my beginner recorder students and they manage to learn it super fast, since it is super easy. A must when teaching this composition is the basic hand position lesson (LEFT hand on top) and the correct blowing through the mouthpiece. This composition uses a quarter and a half note, and a half note rest, which holds a possibility for a music theory lesson, which I always like to do between the playing sessions with the students.
I have posted the sheet music and a link to my tutorial. Have fun! |