Attention! All 3rd- and 4th- graders:
Monday, August 21, 2023 First Week of School
Attention! All 3rd- and 4th- graders:
We play recorders in grades 3 and 4. If you are just getting to 3rd-grade, this will be quite a new experience for you.
All 3rd- and 4th-grade students will need to have a recorder and book. We begin recorder instruction around the last week of January or the first week of February.
You will need a good quality, "Baroque" recorder, not a "German" recorder--there is a difference.
You will also need a copy of Denise Gagne's "Recorder Resource Book".
You will need to go online and order your own recorder and book. The trick is YOU HAVE TO ORDER THE CORRECT BOOK AND RECORDER. I am not collecting money for the recorders at the school this year. You will need to purchase these yourself.
You can order the complete set of book and recorder here--
https://tinyurl.com/yc223mek
If you already own a recorder and only need the book, then the books are $6.
You can order just the book here--
https://tinyurl.com/y2hv7nzy
Please make sure that you are getting the "Yamaha" in BLUE, GREEN, IVORY, OR PINK -- and the "Complete Recorder Resource Book 1". Anything else is just plain wrong.
Please email me if you have any questions. My website, Mr. Riley’s Music, is accessible through the Eastern and Macy home pages, or go to https://rileychoir.weebly.com/recorders.html
Thank you,
Kevin Riley
But isn't this just a TOY?
You may not be aware, but the recorder was formerly one of Europe's most popular instruments. This from Wikipedia:
The recorder was popular in medieval times through the baroque era, but declined in the 18th century in favour of orchestral woodwind instruments, such as the flute, oboe, and clarinet. During its heyday, the recorder was traditionally associated with pastoral scenes, miraculous events, funerals, marriages and amorous scenes. Images of recorders can be found in literature and artwork associated with all of these. Purcell, Bach, Telemann and Vivaldi used the recorder to suggest shepherds and imitate birds in their music, a theme that continued in 20th-century music.[3]
The recorder was revived in the 20th century, partly in the pursuit of historically informed performance of early music, but also because of its suitability as a simple instrument for teaching music and its appeal to amateur players. Today, it is sometimes thought of as a child's instrument, but there are many professional players who demonstrate the instrument's full solo range.[4]
So, if you are hearing sounds that don't sound so pleasing coming from your child's recorder at home, please don't blame the recorder. We all need to practice. Please support your child by giving them opportunity at home to do just that--practice!
Need inspiration?
The recorder was popular in medieval times through the baroque era, but declined in the 18th century in favour of orchestral woodwind instruments, such as the flute, oboe, and clarinet. During its heyday, the recorder was traditionally associated with pastoral scenes, miraculous events, funerals, marriages and amorous scenes. Images of recorders can be found in literature and artwork associated with all of these. Purcell, Bach, Telemann and Vivaldi used the recorder to suggest shepherds and imitate birds in their music, a theme that continued in 20th-century music.[3]
The recorder was revived in the 20th century, partly in the pursuit of historically informed performance of early music, but also because of its suitability as a simple instrument for teaching music and its appeal to amateur players. Today, it is sometimes thought of as a child's instrument, but there are many professional players who demonstrate the instrument's full solo range.[4]
So, if you are hearing sounds that don't sound so pleasing coming from your child's recorder at home, please don't blame the recorder. We all need to practice. Please support your child by giving them opportunity at home to do just that--practice!
Need inspiration?
