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Beyond the Basics: Play the Recorder Above and Beyond B, A, and G

In this 4-week class, students will play songs using notes lower than B, A, and G (low E and/or low D) and higher than B, A, G (high C and high D).
Sandra Girouard
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:
(394)
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Class
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What's included

Homework
1-2 hours per week. Students should practice 5-10 minutes daily in order to make progress.

Class Experience

In this 4-week class, students will play the recorder while learning songs that expand their range beyond the beginner B, A, and G notes. Songs selected each month will feature notes lower than B, A, and G (low E and/or low D) and higher than B, A, G (high C and/or high D).

Students will also gain experience playing a wider range of rhythmic notation, including quarter notes [♩], half notes [𝅗𝅥], eighth note pairs [♫], whole notes [𝅝], their corresponding rests [𝄽, 𝄼, 𝄻], and dotted rhythms such as a dotted quarter [♩.] and dotted half notes [𝅗𝅥.].

Week 1 (November 25)
     - Review of B, A, and G
     - Explanation of high C breath flow, fingering, and note placement on staff
     - Introduction of song [Tenza, Tenza]
     - rehearsal of melodic motifs
     - demonstration of performance
Week 2 (December 2)
     - Explanation of low D breath flow, fingering, and note placement on staff
     - Introduction of song [Frog in a Bog]
     - Explanation of repeat signs in standard music notation
     - rehearsal of melodic motifs
     - demonstration of performance
Week 3 (December 9) 
    - Review of low D breath flow, fingering, and note placement on staff
     - Explanation of low E breath flow, fingering, and note placement on staff (including comparison with low D)
     - Introduction of song [Old King Glory]
     - Introduction of ties in standard music notation
     - rehearsal of melodic motifs
     - demonstration of performance
Week 4 (December 16) 
     - Review of high C breath flow, fingering, and note placement on staff
     - Explanation of high D breath flow, fingering, and note placement on staff (including comparison with high C)
     - Introduction of song [Festive Overture]
     - rehearsal of melodic motifs
     - demonstration of performance

JANUARY 2023 SECTION:
Week 1 (Week of January 2)
     - Review of B, A, G, high C and high D
     - Explanation of High E, High F# and High G: breath flow, fingering, and note placement on staff
     - Introduction of song [A Comical Fellow by William Bates]
     - rehearsal of melodic motifs for Verse 2 of A Comical Fellow
     - demonstration of performance
     - rehearsal of melodic motifs for Happy New Year to All People (French Folk Song)
     - demonstration of performance
Week 2 (Week of January 9)
     - Review of High E, High F# and High G: breath flow, fingering, and note placement on staff
     - rehearsal of melodic motifs for Verse 3 of A Comical Fellow
     - demonstration of performance
     - rehearsal of melodic motifs for [C-A-F-F-E-E] (German Folk Song)
     - demonstration of performance
Week 3 (Week of January 16) 
     - Introduction of concept [embouchure]
     - Review of High A: change in embouchure and change in breath flow compared with other high register notes; fingering, and note placement on staff
    - rehearsal of melodic motifs for Verse 1 of [A Comical Fellow]
     - rehearsal of melodic motifs
     - demonstration of performance
     - Introduction of song [The Kine Are Homeward Bound] (English Folk Song)
     - rehearsal of melodic motifs
     - demonstration of performance
Week 4 (Week of January 23) 
     - Introduction of concept [canon] and demonstration of [A Comical Fellow] played as a round
     - Introduction of song [Musica est donum optimi] by Orlando di Lasso (1532-1594)
     - rehearsal of melodic motifs
     - demonstration of performance

Every week will include the following:
 - Instructional videos, Instructional videos are kept short (5-10 minutes) to allow students time to absorb the content. Many week will hve more than one video in order to address additional concepts.
 - Demonstration video of the song played ONLY on recorder
 - Demonstration play-along video of the song played on recorder with an accompaniment track
 - "Performance" video of the song accompaniment track 
 - song sheet with notation
 - fingering chart including new notation
Learning Goals
Students will improve their understanding of how to play notes beyond the beginner level and develop the skill or reading the corresponding music notation.
learning goal

Other Details

Parental Guidance
Parents, please remind your learner to upload requested videos so that the teacher can provide specific, indidivualized feedback. Knowing what you are doing well and getting ideas about how to improve are key to progress.
Supply List
Each learner should have a Baroque soprano recorder (Baroque fingering system). The fingerings taught in this class will not work for a German recorder. If you aren't sure, you can usually check on the back of the recorder (there is often a tiny B or G embossed). If you cannot tell, please contact the instructor. 

Many soprano recorders are available very inexpensively. However, there are also some very poor quality recorders available in discount stores. Here is an example that is both inexpensive AND a good quality recorder: 

https://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-YRS-23Y-Soprano-Recorder-Natural/dp/B0014ZG676/ref=sr_1_2?crid=11N04FCX7BMAM&dchild=1&keywords=soprano+recorder+for+kids&qid=1589145736&sprefix=soprano+re%2Caps%2C204&sr=8-2

Music (notation files and video and audio files) will be produced and provided by the teacher.
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined April, 2020
4.9
394reviews
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Teacher expertise and credentials
Ms. Sandra has been playing the recoder for decades but became especially interested 25 years ago when she began playing with the Collegium Musicum of her university while attending graduate school. She continues to enjoy playing soprano and alto recorder, and is a member of the American Recorder Society. She has a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Arts in Music Education, and has been an active private teacher for over 30 years. 

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Live Group Class
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$40

for 4 weeks
4 weeks

Completed by 1 learner
No live video meetings
Ages: 8-13

This class is no longer offered
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