Blog # 9

How To

Learning how to play the Recorder Instrument

1) Buy a Yamaha recorder student book 1 by: Sand Feldstein from the store

2) Buy a recorder instrument from the store

3) Take the recorder instrument and hold it in your hand vertically with the mouthpiece up.

4) Take your left hand and cover the first, second and third hole with pointer, middle, and ring finger.

5) Take the right hand and cover the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh hole with the pointer, middle, ring and pinky finger.

6) With the mouthpiece, blow into the mouthpiece with an inch into your mouth. Blow gently.

7) Blow with “Tu” syllable in mind to create it with your blow.

8) The Yamaha recorder student book has a process of directions for each page on which you need to read and follow.

9) Read and practice each page through the whole book.

10) Sit up when playing the recorder.

11) Enjoy playing your instrument

12) Wipe down the recorder after playing with a bandana

13) Put the recorder back into the case and place it in a safe spot until next time you practice.

Poetry

How Do I Love Thee?

-Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

I could use POETRY help students practice expressions. I could assign each student a stanza to read while acting out what they are reading about. We could have a Student Stage in our classroom that is geared to all types of fine arts. Poetry could be one of them, music like singing or instruments the students play, drama with plays, and even having the students share their work from numerous of assignments. This particular poem by Elizabeth Browning could be used to show students that it is possible to have so much love in your heart for an individual. I could use this poem during February for Valentines Day. The students then could write their own type of Love Poem for their parents/grandparents/siblings/animals/or friends.