Parents of Fifth Grade Students,
Beginning in February, your child will learn to play the recorder in music class. Playing the recorder involves all of the skills of reading music, which includes pitch, rhythm, instrument technique and intonation. These music skills will prepare your child for greater success as they transition to middle school band, chorus, or orchestra next year. The recorder unit will begin in February and continue through May. In order to achieve the most success in music class, it is important that your child has his/her own recorder to play both in music class and to practice at home.
Recorder Testing and Music Grades
Music grades will be determined by each student’s ability to demonstrate note reading, rhythm reading and recorder technique through performing songs on their recorder using a curriculum called Recorder Karate. Recorder Karate is a compilation of nine songs that graduate in difficulty, allowing students to work at their own pace. Students will earn a “belt” for their recorder each time they successfully play a song in class. The color of each belt represents the difficulty level of the song being tested. The songs graduate in difficulty in rhythm, pitch, and recorder technique. Individual playing assessments will be given during each music class. Student grades will be determined by successfully performing individual playing tests on their recorder throughout the grading period. A music theory test will be given at the end of the unit to test for further understanding of pitch, rhythm, note reading and recorder technique.
The music standards assessed during the recorder unit:
- Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
- Performing melodic patterns from a major scale with appropriate technique.
- Performing multiple songs representing various styles, tonalities, and meters.
- Performing instrumental parts matching dynamics, and tempo.
- Reading and notating music.
- Reading rhythmic patterns including quarter note, eighth notes, half note, dotted half note, whole note, quarter rest, and half rest in 3/4 and 4/4/ meter.
- Reading melodies within a treble clef staff.
Music Folder
Students need a pocket folder to keep music and other information given to them in class. This should be brought to music class each time. Students will receive extra credit for bringing their recorders/folders to class each time. Students who do not bring their recorder to class will use a school owned classroom recorder that day. These cannot be taken home. If you have any questions, e-mail me at [email protected] or leave a voice mail at (770) 975-6673 #441.