This year I have explored using centers in my classroom. I have discovered that centers have a lot of benefits to them. One of the biggest benefit is it allows me to work with small groups giving me more opportunity for one on one instructions. I started using centers in just my regular music class lessons. I have about 12 or more centers that I use. Since it worked so well for the regular music class, I decided to try it on a recorder day. I do Recorder Karate with 4th graders only and the class sizes are 30 -32 students. I was have troubles making sure everyone takes a test. Several of my students were avoiding testing and I had no score for them for some time. By doing centers, I could manage the testing with the large groups. I have put the students into groups of 3-4 students and I usually have 8 centers going. Here is how I set them up:

1. I use hula hoops, one for each center. I place the hula hoops in a circle. I sit at a table for my center because I can't sit that long on the floor without having back aches or without my legs falling asleep.

2. My students are assigned groups by me. I usually have 1-2 students who are stronger players and do well with music reading in each group. I also make sure I spread out the trouble makers or the ones who get off task easily. I change my groups at the end of each quarter.

3. All the materials for the centers are place in the middle of the hula hoops and at each center I either have cards, sticks, or dice to help determine who will be first, second, third, or who gets what job, etc.

Here are the centers I use for Recorders:

a. Recorder Memory game: Students will be able to read a fingering chart and to learn how to finger the notes on the recorder. To determine the order of who goes students will roll a dice. The highest roll goes first, if students tie they roll the dice again. To find a complete set a person must find the card with the letter, the card with the note on the music staff, and the card with the correct recorder fingering (3 cards total). I have a card set for B,A,GE,D,c',d',F.

b. Music Bee: Students will be able to identify notes on the staff by their letter name. Students draw cards to find out who goes first and who will be the judge. Each student gets one music staff card (I made them in PowerPoint using the table tool)except for the judge. There is a deck of cards that have letter names or words on them. The deck of cards are placed in the center of the playing area, face down. The first player flips over the card and all players must place their magic notes (bingo chips) on the music staff. They get a point for every note they get right. The judge checks their cards.

c. Don't Break the Ice: Students will learn to identify different notes and rest. I bought the game "Don't Break the Ice", I got mine from Target, but you can buy it at any store that has board games. I made 1" X 1" squares that have the note syllables on them and I taped them to the white ice cube pieces. Then I made a deck of cards with the note on them. I am using "Blue Jello" syllables (from music mind games by Michiko Yurko). I have changed a few of the syllables that Michiko uses to make more sense for my students (e.g my students didn't know what a huckleberry is so we use watermelon for 4 sixteenth notes) On the ice cube piece are the pictures of the Blue Jello syllables(e.g for 4 sixteenth notes the picture would be a watermelon). When the student flips over a card it will have the real music note with the real name of it on it, but they must look for the ice cube with the Blue Jello syllable picture. Then they only tap that ice cube
out.

d. Jenga Rhythm: Students will be able to read rhythms. I bought several Jenga games and I drew various rhythms on them. Students set the game up like a normal Jenga game. They use the dice to determine the order of who goes. The first player pulls one Jenga block out using only one hand. Then they read it to the group and the group echos it back. Then they place the Jenga block back on the top. You could have students keep score, but mine are content with just playing without keeping score.

e. Lucky Ducks: Students will be able to identify the note by its Blue Jello syllable. I bought the real game "Lucky Ducks" from Target and on the bottom of each duck I put the Blue Jello picture. The ducks are placed on the pond and each player gets one playing card. I made the player cards in Printshop. The player card has the 3 squares on them and each square has a real music note inside it. Students must match the duck to the real note. Players must find all three ducks. Sometimes we play this center using 2 sets of Lucky Ducks. I made a different set of player cards for when we use 2 sets. To adapt the game for those who do not use Blue Jello syllable you can have the real note on the duck and the player card could have the real name of the note or the Ta or TiTi syllable on them.

f. Practice center: Students will practice their song for Recorder Karate belts. I usually have 2 practice centers going. I spread them out in the arrangement and I usually have one of them right next to my center so they are ready to test when they come to me.

g. Testing Center: Students will test individually with the teacher. Each students plays by themselves. The others in the group just sit quietly. I thought this would be a problem, but so far it hasn't. They actually enjoy playing for each other and sometimes the others have some good advice and comments that they give.

I can usually get through everyone in one 45min class period, but sometimes we do have to continue centers during the next class period. We usually do Recorder centers the last 2 weeks of each month. My 4th graders do recorders for every music class. We spend the last 10mins or so working on them and if I have time I will also open it up for belt testing.

Enjoy!
Tami Mangusso
Aurora, Colorado