Introduction to Recorder Playing Basic 3 Cultural & Creative Arts (CCA) Lesson Note

Class: Primary 3
Subject: Cultural and Creative Art
Topic: Introduction to Recorder Playing
Duration: 35 minutes

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, pupils will be able to hold a recorder correctly, produce clear sounds, and play simple notes on the recorder.

Introduction

The recorder is a wonderful musical instrument that is perfect for children to learn. It is a wind instrument, which means we blow air into it to make sounds. The recorder has holes that we cover with our fingers to make different musical notes. Today we will learn how to hold the recorder properly and make our first beautiful sounds.

Main Content

What Is a Recorder?

A recorder is a simple woodwind instrument that looks like a long tube with holes. It has a mouthpiece at one end where we blow air, and seven holes on the front and one hole on the back that we cover with our fingers. When we cover different combinations of holes and blow gently, we can make different musical notes. The recorder is one of the easiest instruments to learn and is used in schools all around the world.

How to Hold the Recorder

Proper holding is very important for good recorder playing. We hold the recorder with both hands, with the left hand at the top near the mouthpiece and the right hand at the bottom. The left thumb covers the hole on the back, while the other fingers cover holes on the front. We should sit up straight and hold the recorder at a slight angle away from our body. Our fingers should be curved and relaxed, ready to cover the holes completely.

Making Your First Sounds

To make sound on the recorder, we need to blow gently and steadily into the mouthpiece. We should never blow too hard because it will make harsh, unpleasant sounds. Think of blowing gently on hot soup to cool it down. Start by covering all the holes and blow gently to make a low note. Then try lifting one finger at a time to hear how the sound changes. The secret to good recorder playing is gentle, controlled breathing.

Class Exercises

Exercise 1: Proper holding practice. Hold your recorder with correct hand position. Left hand on top, right hand below, thumb covering the back hole. Practice this position without playing.

Exercise 2: Breathing technique exercise. Practice blowing gently without the recorder first. Blow steadily on your hand as if cooling hot food. This is how gently you should blow into the recorder.

Exercise 3: First sound production. With all holes covered, blow gently into the recorder to make your first note. Practice making the sound start and stop cleanly.

Exercise 4: Simple finger movement. Keep all holes covered except lift your bottom finger (right pinky). Blow gently and hear how the sound changes. Put the finger back down and try again.

Exercise 5: Note practice session. Practice making two notes by covering all holes, then lifting the bottom finger. Switch between these two notes slowly and smoothly.

Evaluation

Pupils will demonstrate correct recorder holding position and produce clear, gentle sounds. The teacher will observe proper finger placement and breathing technique.

Assignment

If you have a recorder at home, practice holding it correctly and making gentle sounds for five minutes each day. If you do not have a recorder, practice the proper holding position using a pencil or stick, and practice gentle breathing exercises. Remember to always blow gently, never hard.