Recorders Without Borders

Step-by-step lesson plans for grades 2-5

Teaching Artist Ruaridh Pattison teaches the recorder while "traveling the world.”

Students will learn sound production, articulation, and fingerings. They’ll use body percussion, rhythm exercises, and other interactive musical activities to develop general music skills.

LESSONS

This is the first lesson from Recorders Without Borders, where students will begin to learn to play the recorder. Students will visit New Orleans, Louisiana to discover a type of musical expression called the blues. Students will then perform “The B Happy Blues” by Ruaridh Pattison as a class, and share it with peers, friends, and family. 

This is the second lesson from Recorders Without Borders, where students will build upon their recorder playing skills. Students will discover a type of music called rock ‘n’ roll. Students will then perform “Rockin’ About Town” by Ruaridh Pattison as a class, and share it with peers, friends, and family.

This is the third lesson from Recorders Without Borders, where students will build upon their recorder playing skills. Students will discover a type of music called funk by listening to James Brown and Parliament Funkadelic. Students will then perform “The Funky Bag” by Ruaridh Pattison as a class, and share it with peers, friends, and family. 

This is the fourth lesson from Recorders Without Borders, where students will build upon their recorder playing skills. Students will discover a type of music called jazz by listening to songs by Wayne Shorter and Miles Davis. Students will then perform “Shorter’s Strut” by Ruaridh Pattison as a class, and share it with peers, friends, and family. 

This is the fifth lesson from Recorders Without Borders, where students will build upon their recorder playing skills. Students will explore a type of music performed by the Sioux Nation, a group of Native American tribes and First Nations peoples from the Great Plains. Students will then perform “The Sioux Lullaby” as a class, and share it with peers, friends, and family.

This is the sixth lesson of Recorders Without Borders, where students will build upon their recorder playing skills. Students will explore Arabic music and culture. Students will then perform “Ala De’Lona” as a class, and share it with peers, friends, and family. 

This is the seventh lesson of Recorders Without Borders, where students will build upon their recorder playing skills. Students will explore a style of jazz from South Africa known as Cape jazz. Students will then perform “Homecoming” by Abdullah Ibrahim as a class, and share it with peers, friends, and family. 

This is the eighth lesson of Recorders Without Borders, where students will build upon their recorder playing skills. Students will explore music from Korea, then perform “Arirang” as a class to share with peers, friends, and family.

This is the ninth lesson of Recorders Without Borders, where students will build upon their recorder playing skills. Students will explore music from Guyana and the Caribbean, then perform “Missy Lost the Gold Ring” as a class to share with peers, friends, and family.

This is the tenth lesson of Recorders Without Borders, where students will build upon their recorder playing skills. Students will explore music from East Africa, then perform “Malaika,” a Swahili love song, as a class to share with peers, friends, and family.