Stop the squeaks. Start the music
If teaching recorder has ever felt frustrating—for you or your students—you’re not alone. Between squeaky tone, finger confusion, and classroom management challenges, recorder can quickly become overwhelming.
This course gives you a clear, structured path to turn recorder time into one of the most successful (and musical) parts of your classroom.
How This Course Works:
This course is asynchronous, meaning the videos have all been recorded already and you can access them any time you want. No need to align your schedule to get on a Zoom call or webinar. Watch or rewatch whenever you want and at your own pace. There are no sunset dates so the content won't go away. It's yours to access whenever you want for as long as you want.
When all the video lessons are completed, this course is worth nine hours of PD credit. At the end of the course you'll be able to receive a personalized PD certificate showing your completion of this course.
What's included?
Inside this course, you’ll learn how to break recorder instruction into manageable, sequential steps so students build real skills—without the chaos.
-
Do you want some practical ideas for introducing the recorder and setting expectations from day one? I’ve got videos all about routines, procedures, first sounds, and setting students up for success.
- Need help figuring out the best sequence for teaching notes, fingerings, and music reading? We’ll talk through pacing, scaffolding, and simple ways to build skills step-by-step and I'll provide songs and resources to help you along the way.
- Want some strategies for improving tone and cutting down on squeaks? I’ll share some tips and tricks that I use with my beginning players to make them laugh and think and remedy the squeaking.
- Looking for ways to keep recorder lessons engaging and successful? There are plenty of ideas for participation, classroom management, ensemble playing, and student independence.
- Need support with assessment and “next steps” as students progress? We’ll explore performance ideas, assessment strategies, and extension activities to keep students growing.
And if there’s a recorder topic or question that’s not covered in the course, reach out and I’ll do my best to add it in!
Getting Started
We’ll spend time talking through how to introduce the recorder, establish routines and expectations, and create a strong foundation for long-term success. I’ll also walk through classroom setup, pacing, lesson structure, and the strategies I use to make those first recorder lessons feel smooth and manageable.
Lesson & Resource Examples
We’ll spend time talking through the pros and cons of different recorder brands, what to look for when purchasing instruments for your classroom, and which features actually matter for student success. I’ll also walk through some of my favorite method books, teaching materials, songs, and recorder resources that I return to year after year in my own classroom.
Logistics, Tips, and Tricks
We’ll spend time exploring the small adjustments that make recorder teaching easier and more effective in the classroom. I’ll also share practical management strategies, troubleshooting tips, lesson scaffolding, and the shortcuts and routines that have made the biggest difference in my own teaching.
Example Curriculum
- Recorder Fingering Charts - Soprano (8:42)
- Resource: Sweet Pipes Books (9:34)
- Resource: Windsongs Series (7:43)
- Resource: Recorder Routes (10:12)
- Resource: Recorder Express (Artie Almeida) (8:10)
- Resource: Recorder Karate (8:34)
- Resource: In the BAG and All Aboard the Recorder Express (Janet Day) (13:29)
- Ideas from Brigitte Warner (Orff-Schulwerk Applications for the Classroom) - "Are the kids laying down?" (11:43)
- Poly Spots - Walking the Music (11:01)
- Fishin' For a Melody (Improvisation & Centers) - BAG (options for Low ED or High CD) (12:16)
- Jigsaw Recorder (Improvisation & Centers) - BAG (options for Low ED) (8:49)
- Flip, Flop, Five (Janet Day) - BAG CD (8:29)
- Ode to Joy - BAG CD Low D (12:28)
- Pizza Party - BAG CD (Options for Low ED and F#) (10:12)
- Aura Lee - BAG CD (6:06)
- When the Saints Go Marching In - BAG CD (6:07)
- Scotland's Burning - BAG Low D High D (3:48)
- William Tell Overture - BAG Low D High CD (8:16)
- Amazing Grace - BAG Low ED High D (6:23)