Forty-nine elementary music educators participated in professional development at NJPAC to enhance their proficiency in integrating efficient pedagogy while teaching recorder to students in grades 3-5. Through the Recorder Arts for Musical Pathways (R.A.M.P) partnership with NJPAC one teacher shared, “I have grown in my pedagogy and instructional practice. I’ve been able to apply this curriculum to other areas in my teaching such as differentiating for students with exceptionalities.” A second teacher expressed, “I feel more confident teaching recorder with the new strategies I've learned.”
Each year as part of the general music curriculum, every third grade student in Newark Public Schools has access to learn the recorder during music class. Recorders are provided to students as an introductory musical instrument and used as a tool to teach students how to read, perform, and compose music. Each subsequent year, students advance to read and perform more challenging repertoire. Songs range from “Hot Cross Buns” and “Old MacDonald” to more advanced favorites like “When the Saints Go Marching In. A veteran music educator shared enduring interest from students over the years, “The students are excited to participate and younger siblings look forward to getting to 3rd grade to start recorder after seeing their older siblings participate.”