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Recorder Karate Update
The recorders have arrived! We will now begin incorporating the recorder into our weekly music class. Check out the link below (you may need to copy and paste the address into your web browser). This will give students a chance to practice some of the songs we will be working on in class at home. It has the written out musical notation, as well as audio recordings that the student can play along with.
http://studiokay.com/recorder/Studentsx.html
Unit 1: Elements of Music
In this unit, students will be introduced to the recorder. Through work with the recorder, students will enhance their basic understanding of music theory while also working on performance related skills. The students will be participating in a program called, Recorder Karate. Through monthly assessments, students will be able to demonstrate their musical progression. If specific skills are mastered, students will earn a new recorder “belt” (colored ribbon tied to the base of their instrument). By the end of the year, students will have the opportunity to earn eight belts leading up to the final black belt challenge. The knowledge and skills gained in this unit will be built upon and expanded throughout the rest of the year.
Unit 2: Form
In this unit, students will be introduced to simple musical forms. We will learn about spirituals and the history behind call and response. Through various folk songs from Canada, students will explore forms such as verse-refrain, AB, ABA, and rondo form. Students will be able to identify and discuss these forms through listening and the creation of class compositions. Students will also continue their work on the recorder. At the culmination of the unit, students will earn their red recorder karate belt by creating and performing a variation on “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”
Unit 3: Meters and Latin American Music
In this unit, students will explore meters in 2, 3, 4, and 6 while learning songs and cultural elements from Mexico and Central America. Students will learn written instrumental parts to accompany songs and create parts of their own. By the end of this unit, students will have earned their black belt in Recorder Karate by successfully playing “Ode to Joy.”
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