First, students will work together to name the notes of the new song and write the names down on a worksheet. Then each will be assigned one portion of the notes on the scale and each will be responsible for playing those notes in rhythm as the pair learns to play the song. The teacher reviews the names of the notes on the blackboard in preparation for the students' work, and students number off into pairs and are assigned to instruments. They quickly move to their positions and each pair chooses a recorder. The recorder goes to the front of the room to pick up the worksheet, one per pair.
Students fill out the worksheets together and both sign their names.
The teacher goes around the room and checks the work for all pairs to be sure they have named the notes correctly. After 10 minutes, the teacher selects one pair to demonstrate the song then leads all pairs together through the song. Once the exercise is completed, the teacher debriefs the exercise, noting ways in which students excelled at working together. Each pair of students then shares with their partners one thing they did that helped their partner and one that both could work on to improve. The full group then shares suggestions about what to do better next time.