Today, a couple of my kids said they still had trouble using the corn cushions, and I think it was because they had to press harder, so I switched to the Wikki sticks. I'm anxious to see how it works. If nothing else, that sticky feeling might help. (I had one kid who kept complaining his fingers "slid" off). These are some older kids who are new and have developmental and learning issues anyway.
Sue, don't give up! There IS a solution. It might not be perfect, and some of these kids might not play up to speed, but it's OK to adapt. With some, the sense of accomplishment is worth it. I've been at this current building going on 6 years, and have had blind students, deaf students, Down's students, and other students of various disabilities and issues, and there IS a way:-) There is always a way. It's just not always the obvious way! :-) That's why this list and the K-8 list is so awesome.
Karen Stafford
---- Kay Humbert wrote:
> 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
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