Rootin' Tootin' Recorders

School:: Avalon Elementary
Subject:: Music
Teacher:: Sandra Stein
Students Impacted:: 100
Grade:: 3
Date:: August 24, 2015

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

Lucie Jenny MacCarthy Music Fund - The Community Foundation of Collier County - $754.75

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 100

I couldn’t believe how focused the third graders were when they started playing recorders this year. They were very careful to make a gentle sound and use good posture.

We started by just passing out the recorders and putting their names on the recorders and cases. We spent the first several weeks practicing good posture, correct hand position and the best way to make a sound. As I have learned, it is best to start with just the specifics of playing. I even used a recording, produced by the same author of the book we ordered, to have them echo the notes they hear with a relaxing jazz accompaniment. This really helped them focus on their listening skills and producing a gentle, pleasing tone.

The real challenge is when we start to read music off a staff. They are already pretty good at reading rhythms, as we have been working on this since second grade. Figuring out the notes sitting on a staff becomes more difficult. We play games and practice a few notes at a time to improve.

I use a reward system that uses ribbons that I tie on the end of their recorders when they pass a certain song with as many different notes. The kids love to show their ribbons to their classroom teachers and are very proud of their accomplishments!

Our Recorder Concert is next week. I can’t wait to see how well they do!

grant photo

Much concentration!

Original Grant Overview

Goal

I would like my students to experience the joy of learning to read music and play a recorder (small plastic flute) without the burden of paying for it. The students at Avalon, a Title 1 school, are so excited when they get to third grade because they can’t wait to learn how to play the recorder!

What will be done with my students

Third grade students will review music reading skills during September and October. By the time they receive their instruments in November, they will learn proper posture, finger position and playing technique. By using the book and additional resources the students gradually increase their ability to read the music and play at the same time.
By April and May, students will be able to play at least ten different simple songs from the textbook. Besides playing for the class, we will invite the parents and the second graders to enjoy in their success!

Benefits to my students

There has been so much brain research done about why playing a musical instrument increases the learning capacity of the brain, especially at this young age. The students will certainly feel a sense of accomplishment as they work to play the instrument. The components of reading rhythm, determining which note to play, controlling their air, and paying together with the class takes a great deal of concentration. This is a quality that a child of this age really needs to attain to succeed in the future.
One hundred student will benefit from these small instruments. Beginning their musical experience early will pay off as they continue to play in the bands and orchestras in the future!

Budget Narrative

The students will get a choice of 4 colors.

Items

#	Item	Cost
1	25 Red Trans. Ren Recorders w/book	$171.25
2	25 Purple Trans. Ren Recorders w/book	$171.25
3	25 Green Trans. Ren. Recorders w/book	$171.25
4	25 Blue Trans. Ren. Recorders w/book	$171.25
5	Teacher book and CD	$14.95
6	shipping	$54.80
	Total:	$754.75

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