Learning to Play the Recorder Music JSS 1 First Term Lesson Notes Week 5

Lesson Plan: The Recorder

Subject: Music
Class: JSS 1
Term: First Term
Week: 5
Age: 11-12 years
Topic: The Recorder
Sub-topic: Description and Proper Handling of the Recorder
Duration: 40 minutes

Behavioral Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Describe the recorder as a musical instrument.
2. Identify the parts of a recorder.
3. Demonstrate the correct way to hold and play the recorder.

Keywords

• Recorder
• Mouthpiece
• Tone holes
• Thumb hole
• Fingering
• Breathing technique

Set Induction

The teacher plays a short melody using a recorder, asking the students to listen and guess what instrument is being played. The teacher then introduces the lesson by showing the recorder and explaining that it’s a wind instrument used in many musical traditions.

Entry Behaviour

Students are familiar with basic musical instruments, such as drums, tambourines, or flutes, but may not have used or seen a recorder.

Learning Resources and Materials

• Recorders (one for each student or a few to share)
• Charts showing the parts of a recorder
• Videos or audio clips of songs played on the recorder

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge

The teacher connects the lesson to previous music lessons about instruments and the different families of instruments, explaining that the recorder belongs to the wind instrument family.

Embedded Core Skills

• Hand-eye coordination
• Listening skills
• Finger dexterity

Reference Books

• Lagos State Scheme of Work
• Recorder Basics by John Pitts
• Beginner Recorder Lessons Book

Instructional Materials

• Recorder
• Fingering chart for students
• Audio or visual examples of recorder music

Content: The Recorder

1. Description of the Recorder:
   The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument. It is one of the oldest wind instruments and has been used in many different styles of music throughout history. Recorders are typically made of wood or plastic, and they come in different sizes. The most common one used in schools is the soprano recorder.
2. Parts of the Recorder:
   • Mouthpiece: The part of the recorder you blow into. It has a small slit called the “windway” that directs the air into the instrument.
   • Body: The long middle part of the recorder with tone holes.
   • Tone Holes: Small holes on the recorder that are covered by fingers to produce different notes.
   • Thumb Hole: Located at the back of the recorder and used for producing higher notes.
3. Holding the Recorder Properly:
   To hold the recorder correctly:
   • The left hand is placed at the top of the recorder.
   • The right hand is placed at the bottom of the recorder.
   • Your left thumb covers the back thumb hole.
   • Use the fingertips (not the pads) of the left hand to cover the top three holes.
   • Use the right hand to cover the bottom four holes.
   • Ensure all holes are covered completely to produce clear notes.

   Note: Proper posture is important while playing the recorder. Sit or stand upright and hold the instrument at a slight angle.

4. Playing the Recorder:
   • Breathing Technique: Gently blow into the mouthpiece. Blowing too hard will make the sound squeak.
   • Fingering: Different notes are produced by covering and uncovering the holes on the recorder. The teacher will demonstrate basic fingering for simple notes like B, A, and G.

15 Fill-in-the-Blank Questions with Options

1. The recorder is a _____ instrument.
   a) string
   b) woodwind
   c) brass
   d) percussion
2. The left hand is placed at the _____ of the recorder.
   a) bottom
   b) middle
   c) top
   d) side
3. The recorder has a total of ____ tone holes.
   a) 3
   b) 5
   c) 7
   d) 9
4. The part of the recorder you blow into is called the _____.
   a) tone hole
   b) mouthpiece
   c) body
   d) neck
5. The thumb hole is located at the ____ of the recorder.
   a) front
   b) top
   c) side
   d) back
6. The recorder produces sound when you blow ____ into the mouthpiece.
   a) gently
   b) strongly
   c) loudly
   d) forcefully
7. The most common type of recorder used in schools is the _____ recorder.
   a) bass
   b) alto
   c) soprano
   d) tenor
8. To play the note B, cover _____.
   a) no holes
   b) the back hole only
   c) the back and first hole
   d) the first two holes
9. The tone holes are covered using the ____ of the fingers.
   a) pads
   b) sides
   c) tips
   d) knuckles
10. The part of the recorder that contains the holes is called the _____.
    a) mouthpiece
    b) headjoint
    c) body
    d) windway
11. Proper posture when playing the recorder includes sitting or standing _____.
    a) leaning forward
    b) slouching
    c) upright
    d) sideways
12. The thumb on the left hand should cover the _____.
    a) side hole
    b) bottom hole
    c) thumb hole
    d) first tone hole
13. When blowing into the recorder, blowing too hard will cause a _____.
    a) high pitch
    b) clear sound
    c) squeak
    d) low pitch
14. The recorder is commonly made from either _____ or plastic.
    a) metal
    b) wood
    c) brass
    d) leather
15. The ____ recorder is the largest and produces the lowest notes.
    a) alto
    b) soprano
    c) bass
    d) tenor

15 FAQs with Answers

1. What is a recorder?
   The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument with tone holes that are covered to produce different notes.
2. What are the parts of a recorder?
   The recorder has a mouthpiece, body, tone holes, and thumb hole.
3. How do you hold a recorder?
   You hold the recorder with the left hand on top and the right hand on the bottom, covering the holes with your fingertips.
4. What is the mouthpiece of a recorder?
   The mouthpiece is the part of the recorder that you blow into to produce sound.
5. How many tone holes are on a recorder?
   There are seven tone holes on the front and one thumb hole at the back.
6. What is the purpose of the thumb hole?
   The thumb hole helps produce higher notes and is located at the back of the recorder.
7. How do you play a note on the recorder?
   You play a note by blowing into the recorder and covering or uncovering the tone holes.
8. What is the most common size of recorder used in schools?
   The soprano recorder is the most common size used in schools.
9. What material is the recorder made from?
   The recorder is usually made from wood or plastic.
10. How do you produce a clear sound on the recorder?
    Blow gently into the mouthpiece and make sure the holes are completely covered.
11. What happens if you blow too hard into the recorder?
    If you blow too hard, the recorder will squeak.
12. What is the function of the tone holes?
    The tone holes are covered to produce different musical notes.
13. Why is correct posture important when playing the recorder?
    Correct posture allows you to hold the recorder comfortably and produce a better sound.
14. What note do you play when covering the back thumb hole and the first front hole?
    This produces the note B.
15. Can recorders be played in an orchestra?
    Yes, recorders can be played in orchestras and other musical groups, especially in early music performances.

Teacher’s Activities

• Show students the parts of the recorder and how to hold it correctly.
• Demonstrate proper fingering for basic notes (B, A, G).
• Guide students to practice holding and playing simple notes.

Learners’ Activities

• Practice holding the recorder properly with guidance.
• Practice covering the tone holes and playing basic notes like B, A, and G.
• Respond to teacher questions and demonstrate their understanding.

Assessment

1. Describe the recorder as a musical instrument.
2. Name the parts of the recorder.
3. How do you hold the recorder properly?
4. What happens if you blow too hard into the recorder?
5. What note is played when the back thumb hole and the first front hole are covered?

Conclusion

The teacher summarizes the lesson by revisiting how to hold the recorder, its parts, and the correct way to blow and produce sound. The teacher gives students time to ask questions and offers corrections where necessary.