Advanced Recorder Ensemble

[nafmeadmin]

I have been teaching 3rd graders to play recorder for several years. This year I would like to start a before school advanced recorder ensemble. If you have a similar group in your school, how do you organize it? run it? Do you hold auditions or do it by invite only? What music do you use? Do you add Orff, singing and bells? Do you require practice sheets? Do you have a concert?
Thank you for your input.

[nafmeadmin]

I thought about doing something like that and asked a few of my 4th grade students what they thought. We do one-month after school clubs so I would open it up to whoever wants to join the club. One hour, once a week. We’d probably have some fun group time with easy songs (and accompaniment), some duets/trios, and then a group piece. Of course we’d hold a recital at the end. But being such a short time commitment (and volunteers only) i don’t think I’d require practice sheets like we do for class recorders. The 4th graders liked the idea and want to sign up for the club!

[nafmeadmin]

I have one for fifth graders. (We start recorders in fourth grade.) It is very well received. We meet every morning before school for 25 minutes and they make amazing progress. We do incorporate Orff instruments and singing to help extend the variety of music we perform. I do not require practice sheets, but I am very strict on behavior in that group. I make sure they understand up front that there is a high expectation of practicing outside of the ensemble required to keep up.

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