Really Easy Jazzin' About: Fun Pieces for Recorder: Recorder Book

Wedgwood's strength lies in writing tunes that stick with students long after rehearsal ends. These pieces introduce swing feel, blues tonality, and rhythmic sophistication without requiring technical facility beyond what beginners possess, which means your students spend time making music rather than struggling through notation.

These pieces have personality. Whether it's the rhythmic swagger of Party Popper!, the gentle float of Dreaming, or the groove-driven energy of Bumble Bee Boogie, each tune feels distinct and genuinely playful. There's a lightness here that invites students to enjoy the act of performing rather than simply completing assigned repertoire.

Young recorder students ready to move beyond folk tune arrangements and gain confidence with a wider range of musical styles. This collection works equally well for players preparing for concerts or simply discovering what their instrument can do beyond the traditional repertoire.

• Establish the swing feel early by tapping the underlying groove with your foot before playing any notes; let the rhythm sit in your body first.
• Pay attention to which pieces have a triplet-based pulse (swing) versus straight eighth notes; the stylistic difference matters and changes how you shape phrases.
• Explore the dynamic contrasts Wedgwood writes in; funky doesn't mean loud, and these pieces often work best when softer passages feel just as intentional as the punctuated ones.
• Use the recordings as a reference for tone color and phrasing, not as a target to match exactly. Your interpretation should breathe.

Scatter individual pieces throughout the year as concert filler or as the backbone of a casual winter or spring program built around jazz and contemporary styles. The range of moods means you can program a complete set with strong pacing; alternating between a funky romp and a lyrical piece keeps audiences engaged while letting your ensemble catch their breath.

• Swing feel and triplet-based rhythm
• Blues tonality and chromatic passing tones
• Dynamic nuance and stylistic phrasing
• Syncopation in elementary contexts
• Articulation techniques suited to jazz vocabulary