We use mathematical equations (I forget where I got this idea - it wasn't
mine, though) for fingerings:
{ "Thumb + one = B, Thumb + one + two = A; Thumb + one + two + three+ G,
etc." }
My fourth grade students love to recite these!

Another idea I use is having the students keep their fingers over the holes
for "G" (or another note we're working on) while I am giving instructions.
When I am finished talking, we compare "recorder warts" and I let them show
them off to their neighbors. If they don't have recorder warts, they are
not pressing hard enough. I also have them show me their 'warts' when they
come up for belt tryouts.

I try to find holiday or seasonal colors of yarn on Hobby Lobby's clearance
rack. For about $1.00, I get a whole skein of some funky colors to use for
special belts. I used black and whtie yarn with an orange thread running
through it for students who mastered "Skin and Bones" for Halloween last
year -- "Skeleton Belt"

Our Thanksgiving song is "For Health and Strength" (low D to High D'!) and I
call the belt our 'Cornucopia belt' because it has many colors like a
cornucopia. Goofy, I know.

Last year, we had a Palm Sunday - varigated green belt - for students who
mastered "Sing Hosanna" by John Angotti. He visited our school and we
played it for him! You could call it a spring or frog belt if you're in a
public school and use a spring song.

Kay

Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 7:58 PM, Sue Roessel Dura wrote:

> Thanks Martha Stanley for asking about this (below). I don't know the
> answer to
> yours, but it brings up mine ;-) I notice that some kids just cover the
> holes
> and others are a mess. Some give up before they get it; others never give
> up,
> finally get it and can then play everything we've learned so far. So I
> never
> give up on them.
>
> My theories:
>
> Their grip is so tight it causes the leaks.
>
> They don't feel the holes.
>
> They think that 'a' means only putting finger 2 down and they can forget
> about 1
>
> Their thumb doesn't stay in place.
>
> Their recorder is not held properly, causing fingers to wiggle away from
> where
> they belong.
>
> Their hand position is not conducive to keeping holes covered.
>
> Their other fingers are curled or tense and pulling the 'working' fingers
> away
> from their holes.
>
> I check for all of these and have devised 'solutions', but can you think of
> anything else that might be addressed?
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, 3 Nov 2009 18:19:53 -0500, you wrote:
>
> >After reading about putting wikkistix (sp?) or bendaroos around the holes
> of
> >the recorder for kids who are having physical trouble covering them, I
> >finally bought some.
> >I put the .... well, they're thin twine covered with wax and kids use them
> >to make sculptural items..... stuff around the top 4 holes of my recorder
> >to try it out.
> >
> >Okay - I get the feeling. What I want to know is ... is there anything
> else
> >I should know or should tell the kids who try this?
> >Language used, etc.?
> >
> >I think it's gonna work.
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--
Mrs. Kay Humbert
Music Teacher