Recorder concert

One day in the fall Andrew came home from school with a recorder and a book of music.  Apparently all of the 4th graders learn to read music and play the recorder due to some parcel tax money. We quickly learned that the recorder can sound nice when played properly.  However, when a 4th grader is first learning to play the sound is on the not so nice side.  They have a program where the kids learn songs and earn belts like karate.  The belt is a piece of embroidery floss that they tie around the end.  They had recorder practice in class once a week and extra practice after school on Tuesdays.  Andrew was able to make it black belt by practicing a lot at home (especially at bed time when Claire was trying to sleep) and going to the Tuesday practices.  He loved learning to play the recorder and would play it for anyone who came over.  Here is the list of songs that they learned.

He practiced a lot to learn Ode to Joy by the final date.

When Andrew told me that there would be a recorder concert for all of the 4th grade classes, I'll admit I was a bit skeptical of 90 4th graders all playing the recorder at the same time. But I must say, I was totally surprised.  They sounded great.  They played all of the songs up to black belt.  I also found out that some kids went beyond black belt and got more belts with beads.  Here they are holding up their recorders so that everyone could see their belts.  The girl in front of Andrew has one of the advanced belt with a bead.

I was trying to get a group shot.  Andrew is on the back left.

All of the black belts stood and played Ode to Joy together.  Andrew is standing next to his friend Vinnie.

Andrew is on the far left.  This is all of the kids that made it to black belt or higher.

Pictures at the end of the concert.  They did a really good job.  Claire wanted to learn really bad, so she got a recorder and Andrew is trying to teach her to play.  There is also a district honor recorder group, but Andrew didn't want to do that.  I am so proud of him for really trying his best to learn all of the songs especially since he didn't have any music experience before this.