Submitted by Julia Tibbett, Freehold, New Jersey

Idea posted February 13, 2012

Some students don't immediately understand the connection between reading music, and how this coordinates to their finger patterns on their recorder. I created "The Step Game" for these students.

I have my students stand on the third step of my classroom risers (which represents B), and as we read the notes of a song, they step up and down the steps accordingly. Then, I have them step and add their fingerings on their recorder as they say their notes. (This activity is also good for those students that have forgotten their recorder.) If necessary, you can label your steps B, A, and G.