Get ideas, LInda. I like the "push up with the right hand" thingee. Weak
Willie (ring finger) is such a stinker!

I also start out with "each finger has an assigned seat - I mean hole - and
it's not allowed to go anywhere else." And then I talk about my fingering
numbering system (ex. T12 is A; T12312 is E. I don't do T12345 because I
want them to remember to change hands.) And how to read a fingering chart.
I start referring to the big fingering chart in my room pretty fast. My
"cheat sheet" I call it.

On Sat, Oct 24, 2009 at 2:27 PM, Linda Z wrote:

> Hi, Jennifer,
> I'm going through my spiel this week for kids who just got their recorders.
> You may choose to do this in a different order...Is this helpful?
> 1) LEFT HAND - I really go over this. There is always someone who thinks
> they play better with their right hand on top. It's because they practice
> that way! Stories of the boy who said he couldn't play with his right hand
> on top until he started playing the saxophone - then he had to! No belts or
> beads if they play with right hand on top! I ned to find Recorder
> Classroom's picture of the Renaissance era man using his left hand on top!
> It's in one of those folders...
>
> 2) WARM AIR - try blowing onto your hand - is it cold? Now open your mouth
> and gently pretend you're fogging up a mirror. What temperature? For
> recorders we want warm air. Can you blow like this, but still get warm air?
> Oops, mine was too cold, I'll try again...
> 3) OK, show me your Left Hand. Put the thumb on the back. Do you see the B?
> That's for Baroque. This is a Baroque recorder, not German. It's been around
> since the time of kings and queens.
> 4) Now, place your LEFT index finger on the first hole. FAT, FLAT, FLABBY
> fingers. (Got that from the MK8 list, I think.) No piano fingers. Really
> cover the holes?
>
> 5) Blow gently.
> Demo blowing a bit too hard and then lighter and ask them to blow more
> gently. Go CRAZY if they sound good already.
>
> 6) Listen and see if you can tell what I'm doing differently.
> First I blow "hoo hoo hoo" and then "too too too" Can anyone hear the
> difference? What did I do differently. (Get variety of answers.) I "toohed".
> Practice TRAIN GAME. DEMO: hold recorder vertically in front of self, say
> t-t-t-t- and move recorder around in a circle and when it's back in front of
> your mouth blow "Too too".
>
> CLOSET SPEECH: Put your recorder on your knees. Tell your mama that you
> just got your recorder and you're a beginner, but you're going to be great.
> (Demo "Amazing Grace" or "Hot Cross Buns". Ask her where she wants you to
> practice. She might say "Go to your bedroom, close the door, go in the
> closet, close the door and play quietly!") Or she might say,"Oh, honey you
> can play right here for me." Then she might say, "Go into your room, close
> the door..." Or outside? Your neighbor might say "Go to your room..." Or is
> your garage safe? NOT IN CAR, BUS, HALLWAY. Teachers can take these away for
> as long as they want.
>
> CLEAN SPEECH: If someone borrows your recorder or asks to borrow it, you
> have permission to scold them! Germs, etc. How to clean at home.
>
> Practice playing "B, A" at home. It took me a whole month to get a good "G"
> - it helps me now to put my right hand at the bottom and push up a bit.
>
> Next time I will listen to the ones who want to demo "B, A, G" and put B,
> A, or whatever they sound great on in their gradebook when they master it.
> They need to "tooh", articulate, use LH, blow gently and have good tone. I
> won't test anyone on "Hot Cross Buns until January. We'll spend the next
> couple months reviewing reading lines and spaces, reading BA exercises and
> songs, and each third grade class will learn a holiday piece... I know 4
> good ones - I need 3 more...
>
> That's skipping the whole "how to get them to buy a recorder and which one
> to get, etc." part of it...
>
> Linda Z from Florida
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: JENNIFER RODDY
> To: list@recorderclassroom.com
> Sent: Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:53:52 -0400 (EDT)
> Subject: Re: [RECL]Hi Everyone!
>
> Hi Martha,
> Nope I'm note related to an Ardie. sorry!
> Thanks for the welcome!
>
> Jennifer Roddy
> Music Teacher and Choir Director
>
> St. Andrew's School of Math and Science
> 30 Chadwick Drive
> Charleston, SC 29407
> (843)763-1503
> Fax # (843)769-2594
> www.ccsdschools.com
>
> Excellence is our Standard
>
> >>> M Stanley 10/24/09 12:47 PM >>>
> Are you by any chance related to Ardie?
>
> And welcome!!
>
> On Sat, Oct 24, 2009 at 11:20 AM, JENNIFER RODDY <
> jennifer_roddy@charleston.k12.sc.us> wrote:
>
> > Hello!
> > I'm new to the list. My name is Jennifer and I teach in Charleston, SC.
> > I plan on teaching recorders for the first time this school year.
> >
> > Have a great day!
> > Jennifer
> >
>
> --
> Martha Stanley, NBCT
> www.marthabeesmusic.com
> The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas first!
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--
Martha Stanley, NBCT
www.marthabeesmusic.com
The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas first!