Instruct students to set up their recorders. If a student is using an adaptive tool or instrument, please follow the instructions accompanied with the product.

Remind students of the three recorder positions: Resting Position, Ready Position, and Playing Position. 

Remind students that when playing the recorder, they should blow gently into the instrument! Remind students of last lesson’s exercise, where they imagined creating a soft breeze through their recorders. Using the palms of their hands, have students blow a gentle breeze, or cool down the soup in the palm of their hands. Then, with recorders in Playing Position, have students play a “B” with a beautiful, soft sound.

Have students sit in a circle, facing each other, and then demonstrate the fingers for a “B” in resting position. Then, start a game of Pass the Note: play a “B” and pass it to a student in the circle. That student then passes it to their neighbor and continues passing the sound throughout the class. Encourage the kids to communicate without talking and to only have one student playing the “B” at a time but to keep the “B” continuous. 

• Repeat with “A,” starting at a different point in the circle.

• Repeat with “G,” starting at a different point in the circle. 

Use the above game to check that each student is holding their recorder with proper technique, with their left hand on top, and right thumb supporting the bottom of the recorder in the correct position. Instruct students that today they will learn a new note that uses fingers from both hands!

Ask students to demonstrate the fingers for the notes “B,” “A,” and “G.” If necessary, replay the videos How to Play the Note “B,” How to Play the Note “A,” and How to Play the Note “G,” pausing when appropriate to make sure each student has their correct fingers sealing the topmost holes of the recorder’s body, and their right thumb supporting the bottom half in the correct position. Introduce students to the “Cheerio” test: press the correct fingers into the holes of the recorder, then inspect the fingertips to see whether “Cheerios” have developed on the pads of the fingers. 

Optional: Review the previously learned songs, by viewing Learn the B Happy Blues!, Learn Rockin’ About Town! and Learn The Funky Bag! They can then perform with the backing tracks using the following links: 

• (Backing Track) Songs to Play: B Happy Blues

• (Backing Track) Songs to Play: Rockin' About Town

• (Backing Track) Songs to Play: The Funky Bag

Tell the students they are now ready to learn the next note on the recorder: the note “Low E.” Play the video How to Play the Note “Low E,” pausing to make sure each student has their left thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers, sealing the topmost holes of the recorder’s body, and their right thumb supporting the bottom half in the correct position, with right index and middle fingers sealing holes 4 and 5 on the recorder. 

Tell students they are now ready to learn their next song on the recorder: “Shorter’s Strut.” Play the video Learn Shorter’s Strut, pausing as necessary to ensure each student is building confidence playing the recorder, and their new song. Repeat any of the above steps as necessary to reinforce understanding and develop routine skills for future lessons.