Welcome to 4th grade music! As a part of Clovis Unified School District's music curriculum, I have the pleasure to teach the recorder to your student. I have been a music teacher for over 20 years, and look forward to getting your students started on possibly their first instrument, the recorder. Every year the students get so excited and it is a lot of fun to be part of. We will have fun and work hard learning note names, rhythms, and how to play songs on the recorder
Arnd the end of the first quarter, the students are assigned and given a recorder. If the recorder is lost or broken, you will be asked to replace it or pay $5 to cover the replacement cost. You may also purchase and use your own recorder if you want to.
Each year we participate in a program called "Link Up". We will learn songs, take a trip at the end of the year to the Saroyan Theatre in downtown Fresno, and then have the opportunity to play our recorders with the Fresno Philharmonic. The theatre will be filled with 4th grade classes from our entire district and many other Fresno County schools. I also incorporate other songs from "Recorder Karate" curriculum. Each song that the students complete the test, they will receive a piece of colored yarn (their karate belt) indicating they have passed a song.
Learning an instrument is a skill which requires some regular home practicing. I am asking each student to turn in a practice sheet at the end of each month once we start learning the recorder. Please encourage your students to practice and ask them to play a song for you each week.
Helpful Practice Hints:
- Cover all the holes tightly. Leaks cause squeaks!
- The left hand is place above the right hand.
- Blow gently with "warm" air.
- Please make sure your student's recorder is labeled with their name.
Thank you for your continued support of your child's creativity in music!
Mr. Jason Kuyper