The recorder is one of the first musical instruments that children are introduced to. It is also known as an “English Flute” and belongs to the woodwind family of instruments. One innovative and incentive-centred method of teaching children how to play it and how to read sheet music, is by implementing recorder karate in class.

This method also includes the same principles of discipline and respect that karate upholds. Students should enter the classroom in silence, prepared with all the necessary items required for the lesson. They are also expected to bow to their instructor and their peers before and after the lesson. Learners sit cross-legged and should not begin playing without being instructed to do so – to do otherwise is seen as being disrespectful.

The grading process also echoes the methods of martial arts by including belts, ranked according to the following series:white, yellow, orange, green, purple, blue, red, brown and finally black. As each level is achieved, students receive the relevant colour belt. Some teachers add extra incentive by pinning trinkets and musical charms onto the belts for extra levels of effort and dedication shown in class.

In recorder karate however, there are no kicks, punches or duels which determine grading. To the contrary, it is determined by familiar songs which increase in technicality according to each level progression. For white belts, students must successfully play, “Hot Cross Buns”, a song including notes, B, A and G. The final song required to achieve a black belt is Beethoven’s, “Ode to Joy”, consisting of notes, D, E, F#, G, A, B, and C.

One noticeable benefit of this method is that it motivates children who normally do not want to participate in class activities. Some teachers have noticed that many even help each other and practice in recess. More students also become more easy to instruct and willing to receive advice and take extra lessons to achieve their goals.

Some teachers are in disagreement with the competitiveness that it encourages. To the contrary, some claim that it in fact encourages a higher standard of work and participation in class. Another con is that some learners may struggle and become disheartened at not being able to keep up with the set pace.

As with all methods of teaching, it is adapted by each instructor to suit the needs and concentration levels of their respective classes. Some prefer to spend entire lessons on it while others dedicate only ten to twenty minutes to learning the new songs. Some instructors even make use of different songs and increase the number of belts to be earned to other colours like gold and silver.

Instructional guides on how to implement recorder karate in music lessons are available both in hard-copy form as well as online. These can be used in class and most are reproducible if the entire kit is purchased, so learners do not necessarily have to have their own copies. These books contain worksheets constructed to aid with the practice and understanding of musical scales and lessons. As with every teaching method, there are noticeable pros and cons, and teachers differ in their opinions of it. Most however, have emerged as avid fans of it, claiming that it is effective and extremely useful for fun-filled and engaging learning.