In previous blog posts, I’ve discussed how I was planning to switch my order of instruction for recorder notes. Many resources will have you start with BAG and then they go to high C and D. I totally can see some the arguments made for that approach. There are less holes to cover and it gives you scale degrees 1 through 5 which allows for a lot of songs. However, I have decided to travel a different road this year and teach low E and low D next.
One of my pet peeves about my students’ recorder playing is that they can sound shrill and overblow – no matter how many times I tell them not to. However, at a workshop (sorry I can’t remember which person gave it), someone mentioned how they go from BAG to low E and D because it teaches their students to control their air. An that stuck with me. Even though it can be hard for some students to cover the holes well, I’d rather have them mess it up trying to play a low E than a high D. And the more muscle memory that they build up covering more and more holes, the better that will translate to good tone when they do get to C and D’.
How It’s Going So Far
So far, I am loving the change. Honestly, I really haven’t noticed my students struggling with low E much more than they would with G. And, there have been some add on benefits as well.
- Air control has been a big one. Now, I even have one or two students where I have to tell them to blow a little MORE air!
- I didn’t really think about this, but now that they need to have their right hand in place over the holes (usually with the beginners, I let them hold the recorder down at the bell to help keep their fingers out of the way), there are far less students playing with their right hand on top. I never thought about this connection, but I’ve stopped having to nag about left hand on top because they have a specific place their right hand needs to be now.
- With two hand properly on the recorder, they can support the instrument better and thus cover the holes with flatter fingers.
Honestly folks, I doubt I will ever go back. I mean, look at that list up there! Those are the main trials of an music teacher teaching recorder. And the change in sound. So worth it. I notice it most during Recorder Karate, when students are practicing independently. The sound is so much more mellow now. I highly recommend making the switch – plus then you can play Skin and Bone with you second year recorder kids as a great way to star off the year with recorders! I plan to introduce high C and D in February, with a little I Feel Good by James Brown. And think about the chord root accompaniments you could do with low E and low D in the mix!
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