Daniel Hellbach

RecorderBox Volume 2

A course for soprano recorder in three volumes for children from the first to second school year.

Learning content Volume 2:
Learned notes: e', f, c', b, c sharp', g'
Rhythm: time signature 6/8, sixteenth notes in various combinations


In this course, the author combines tried and tested learning methods with innovative ideas. The subject matter is covered on 4 parallel levels, which make learning colorful and varied:

. Playing pieces
. Improvisations
. Technical exercises
. Theory and music knowledge

1. playing pieces
- Compositions by Daniel Hellbach
- Folk songs from around 20 countries
- Classical pieces
- Pop/rock songs

The second volume focuses on folk songs from around 20 countries, as well as compositions by Daniel Hellbach and classical pieces (e.g. 'Freude schöner Götterfunken') and pop/rock songs (e.g. 'Lady Madonna' by The Beatles). Some of them are set for two voices.

2. Improvisations
A special feature of the RecorderBox are the improvisations, which run like a common thread through the entire course and begin in the very first lessons. In this way, what has been learned is deepened in a playful and creative way.
In the second volume, the notes used for improvisation are shown in musical notation. Here are excerpts from various scales that create a certain mood or are reminiscent of typical patterns of a musical style:
- Blues scale
- Gypsy minor
- Gypsy major
- Pentatonic: Western
- Pentatonic: Chinese
- Spanish

3. Technical exercises
Technical exercises are interspersed at regular intervals, which are referred to as 'training'.
In the second volume, the exercises are notated in musical notation. The main focus here is on training scales (excerpts) and broken triads, but also new notes and fingering combinations.
There are no limits to the teacher's imagination with these exercises; the given fingering combinations, scales or broken triads can be trained with different articulations or rhythmically, for example. This innovative concept also allows children to practise fingering combinations that they are not yet able to read as musical notation (e.g. right hand from the beginning).

4. Theory and knowledge of music
The knowledge of fingering and music can be deepened and tested on the pages known as the 'music quiz'. The pupil solves these tasks in writing.

Group lessons
These music quizzes can be a welcome opportunity in group lessons to work individually with one child while the others solve the quiz.
In the second volume, even the simplest ear training exercises are included here: e.g. recognizing the interval 'octave' from an audio example on the CD

5. Two CDs
Each volume of the RecorderBox contains 2 CDs

Contents of the CDs:
1. Each song is played by Manfred Harras, recorder, and Daniel Hellbach, piano:

. to listen to
. to play along

2. the accompaniments to most of the pieces in 2 tempos:

. slow practice tempo
. faster tempo

The accompaniments are recorded in different instrumentations:
. Piano
. Guitar
. Vocals
. Violin
. Clarinet
. Percussion

The second volume also includes accompaniments by an Irish folk music group.