Recorder Compositions
Submitted by Andrea Cope, Texas
Idea posted 2003-02-14
Each student got a half sheet of staff paper (6 staves). I made several large charts showing the time values of the various notation symbols and a sample staff showing the placement of the notes we've learned so far: CBAGE. The piece must be in 4/4, and it must end on the note it started with. It must have a title and "Composed By" legend. In grading it, I'm first checking for the allowed notes, then totaling the value of each measure. Then, I count the total number of completed measures. Using my easy-grader, I then determine the point value per measure.
We worked on this for two classes. After the first class, I did a preliminary check and attached a sticky note to each one with comments. I drew a red line at the point it ended when I checked. I'll only count errors after that point, though measures written before that line go into the total number of measures for grading purposes.
Next week we'll pass them around and play them. The last 10 minutes of class, I'll play each one. We'll record some of them, and I'll encourage all of them to download the free Finale and type them up at home. I like someone else's idea to have a recital. I might do that, too.
The kids look forward to doing this every year. Some of the best are played on the morning announcements, so they know about it before they get to do it.
