The reasons I love using sopranino recorder in my lessons – Orff Exploration Time, a musical start and stop signal! This handy little tool is a part of my online and live training course and used in my lesson plans, both elementary and early childhood. Here’s some reasons why, then check out the video example, a demo with Lynn Kleiner and Music Rhapsody Teachers.
The video link below will show you a Training Demonstration , Lynn Kleiner and Music Rhapsody Teachers featuring Ev’ry Morning, which was introduced to Lynn by Avon Gillespie. Training and Lesson Plans from Music Rhapsody offer a curriculum that includes Orff instruments. A musical little signal for “Free play” time is used by the teacher.
For those of you in online training or coming this summer to Redondo Beach CA or SMU, Dallas Texas, a few wonder why the sopranino recorder (for you, not your students) is included in our playing time!
I want to share my reasons for using a sopranino recorder.
Its easy to play and easy to add to our music making (even just 4 notes works well!)
It adds a start and stop signal for an exploration time without all the structure of playing specific bars at a specific time.
Adds musicality, form and phrasing to student’s exploration (chaos! Lol!) time.
It takes up very little space in my book bag.
It is stored all in one piece. You do not have to put it together (like you would a flute)
You do not have to swab it out, etc.
The cost for a wonderful high quality plastic sopranino is very reasonable.
It is much higher sounding than the soprano recorder so can easily be heard when the children are playing, especially that high C that we like to save for the clear signal to end!
We introduce soprano recorders in our Recorder Rookies lesson plans for older elementary students after they have completed Young Musicians, Rhythm Readers and Melody Makers so I like to say “Someday I will teach you to play recorder too! Your first recorder will be a little bigger than this one.” Giving them something to look forward to is motivating!
Click here to watch an example of how to use the sopranino with Orff and the “Ev’ry Morning When I Wake Up” Hello Song.
Do your youngest students look like this on the first day? For 41 years, I have had cryers on the first day (sometimes me, just kidding!).
Tips for Tears on the First Day
Not a lot a transitions!
Once they settle down, enjoy the peace! Moving them to a new place (from sitting on the rug to movement around the room, a circle, or even standing up) often starts the crying all over again.
Keep it quiet
The more calm, compassionate and peaceful your voice is, the quicker they will quietly listen.
Something familiar
A soft strum on the ukulele with Twinkle Twinkle Little Star works magic!
Use puppets!
Showing children a puppet friend who is also scared on the first day helps calm children down. My little white mouse Allegro is always so scared and shy, because there’s so many new children to meet. (YES, THIS PUPPET IS BACK IN STOCK!!!)
WOW! What an exciting response to the topic CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT!
We had hundreds of teachers who were on the waitlist, since we could only take 100 attendants for each of our webinars. Here are a few more tips on Music Box for Classroom Management!
And DON’T FORGET! My September 28 Holiday Workshop is just around the corner! Join me September 28, 9:00 – 1:00, at the Pasadena Conservatory Auditorium for tons of fun with favorite holiday activities and concerts!
We’ll be covering material from my new book plus MUCH more! Learn more here!
TRANSITIONS! Make your lessons more musical! online or live teacher training is smooth, easy transitions with singing and participation between activities. Knowing how to handle transitions in mommy and me classes, preschools and elementary settings are an important part of the lesson planning. Here’s a glimpse of a transition with a group of 4-6 year-olds. Colors are Gliding – shows verse two only. This song and other transition songs can be found in Kids Make Music, Babies Make Music too.
Black History Month – Shosholoza
Shosholoza is found on the Brilliant Beginning CD (use your member discount when ordering) and is a popular song for our “exploration time” using gathering drum or hand drums for younger classes.
This week’s download features this song for BAG recorder players. (As requested from one of our awesome members!).
