From wikipedia.org:

A recorder is a woodwind instrument. It "was popular from medieval times but declined in the eighteenth century in favor of orchestral woodwind instruments, such as the flute, oboe, and clarinet." "The recorder was revived in the twentieth century, partly in the pursuit of historically informed performance of early music, but also because of its suitability as a simple instrument for teaching music and its appeal to amateur players."

A soprano recorder is a required school supply for all 4th and 5th graders.

5th graders may take their recorders home to practice for their Recorder Karate Belts. Students must bring their recorders to school the day of Music Class or their music grades will be affected.

Recorder Karate Songs

White
Green
Red
Black

Recorder Karate Grading Rubric
4 Plays with very few mistakes and has good tone, rhythm, and tonguing.
3 Plays with a few mistakes in pitches, rhythm, and tonguing.
2 Plays with several mistakes in pitches, rhythm, or using correct tonguing.
1 Plays with many mistakes in pitches, rhythm, or in fingering a particular note, or does not use correct tonguing.
0 Plays with many mistakes in pitches and rhythm, poor tone, many starts and stops, does not use correct tonguing, and/or seems very unsure of fingerings.

**You will earn your belt if you get a 4 or 3.
If you get a 2 or lower, you may try again another day.
You may test for ONE belt per day.