A long time ago, when I was freshly out of teacher’s college and hunting for that first time teaching job I had an interview for a position as a part-time music teacher. At that time teaching positions were very hard to come by, so I was thrilled with this opportunity! I didn’t even consider the fact that I didn’t have a background in music when I excitedly accepted the interview.
Well, let me tell you how that interview went. To do so, I need to write it with my real words said, (and my inside voice of reason). Ahem:
The interview began with the Principal asking me about my general teaching strategies, etc, etc. No surprises, all good. Then, she informed me that I would need to teach recorders:
Do I have any experience with recorders? Yes, I absolutely do! (Ummm … you mean that class you took in Grade 3?) I, in fact, LOVE the recorder! (No you don’t). I actually started a recorder band with some friends, as I have been playing the recorder since grade 3. (Not since grade 3, just that one time IN grade 3). I would love to start a recorder band here at this school! (Whoa, whoa, whoa, easy does it now – you don’t even play recorder!)
Fast forward one week and I received a phone call saying I got the job! I was thrilled (briefly) and then terrified. What had I done!
No problem, I would simply learn the recorder and learn how to teach the recorder over the weekend. Gulp. Turns out it was completely manageable.
Let me tell you friends, from my experience, teaching children to play the recorder is not nearly as intimidating as it seems.
So I wanted to share with you what I learned during my weekend, self-taught crash course on how to teach the recorder.
First of all, I want to assure you that it is in fact very, very easy.
Here are the steps I took when teaching my little guys to play the recorder.
First of all, help them learn to sit up nice and tall. Sit on the edge of a chair with your spine nice and straight and your feet on the floor.
Next, teach them to take nice, big breaths and let it go softly. A great way to do this is to hold a kleenex in front of them and have them blow gently enough so the kleenex just moves slightly.
After that, it’s time for the “doo” part. When you are playing notes on the recorder, you want children to make the sound, “doo” to help articulate the notes. Try singing a familiar song just with this one sound. Hot cross buns is a great one to start with.
Now that the foundation has been laid, it is time for the recorder!
I have found that it is best to teach children three notes first. B, A, and G. B is your first finger on the first hole, A adds the second finger to the second hole, and G adds the third finger to the third hole. All of these notes also have the thumb covering the thumb hole on the back of the recorder.
To begin, have your child hold one note as long as they can – blowing softly. Then, see if they can switch between notes using the “doo” sound.
Finally, start with a song! There are tons and tons of songs that use only these 3 notes. They are called BAG songs typically. I also find it helpful to start with a song that your child is very familiar with. If you know the tune and the rhythm it is much easier to play on the recorder.
And that is all that there is to it! At least in the beginning. Kids love learning to play the recorder and it really is such a nice and simple one to begin with.
You can take it from me, I was, after all, in a recorder band.
Musical Instrument Family Unit Study
If you like learning how to teach your child to play the recorder, you will love our Family Unit Study on Musical Instruments!
For a complete, engaging, hands-on unit study all about Musical Instruments, check out The Musical Instruments Family Unit Study right here: https://shop.howweelearn.com/collections/family-unit-studies/products/family-unit-study-musical-instruments
Thank you for reading friends,
xo
Sarah
So fun, everyone remembers that as the most fun unit in public grade school— why shouldn’t our homeschooled kiddos enjoy the same experience? Thanks for the chance to win!
Absolutely Mia!! Thank you for entering – good luck!
I LOVED learning to play the recorder in my elementary school days! It would be/will be so fun teaching my girls!
It is truly such an exciting thing to teach my boys – I am excited for you to teach your little ones! Thank you for entering Beth – good luck!
My preschooler just came home yesterday saying he wanted a recorder because they got to play them in music class. I was at a loss on how to teach a 5 year old the recorder. Thanks for the chance to win!
Perfect timing Michelle! Thank you for entering my giveaway, Good Luck!
I remember learning to play the recorder when I was in school. We now live in Hungary and unfortunately, this type of education is not present. I would love to develop my confidence to teach my daughter.
It sounds like this resource would be perfect for you. Thank you for entering! Good luck!
At what age can children start learning to play?
That is a great questions Emily. With the Oak Meadow Curriculum, recorder is introduced in Grade One. Like all things though, some children may be ready sooner and some later.
This would be a GREAT start to ease into learning to play an instrument for my guys. Maybe we’ll start a recorder family band! ? I’m serious tho! Who doesn’t LOVE the recorder? I still remember playing when I was a kid. Thanks for this resource & chance to win! ??
Oh my goodness I want a family band TOO!!!!! Thank you for entering – good luck!
You won one of the Beginning Recorder Books from Oak Meadow. Please email me your mailing address: HowWeeLearn@gmail.com
This is such a great article and I LOVE playing my instruments, I took music alot and I play the recorder still the flute and the clarinet i would love so very much to start teaching my son his first instrument! Fingers crossed for this giveaway and thank u so much for such an awsome opportunity
Wow Amanda – you are inspiring! I keep saying how much I wish I still could play the piano – perhaps I should stop saying it and just start learning. Never too old! Thank you for entering the giveaway – good luck!
I love this story! 🙂
Also, this was my first week with a new position as a music teacher for preschoolers.
Along with teaching yoga in the mornings to little ones, I’m now starting to build a music curriculum for them too. Such perfect timing to read your email.
Wow – perfect timing indeed! Congratulations on your new position. Those little ones are so lucky to have you!! Thanks for entering the giveaway, good luck!
I enjoy reading your blog. And the way you are so honestly truthful ? Thanks for the chance to win.
You are very sweet Stephanie – thank you for entering! Good luck!
My great granddaughter, a 4th grader, is just beginning on the recorder. She’s so excited and your book would make it even better!
Wow! Look at you still watching out for awesome things for your baby’s, baby’s baby!! You are amazing Deborah! Thank you for entering my giveaway. Good luck!
Nice article!
Please choose me to win!
Thank you – and thank you for entering! Good luck!
This will be GREAT for my guys! Maybe we can start a recorder family band! Thanks for the resource & the chance to win!
A recorder family band!!! YEEESSSSSS!!! Thank you for entering – good luck!
I teach STEM and I’ve thought about trying to have kids make their own recorder-like instrument with PVC pipe. This is a great instructional for them. Thanks,
What a neat idea Aaron. Please let me know how it turns out if you give it a go. Thanks for entering the giveaway – good luck!
Worth a try!
Absolutely! Good luck Ellen 🙂
Congratulations Ellen! You won one of the Beginning Recorder Books from Oak Meadow. Please email me your mailing address: HowWeeLearn@gmail.com
Many years ago I was in a recorder band at my school, I played a big wooden base recorder. I loved every minute of my time spent playing at school assembly and of course the grand finale every year was Speech Night where all the academic awards were presented to the students and parents came and it was just an amazing feeling up there on stage playing for a great hall of people.. I however was never given am instruction book as my music teacher knew I could play by ear. Now down the track when I am a senior citizen working part time in child day care where music is so important I would love to introduce the recorder o my pre-kinder and kinder students. A book of instructions from Oak Meadow would be AMAZING and I could re-educate myself and then form a band with the children and OBOY what fun we could have.
Wonderful Barbara! What an asset you must be to those little ones – and adding the recorder would just make it that much more special. Thank you for entering! Good luck.
I was jealous when my younger sister learned to play the recorder in 3rd grade, so I borrowed her book and taught myself. I completely believe that you could teach yourself on a weekend. I don’t know how I didn’t think of teaching my own kids.
Go you!!! Thanks for entering! Good Luck!
Sarah, I remember thinking the recorder was so cool when I was learning how to play it! I have a feeling the apple won’t fall far from the tree, haha!
I’m excited about the relationship you have with Oak Meadow as well. Thanks to you, I have been using many of their Kindergarten curriculum/resources alongside your reading and math readiness books and quiet bin ideas. What a great combo! All that said, the recorder books will likely be just as fitting in our home as other resources you and Oak Meadow have provided.
Thanks so much!
Jennifer, what a thoughtful comment! Thank you very much. And thank you for entering our giveaway! Good luck.
Congratulations Jenny! You won one of the Beginning Recorder Books from Oak Meadow. Please email me your mailing address: HowWeeLearn@gmail.com
I’ve been talking to my pre-schooler about music and he is becoming interested in notes and what they mean. I don’t know if I’ll be able to hold my 2 year old back from being involved! The more the merrier!
Thanks for entering! Good Luck!
Definitely! Good luck Laura!
My son has autism and we visit the music store once a month during a band practice. He love music and would love to learn to play all of the instruments.
Thank you for a chance to win,
Jennifer
Thank you Jennifer – and thank you for entering! Good luck!
Very cool. Though just noticed from the pictures that your right hand is on top (unless it’s just the way the photo is taken). To get to the lower notes you will need your left hand on top and right hand in the bottom so your pinky can reach the last hole! It also leads into fingering down the road for flute and clarinet! Good luck – hope your boys love it!
Eek – you are absolutely right! Thank you Heather!
my son started on a recorder in grade school, he has became a self taught musician writes his own music, and wants to use his talent to write children’s choir music. How’s that for starting out on a recorder.
Amazing!
I want to get my almost 4 yr old and 6 yr old playing music and I already have my recorder from childhood so I thought I should give it a try. Of course I remember nothing so this is perfect for getting me and them started. Thanks!
Hi – I’d like to buy a recorder for my six year old. Are there different sizes for little fingers? Thank you!
Hi Adrienne, This is a great question. As far as I know there is only the one size for a basic recorder. I hope you and your little one love this activity! Learning to play an instrument is amazing!
In my public school experience, from grades 4 to 6 we played recorders. We never had our *own* recorders until grade 6 though, grades 4 and 5 had to disassemble them and plunk them into the sanitizer after we used them. I remember how cool it was getting that brand new, unused recorder in the fancy pocket in grade 6, it felt like we were so grown up.
It’s amazing how special those little things are. And I remember that dish of sanitizer so well! Yuck!!
Thanks for the chance to win
Good luck! Thank you for entering!
My youngest homeschooler is reluctant to take music lessons. It would be great to do this at home and build his confidence.
Absolutely! Good luck Regine, thank you for entering!
We’d love this! Thank you for the chance! I’m
Homeschooling my four kids, 9,8,6,5. My 9yo loves music and has a natural aptitude. I have added this to our curriculum for next year, and have been looking for a great guide for me. I went to catholic school when I was younger and missed out on the recorder completely! I’m thrilled to have found this resource. I need all the help I can get!
Oh it will be such a fun adventure for you ALL! Thank you for entering Jean. Good Luck!
This would be amazing for my 10 and almost 8 year olds. Thanks so much for the opportunity !
It sure would! Thank you so much for entering Elizabeth. Good luck!
I remember loving playing the recorder when I was a kid. I still remember the first song I learned “Hot Crossed Buns”. I would love to win this!
That is definitely the classic first song. Such an important childhood step! Thank you for entering. Good luck!
I loved learning the recorder in school and it was wonderful to watch my older kids learn the year before they could join the band. Now that I homeschool my youngest I didn’t even think about that option but what a great opportunity!!! Thanks for the chance!!!
Wonderful Heidi! Good luck!
Why are the hands reversed? You get away with it until you need to use the bottom holes which are slanted for right hand at the bottom and left at the top.
You are right, Louise!!!