Submitted by Connie Herbon, Iowa

Idea posted April 5, 2002

Question: Does anyone have any kind of a poem or "chant" that the kids could recite prior to playing the recorder to remind them of general rules?

Answer: We don't have a poem or chant, but I made some simple posters on 12" X 18" construction paper which I keep on the wall during the months we are working on recorder.

The first time, I demonstrate/explain what I expect for each "rule," then during the next class we review each chart with the students telling me what to do for each. We have class every other day, so by the third class period, we're usually down to just going through the charts as a check list. We do this at the beginning of each class - takes about 30 seconds.

My charts are at school, but the following are roughly what they say, plus some have a simple graphic: Posture / Left hand at top / Gentle, "warm" air / Think "dut" / Cover holes completely. I always monitor hand position during our echo warm-up time at the beginning of each class.