Recorders! It had such a positive impact on my elementary music experience that it’s to blame for starting me on my musical path! The rest is history and here I am, full circle as an elementary music teacher!
Now, I know you’re excited and committed to including the recorder in your curriculum this year. Honestly, we could talk for weeks about recorder philosophy, technique, repertoire, curriculum outlook, lesson plans, and so much more!
I won’t have to convince you how it’s an affordable, lightweight, and extremely portable instrument that can act as a “feeder” into your school’s band program, and on, and on.
Things to think about with recorder:
- Soprano Recorders: Kids always start on Soprano recorders. Soprano recorders’ size is appropriate for elementary-aged students’ hands. It’s also a treble clef and a non-transposing recorder. When students reach a certain level, maybe in 5th grade, then I’d consider alto and tenor recorders.
- German or Baroque? I don’t have the answer! So I reached out to Kate Bright, recorder enthusiast and teaching extraordinaire: “The German fingerings were invented to avoid the “forked” fingerings needed to play all of the notes on the Baroque recorder. Then German fingerings are easier to use, but this alteration means that some of the accidentals are out of tune. Because of this, Orff courses use the Baroque fingering systems. Some teachers have switched to the German fingering system because it is more logical, but I prefer the Baroque. The recorder is the most inexpensive way to give every student a potential chromatic melodic instrument, and I don’t want to impair them if they do want to continue onwards in recorder land.” OPINION? I’ve used the Baroque fingerings. To start, you’re probably going to do A-C-G-E OR B-A-G-E…no fork fingers there. Again, think about how you will use recorder throughout your scope and sequence.
1,2, or 3 pieces?
- 1-piece recorders have a little bit of a resistant sound, can be sensitive to overblowing, and have a slightly duller sound. Make the sound quality your preference in choosing a recorder and don’t worry, you’ll teach your kids how to not fool with twisting the parts off.
- 2 and 3-piece typically have a better overall sound.
So many choices! I get it, your budget is an overriding factor in making decisions. As always, if you can prioritize and afford quality, do it. Over the years, I’ve only used 2 different brands of recorders:
MIE206 German Soprano Recorder
- SOUND! I changed over to the MIE recorders about 15 years ago because I was so impressed by the sound they produce.
- Easy low register; bright, clear, crisp upper register.
- Comes with a canvas zip bag, a strap (great for concerts when kids are switching from the recorder to other instruments), and a cleaning rod.
- Terrific sound, and a similar price to the Yamaha.
Yamaha 20 Series Soprano Recorder:
- The Yamaha recorders have a clear sound with a slight resistance to airspeed which can help control the intonation, but to start will squeak easily if overblown.
- Easily controlled upper register; slightly resistant lower register.
- Comes with just a canvas carrying bag and a cleaning rod (but really, I’ve NEVER used the cleaning rods)
- Overall, a great sound for an affordable price.
Organizing & Cleaning:
- Home or School? Me? As a younger teacher, I allowed students to take their recorders home and bring them back for class….it didn’t work out. Typically recorders got lost within a few weeks. Once a student’s Mom accidentally ran over her son’s recorder while backing out of the driveway on the way to school. (She said the recorder fell out of his bag as he was getting in the car, but perhaps it was an assassination attempt on the poor instrument). Fast forward a few years and now, each kid receives their own recorder and it STAYS in school. I’ve found that what we do curricularly is accomplished in school and the content sticks with them! If they want to play at home, I suggest they obtain their own recorder, and keep one at school, and keep one at home.
- Label with their name. Write it on the bag, and their initials on the bottom of the bell or foot of the recorder.
- Use the canvas bag, if it comes with the recorder, then put each class’s set in a basket, plastic container, or standing up in a large tin.
- No bag? Put each student’s recorder in a 2-gallon resealable bag and use printed labels to identify each, and store accordingly in a plastic bin/tub.
Cleaning
- Dishwasher. Yeah, I was really against this for many years but have found it does not damage the Yamaha and MIE recorders. I’m not up for schleppin’ hundreds of recorders home each week to my personal dishwasher. Ask your cafeteria if they’ll do it for you, and bake them brownies to thank them.
- Create a concoction of 50/50 rubbing alcohol and Scope mouthwash and place it in a spray bottle. I suggest using this for your extra recorders that may get used.
When to start recorders:
This is a personal preference. Kids’s fine motor skills and the size of their hands really change from one grade to the next. Some years I felt my 3rd graders were ready to begin the recorder, but more often than not I will begin recorder in 4th grade.
Curriculum:
I think you have to decide the role the recorder will play within your overall curriculum. Would you like a lengthy unit or use it as a part of an existing ensemble? Could it be an instrument used for improvisation or an opportunity for music literacy that could support a band program in the near future? MIE has a wealth of recorder repertoire that you can choose from.