Am I a bad music teacher because...
 

I don't teacher recorders?

Most of the adults I know don't look fondly upon their recorder memories, I use other instruments to teach note reading, and it seems like a bit of a waste of my time. I have string instruments in my classroom (dulcimers, ukuleles, guitars) and have just acquired enough keyboards for the students to use. Is recorder really something I need to have to be a good music teacher? My principal opposes making kids purchase things due to our school socio-economic make up (lots of poverty), and so I can't have them buy their own to keep. What do you think?

surprised
 

I'm surprised to hear so many people fondly look back on recorders. I thought it was a waste of time when I was a child. I notice, at least where I subbed, records seem to be going the way of the dodo.

Wow!
 

Your not a bad music teacher. Everyone is perfect in their own way! And teachers like us are teaching the kids so we are also smart!

Please!
 

Please do not say "dodo" it is weird.

Oh, I much prefer boomwackers! They are "cooperative" and don't go out of tune. They aren't expensive but are not cheap either. If your school is one a tight budget, you can google how to make them out of golf club holder tubes (is that what they are called, the long white or black tubes you put in a golf bag to keep the clubs from getting all beat up and tangled).

Boomwackers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDjseDmDLes

I personally love recorders -- but not when it's a bunch of elementary kids playing them. Ouch! I have six recorders and enjoy playing them and hearing others REALLY play them.