Printed from the MusicK8.com Idea Bank

Finger Calisthenics

Submitted by Kari Gordon, Racine, Wisconsin

Idea posted 2004-07-13

To keep my recorder kids focused, we do "finger calisthenics" to help us with the fingering on tricky bits. I do my best Richard Simmons imitation, put on some oldies (gotta love those walking bass lines), and tell them to "Get ready to SWEAT!" Then we run the troublesome fingering over and over to the beat of the selected song. They love it. (I also tell them, very conspiratorially, that this is a great way to drive their parents NUTS. The best part is, they can tell their parents that it's homework for Mrs. G!)