With its commitment to creating independent musical thinkers through the use of folk songs, Conversational Recorder is a visionary approach to recorder that builds music literacy and independence.

This highly anticipated component of John M. Feierabend’s Conversational Solfege is a dynamic and engaging method that seamlessly coordinates with Levels 1 and 2 of the curriculum, an innovative 12-step “ear-before-eye” approach to teaching music literacy.

Central to Conversational Recorder are two hundred online audio tracks with coordinating Guided Practice Activities at the beginning of each unit. The online tracks walk students step by step through decoding patterns and songs and are perfectly suited for at-home assignments and virtual instruction.

Each of the thirteen units in this resource presents a new rhythm or melody challenge that is reinforced using a series of short musical patterns and songs. To ensure aural mastery before instrumental application, students follow a three-step procedure: (1) sing first, (2) sing while fingering on recorder, and (3) play on recorder.

The teacher’s manual includes dozens of recorder activities (techniques) along with an overview of the method, instructions for how to use the online tracks, and tips for teaching fingering, tonguing, and breathing. The appendices also contain sample lesson plans, resources for assessment, fingering charts, and information for teaching recorder to students with disabilities.

Conversational Recorder is an ideal program for incorporating recorder instruction into the elementary music classroom.

John M. Feierabend, PhD, has spent decades compiling songs and rhymes from the memories of the American people in hopes that these treasures will be preserved for future generations. He is a leading authority on child development in music and movement and served as Professor and Chair of the Music Education Department of the Hartt School of the University of Hartford.

Rachel Grimsby is an Assistant Professor of Music Education at Illinois State University and has over fifteen years of experience teaching elementary general music. She is a co-author of First Steps in Music with Orff Schulwerk and Feierabend Fundamentals, and her research interests include professional development for in-service teachers and paraprofessionals as well as teaching music to students with disabilities.