We offer recorder club to Year 2. 

learning the recorder can be the first step into learning an instrument and has a wealth of benefits: 

1 It helps develop strong lungs and breath control.

This is such an important skill! I know we all need to breath to stay alive, but how many of us know how to breath and fill our lungs with a good string of low breath?

2 It teaches us to read music

Learning to read music, and having the brain learn new things is one way of strengthening new pathways. Learning to read anything is important and learning to read music is a lifelong skill that can be used in all parts of future music education.

3 It helps us develop our listening skills

Developing skills in listening to each other, and how different parts of the music interact and rely upon each other is something that we should be able to do. Playing and performing as part of a small or large recorder ensemble requires everyone to listen to each other to make the music “sound” the way it should.

4 It helps us develop our aural skills

Music aural skills can only be developed through playing and performing music. The more opportunities students have to play music, the more they learn about what music has the potential to sound like when musical elements are changed or altered. Through playing music children develop their musical “ear” when they start to connect what is written on the page to what they hear or play.

5 It helps to develop our eye and hand coordination

When students play the recorder, they must coordinate both their hands to make the correct notes with their fingers. At the same time, they might be either watching the page of music or their music teacher conducting the ensemble, either way they need to make sure that the eyes and hands are doing what they are supposed to, at the right time! This activity is so important to help develop other reading and sporting skills.

6 It helps develop our fine motor skills

Using each of the fingers, on both hands while playing the recorder is not easy for a lot of children. Coordinating the placement of fingers over those holes to form notes that are written on the page, requires a lot of brain power. When students rehearse the placement of fingers in the correct position, their fingers develop muscle memory and it becomes easier and easier strengthen their fine motor skills.

7 It can help our self-confidence and self esteem

When children learn new things, it is often hard at first. As a child overcomes the problems that learning the recorder can present, their confidence and self esteem are built up. If you have ever watched a child perform and then talked to them afterwards, they are usually smiling from ear to ear as they know that they have just been a part of something that was truly special.

8 It helps develop our problem-solving skills

When students try to create a piece of music, either from one that is written or one that they are creating, there will always be problems. Students need to work together to come up with a solution, and this requires patience and thinking outside the box to fix an issues that may come their way.

9 It helps build teamwork skills

Being a part of a team, or musical group, is one way that students get the opportunity to build teamwork skills.

10 It helps develop our musical ear

Playing any instrument helps us to listen to music differently. The more diverse music that our students experience helps them develop their own musical ear. If students only hear and perform one type of music, they are not then having the chance to experience every different flavour that music has on offer.