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Time Lines for Recorder - Improve Your Rhythm and Reading Skills

The Time Lines music method for recorder teaches students how to count and play rhythms accurately, how to improve their rhythm and reading skills, and how to broaden their overall musical awareness. It guides students through a fun, stepwise process of playing rhythm exercises and patterns, melodies, and Time Games. The Time Games are short pieces that can be played as duets with another recorder (soprano or alto). They are fun but challenging pieces that ensure that students are counting and playing rhythms carefully. The books are equally effective for individual or group study. Scroll down for examples of melodies from Time Lines Book 1 for Recorder.

Purchase Time Lines Book 1 for Recorder

Purchase Time Lines Music Method for Recorder Book 1 by Kyle Coughlin

Purchase the print version of Time Lines for Recorder Book 1 from Lulu.com.
Purchase the PDF version of Time Lines for Recorder Book 1 from Payhip.com
A free sample PDF of Unit 1 of Book 1 is also available so you can see how the material in the book is organized and presented.

 

Range of pitches used in the melodies in Time Lines Book 1 for Recorder
Time Lines Book 1 for Recorder uses a range of G on the second staff line from the bottom, to D on the second staff line from the top.

The melodies and Time Games in Book 1 of Time Lines use a limited pitch range (G in the staff to D in the staff) so you can focus more on playing rhythms accurately, keeping a steady tempo, and feeling and enjoying the music you are playing. Also, since that is the pitch range, it can be played by soprano or alto recorder. Each Unit in the book progresses gradually so that students first learn to play on the beat, then play notes longer than a beat, and then subdivide the beat.

In all, Book 1 includes 138 one-measure rhythm exercises, 126 rhythm patterns, 126 melodies, and 72 Time Games, that will help you improve your skills.

Play along with videos and recordings of the rhythm exercises, rhythm patterns, and melodies by following the links below. You can also see samples of the sheet music for the recorder melodies in Time Lines.

 

 

At this point, I am busy working on completing the videos and example pages. I will add them and include links as soon as I can.

Follow these links to jump to the practice example audio and video:
Time Lines Rhythm Exercises
Time Lines Rhythm Patterns

Introductions and Explanations:
Unit 1: Quarter Notes and Quarter Rests in 2/4 and 3/4 Time Signatures
Unit 2: How to Play Quarter Notes and Quarter Rests in 4/4 Time Signature
Unit 3: How to Play Half Notes and Half Rests
Unit 4: How to Play Dotted Half Notes, Whole Notes, and Whole Rests
Unit 5: How to Play Eighth Notes
Unit 6: How to Play Dotted Quarter Notes
Unit 7: How to Play Pickup Notes
Unit 8: How to Play Ties Over Measure Lines

Examples of Melodic Phrases from Time Lines Book 1 for Recorder

You can purchase the book to practice over two hundred more melodies, exercises, patterns, and Time Games.
Buy the PDF version of Time Lines Book 1 for Recorder.
Buy the print version of Time Lines Book 1 for Recorder.

Here are some samples of the short melodies (Melodic Phrases) for recorder that are in the book. Make sure to practice the corresponding exercises and patterns first, though. Select any of the links below to hear and play along with audio examples of the Melodic Phrases.

Unit 1 Melodies with Quarter Notes and Rest in 2/4 and 3/4 Time Signatures
Time Lines Melodies for recorder with quarter notes and quarter rests in 2/4 and 3/4 time signatures.


Unit 2 Melodies with Quarter Notes and Rest in 4/4 Time Signature
Time Lines Melodies for recorder with quarter notes and quarter rests in 4/4 time signature.


Unit 3 Melodies With Half Notes and Half Rests
Time Lines Melodies for recorder with half notes and half rests.


Unit 4: Melodies with Dotted Half Notes, Whole Notes, and Whole Rests
Time Lines Melodies for recorder with dotted half notes, whole notes, and whole rests.


Unit 5: Melodies with Eighth Notes
Time Lines Melodies for recorder with eighth notes.


Unit 6: Melodies with Dotted Quarter Notes
Time Lines Melodies for recorder with dotted quarter notes.


Unit 7: Melodies with Pickup Notes
Time Lines Melodies for recorder with pickup notes.


Unit 8: Melodies with Ties Over Measure Lines
Time Lines Melodies for recorder with ties over measure lines.