Carthage music teacher finds a solution by adapting an instrument

Mar. 22—CARTHAGE, Mo. — A Columbian Elementary School music teacher wanted to make sure every student in his class had the same opportunity to learn a subject he loves.

That includes learning the recorder as part of the school's third-grade curriculum. The instrument is an important part of the student's music education, Colton Sprenkle said, teaching them basic skills that will guide them in the future if they choose to continue learning and playing music.

"The recorder gives them a tangible reason to start learning how to read music, the notation that we use," Sprenkle said. "It's also really good for breath control. You have to blow super soft into a recorder to make the right sound."

"At the beginning of the year, I noticed that the regular instrument was not going to be a good fit for Belinda," he said.

As she entered third grade at Columbian, it was Belinda Velasquez's turn to learn the recorder. Traditionally, a recorder is played with two hands. The left hand is placed on top, playing the higher notes and the right hand is placed below.

But Velasquez has a congenital disorder on her left hand, where her fingers are shorter and less dexterous than her right hand. Learning music on a traditional recorder was going to be a challenge.

Sprenkle said it's important to him that all students are able to participate, so he found a recorder that is customizable to meet a student's needs.

"When I learned the recorder in fourth grade, I really liked it," Sprenkle said. "So, I wanted to make sure everyone got a chance to do it."

On the adaptable recorder, each of the tone holes is a separate section. After experimenting with it, Sprenkle was able to find just the right positioning on the two-handed instrument so Velasquez can play it mostly with one hand.

Normally the recorder's tone holes are in a straight line, but Velasquez's tone holes are curved so her right hand doesn't have to work so hard to reach the notes. It also has adapted plugs for the top notes, so that she can play the full range of music without having to use so many fingers.

Playing her special instrument, Velasquez supports the recorder with her left hand and controls the lower opening using her right hand fingers. She deftly plays the notes, using good breath control, and improvises a happy-sounding tune.

Sprenkle wanted to adapt the instrument for Velasquez because music education teaches things beyond notes and chords. Students can learn teamwork when the class is playing together. Learning to read music also aligns with the same way students read books, so it can teach literacy.

"When we're doing general music classes at a young age, we're teaching them to appreciate it and enjoy music," Sprenkle said. "Hopefully, they have a lifelong appreciation and love for it. Not everybody is going to be a singer or play in the band, but everybody listens to the radio, watches movies with music in them."

Velasquez said she's happy that her teacher helped her play the recorder with her classmates.

"I like music class because Mr. Sprenkle showed me how to sing," Velasquez said. "I also like playing the recorder because it's fun."

Velasquez already has an idea of what she wants to do when she gets older — teach music to children like herself.