Precorder Karate Belts
Mrs. Carlson’S ELEMENTARY MUSIC CLASS
Basic Information:
- Prior skills: The students have already played many rhythms with percussion instruments and clapping. We have also been working on sight reading music.
- Students will all have the same Blue Lesson Book “It’s Time for Precorder” (By Sandy Feldstein) to practice from.
- Students will get a string “BELT” for every step below that they accomplish. Students can either keep one current belt at a time, or add belts to their precorder or bag.
- If a student forgets their precorder, they cannot receive their belt/string until they bring it to class to play for Mrs. Carlson.
- The belt rankings are from the World Martial Arts Center website. I thought it was neat to read about what each colored belt for Karate symbolises.
- We might not get to all of the belts this year.
Goal:
- By preparing the above lesson, students will learn the rhythmic value of notes and the placement of notes on the staff to prepare them for band and/or choir. They will also be able to perform with an instrument. They will have a way to show themselves and others their accomplishments by collecting strings for their levels of learning.
Color Order of Belts:
- White Belt: White signifies a birth, or beginning, of a seed.
- Notes: B, A, G, and C (The Basic Notes)
- Page 5: Hot Crossed Buns
2. Yellow Belt or Sash: Yellow signifies the first beams of sunlight which shines upon the seed giving it new strength with the beginning of new life.
- Note: High D
- Page 7: Go Tell Aunt Rody
3. Orange Belt or Sash: Orange represents the growing power of the sun as it warms the earth to prepare for new growth in the spring.
- Note: High D + Many More Notes/Rhythms
- Page 8: Jingle Bells
4. Green Belt or Sash: Green signifies the growth of the seed as it sprouts from the earth reaching toward the sun and begins to grow into a plant.
- Note: F
- Page 10: Goodbye, Old Paint
5. Blue Belt or Sash: Blue signifies the blue sky as the plant continues to grow toward it.
- Note: Low E, D, and C
- Page 11: Faith of Our Fathers
6. Purple Belt or Sash: Purple represents the changing sky of dawn, as once again the student undergoes a new change and prepares for the transition to advanced student.
- Notes: Range from Low D to High B
- Page 12: Jolly Old Saint Nicholas
7. Brown Belt or Sash: Brown represents the ripening of the seed, a maturing and harvesting process.
- Note: F# (Remember to use F# throughout all of the songs!)
- Page 13 and 14:Yankee Doodle (This Old Man, Are You Sleeping)
8. Red Belt or Sash: Red signifies the red-hot heat of the Sun as the plant continues growing toward it.
- Note: Bb
- Page 15: Chiapanecas
- **If you want to try for your red belt, you must let Mrs. Carlson know and schedule a time to play by yourself or in a group by her desk.
9. Black Belt or Sash: Black signifies the darkness beyond the Sun.
- Play precorder solo or with a small group in front of the class.
- Notes: D G A B C’ D’
- Song: Ode to Joy (Not in Blue Book)
- **If you want to try for your black belt, you must let Mrs. Carlson know, get a copy of Ode to Joy, and schedule a time to play for the class.