Rootin' Tootin' Recorders 5

School:: Avalon Elementary
Subject:: Music
Teacher:: Sandra Stein
Students Impacted:: 90
Grade:: 3
Date:: August 26, 2019

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

Lucie Jenny MacCarthy Music Fund of the Community Foundation of Collier County - $950.00

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 90

The students were thrilled this year to receive their recorders. This year I ordered more blue and red recorders. Those seem to be their favorite colors. We started playing at the end of November.

I tried a new strategy this year. I spent about the first eight lessons without looking at written music. We echoed, improvised, listened and coached one another. It really worked! Remember that I only see the kids once a week! The students had time to become comfortable with their instrument and making a good sound before they even worried about reading music.

By the time we started to look at written rhythms and note names, most of the kids were ready to go. I also found that I had many more kids remembering to bring their recorders to class and participating to a higher degree.

When we left for Spring Break, I told the kids that they could certainly take their recorders home, but could also store them in their class's box here at school. Most of them took it home, thank goodness!

I've been trying to virtually teach lessons for their recorders or another "creative sound" that they found around the house. I did have one third grade boy send me a video of himself reading the rhythms that he had written himself and then he played them on his recorder! How beautiful!

Original Grant Overview

Goal

I would like the third grade students at Avalon to experience the joy of having their own instrument and learning to play it without the burden of paying for it.

What will be done with my students

1. Students will choose the color of their instrument, write their name on their book, recorder, and case and learn how to properly care for the recorder.
2. Over the following 15-18 music classes the students will learn the basics of recorder playing. (fingering, posture, breath control...) and learn the basics of reading music. (staff, treble clef, names of notes, rhythm...)
3. With the books, students can practice during music class and at home.
4. In May the students will perform for their parents on the stage using selected music to share their level of skill.
5. I have many students that keep working on their recorders in subsequent years and can perform in class for their family and when the 4th graders play and sing at Artis-Naples.

Benefits to my students

The ability to read music is similar to speaking and reading another language. Once they learn the basics of reading music, each student can easily progress at their own pace. That's why the books are so important.
Students at this age (8 or 9) are so excited to be able to play and instrument themselves!
The recorder and books enable the students to work, learn, play and perform using their newly acquired skills!
Even though the grant is written for 3rd grade, I have many students that keep working on their recorders in subsequent years and can perform in class, for their family and when the 4th graders play and sing at Artis-Naples.

Budget Narrative

These are medium quality plastic recorders with and outstanding book written by a nationally acclaimed music teacher and author, Artie Almeida.
Shipping should be free with this amount.

Items

#	Item	Cost
1	MIE205 Red Recorder & book (25)	$237.50
2	MIE 205 Blue Recorder & book (25)	$237.50
3	MIE205 Green Recorder & book (25)	$237.50
4	MIE205 Purple Recorder & book (25)	$237.50
	Total:	$950.00

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