Submitted by Mary H. Goins, Clarksville, Tennessee
Idea posted July 3, 2007
I have found an easy way to add Recorder Karate belts to my students' recorders. Our local home improvement store carries "O-Rings" in the plumbing section in boxes of 10. The #17 and #18 sizes easily slide over the end of the bell (they stretch slightly). Our belts are made of yarn, and I currently have 18 colors for 18 playing tests. The 6-7" yarn is folded in half and looped over the O-Ring.
I have added an extra belt this year. Using a longer white belt, with a knot at the end, the students can earn a colored bead for each recorder performance, and any performance counts (i.e., after school clubs, talent show, concerts, a play at their church). Students get to choose the color of bead from a jar.