Me and My Recorder, Part 2: Recorder Book

This sequel respects where students actually are after Part 1, building confidence through achievable challenges rather than jumping ahead. The full-color illustrations and carefully chosen repertoire keep young players engaged across multiple pages, and the chord symbols for guitar and keyboard mean you're not limited to teacher accompaniment. It's the kind of method book that makes you notice actual progress in your students' playing within weeks.

Warm and approachable, with the feeling of a trusted teacher sitting beside you. The color illustrations create an inviting visual experience, while the mix of well-known tunes and original pieces keeps the experience musically satisfying rather than purely mechanical.

Elementary-age recorder students who've completed Part 1 and are ready to expand their technical vocabulary and repertoire. Teachers and homeschool instructors seeking a colorful, step-by-step method that keeps young beginners engaged beyond the initial excitement of learning the instrument.

• Coordinate with any guitarists or keyboard players in your ensemble by highlighting the chord symbols together before students perform the melodies. This shared responsibility strengthens their listening skills and sense of musicianship.
• Select 2-3 tunes from the book each week to review in ensemble, rotating which student plays the melody while others provide accompaniment. This pattern builds sight-reading fluency without the repetition feeling stale.
• Encourage students to identify their personal favorite tunes and practice those first, then circle back to less popular pieces. Intrinsic motivation goes a long way when students are choosing what they want to master.

Assign sections of this book as home practice material for a recorder-focused unit within your general music curriculum. Alternatively, use it as core repertoire for an after-school or small-group recorder ensemble, performing the accumulated tunes at informal classroom showcases or parent events.

• Reading simple melodies in treble clef with increasing rhythmic variety
• Coordinating breath control with longer phrases
• Listening to and responding to harmonic accompaniment from keyboards and guitars
• Developing finger dexterity and articulation in new registers
• Understanding chord symbols and their relationship to melodic lines