Learning to play the recorder is an essential part of the elementary school music experience. My students want to play recorder, but for most of my students playing recorder is truly a difficult endeavor. I hope to implement "Recorder Karate" as a means to encourage and support their hard work.
My students are amazing children who deserve all of the opportunities we can provide for them.
Our school is a Title I school and the majority of my students are considered to be at-risk either because they qualify for free or reduced lunch or because they are learning English as their second language. Despite all of the hardship that comes from the poverty my students face every day, they are eager and enthusiastic learners who love learning and adore learning about music. At my school we are constantly working to help improve student achievement. One way that I hope to help with this is to teach students how to create and achieve attainable goals. Breaking down our recorder skills into achievable goals with distinct awards will be a very exciting avenue toward success that we can explore together.
My Project
Learning to play recorder is an important part of the elementary music experience. For my students who will choose to be in band or orchestra, the recorder is a great introduction to both solo and ensemble playing. For my students who intend to choose choir or who opt out of music in middle school in order to pursue visual arts or theater, learning how to play the recorder may be their only experience with learning how to play an instrument. Playing recorder is not as easy as it looks and I have found that more than any other thing I teach, playing recorder brings with it extreme challenge and sometimes discouragement for many of my students. They think that if they don't get it right away then they can't do it at all. Recorder Karate is a way to encourage and acknowledge the baby steps it takes to work toward mastery. I believe that these little "belts" will be the perfect motivator for some of my more reluctant players and encouragement for ALL my students.
This project is important because some of my students don't believe that they will ever be successful in anything.
For the most part my students are naturally musical and experience and comprehend music concepts easily. However, even musically gifted students often find playing an instrument a real challenge. More important than learning to play recorder, I want my students to develop their "perseverance muscle." Recorder Karate is the perfect self paced motivation my students need.
Nearly all students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
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