Recorder Rules
All year long, I have my Recorder Rules posted in my classroom. Not only do they provide nice color on the white wall, but they remind students of the recorder basics. A better name for them may be Recorder Reminders.
1. Left hand on top
2. Head up
3. Always use good posture
4. Fingers in front, thumbs in back
5. Always tongue the notes, “too” or “tah”
6. If squeaking and squawking, FIX IT!
Writing a post about my Recorder Rules has made me think more about them, and I discovered two things I talk about a lot with my kids but don’t have on my rules!! For the most part, squeaking is caused by blowing too hard. So, I need to add something like “blow gently” or I tell my students to “blow bubbles, not birthday candles”. Another saying I use is “the lower you go, the less you blow”. Also, squeaking is caused by not covering all the holes needed to play the note(s). “Cover all holes” may need to be up there too! I will put those on my list of things to do!!
Here is a photo of my current Recorder Rules:
