Keep Cool

Embrace the winter and keep cool with this laid-back jazz piece for two soprano recorders and one alto. The recorder 2 part and the alto part are both optional, but it'll be extra cool if you are able to do all three parts.

The recorder parts share the same rhythms throughout, and the rhythms are simple: only quarter notes and half notes. Recorder 1 uses the notes GABC. If you need to, you can substitute the C's with A's, simplifying the recorder 1 part to just GAB. These note substitutions are indicated on the music. Recorder 2 uses DEGA, and the alto part uses GACDE.

Recorder players get to finger snap on beats two and four at the beginning of the piece, and again at the end. Just use one-handed snaps so the other hand can hold the recorder. Even though the snaps truly are meant for kids to do, you'll hear we did choose to include them on both our Full Performance and Accompaniment recordings. There's a two measure hi-hat set-up in the accompaniment before measure 1, then the snaps begin on beat two of measure 1. Be sure to clearly cue your students so they know when to start snapping and when to stop in order to be able to switch to playing their recorders. The snapping stops two measures before the recorders' entrance at measure 9 giving them plenty of time for this.

If some students aren't able to snap their fingers, this is a great opportunity to teach them. If they're still not catching on, no worries – faking it is just as cool. PDFs of the score and recorder parts are available on our web site, free to subscribers.