Rootin' Tootin' Recorders 8

School:: Avalon Elementary
Subject:: Music
Teacher:: Sandra Stein
Students Impacted:: 100
Grade:: 3
Date:: September 6, 2022

Investor

Thank you to the following investor for funding this grant.

Lucie Jenny MacCarthy Music Fund of the Collier Community Foundation - $985.00

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 100

This year was a great one! I couldn’t believe how focused the third graders were when they started playing recorders. 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

Check out the great posture and concentration!!

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 playing the recorder, they can then begin reading music. The books are key to help each student 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)	$246.25
2	MIE 205 Blue Recorder & book (25)	$246.25
3	MIE205 Green Recorder & book (25)	$246.25
4	MIE205 Purple Recorder & book (25)	$246.25
	Total:	$985.00

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