Submitted by Gretchen Taylor, Illinois
Idea posted January 8, 2003
My 6th grade recorder class is scheduled to play An Olde English Carol (from Music K-8, Vol. 12, No. 2). We don't have a lot of time to get it down pat, so I've tried a few new approaches to helping it stick quick.
First, I took six large file cards and wrote (in letters) four note combinations taken right from the score in order that they occur, like GABC, CBAB, CAAA, etc. As a warm-up, I held up each card and asked the class to play each pitch in half note values several times, then in quarter note values. Finally, I put the card down and simply showed the melodic direction with my hand as they played. We went through each card.
Then I put the score on the overhead and worked through each note combo reading the notes themselves in the same manner. Then, we sight read through the whole piece a few times. Went pretty well.
This week, after warming up again with the cards, reading through the piece once, I'm going to divide the class into four groups. I will place a music stand at each of our four walls with the music. Groups will be assigned to the wall stations. Now, each station will be assigned a four-measure section from the piece. I'll start the CD, and the kids at the first station will play the first phrase; 2nd station, 2nd phrase; and so on. This will be repeated, and then the coda will be played by all. At the end, everyone will rotate stations and we'll do it all over. We'll continue until everyone has played at each station (running through the piece four times total). Then, we'll all play the piece through together.
I'm going to call this activity Four Corners Round Robin. Just a little different way to learn the music.