h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The recorder is an unusual instrument to take up as a serious hobby. Many children, particularly in America, learn the soprano recorder in school and come away with dreadful memories. In fact the recorder can be a very pleasant instrument when played well. It is available in a number of different sizes, and the bigger ones are deeper in pitch so it doesn't have to be as piercing as you might remember from your school days! The best way to play recorder is in a group, so if you can find some like-minded friends who already play or are willing to learn, you will have some great fun.

Children should learn on a soprano recorder (also known as a descant). Adults should learn on an alto recorder (also known as a treble). There are plenty of tutors (teaching books) for soprano, but it is not quite so easy to find ones for the treble.

It is best to buy a plastic recorder at the start. Models by Dolmetsch, Yamaha and Aulos are all very respectable.

Oh yes - I agree 100% with that.

I learned to read music on the recorder, which made my violin lessons marginally less painful as all I had to do was work out where the note was on the string, rather than do that and work out what the note was!

I still have the plastic tenor, treble/alto, soprano and sopranino recorders I played at primary school. Although I don't play them now, they are remembered fondly as a fundamental building block of my musical education.

CLM

But if you're going to be learning in a group, check with the teacher what make of recorder to buy - I got £5 for my fifth birthday and bought a descant with it. I started learning recorder at school... only to be told I couldn't perform with everyone else in the concerts because I'd got a different make and it didn't sound right. I had to use a crappy school one until my mum bought me another.

¦M¦

Yamahas are the best recorders, I believe. But they're a bit more expensive than the others - is that a lie?

Has anyone ever heard the Forbury Consort? - they're a living reminder that the recorder isn't just something you do at primary school and then give up!!!

The recorder is an excellent instrument from which to take up any wind / brass instrument in later life, and also singing, because playing the recorder (properly!) helps develop the right breath support techniques.

I, however, am a humble viola player!!!!!

Yamaha recorders are probably the best plastic recorders you can buy, but the Dolmetsch I have is almost as good. And the ultimate plastic recorder is the Zen-on Soprano or Alto customised by Lee Collins (USA) by adding a thin layer of cedar wood to the block (part of the windway). These are just excellent, although a lot more pricey than a Yamaha.

Does anyone else think that wooden recorders sound much nicer than plastic ones?

¦M¦

i played the recorder in infant school, all the way to year 5 when i started playing the flute. after going to a baroque concert a few months ago i definately wish i'd carried on playing the recorder too! actually, i've still got it somewhere...

a friend of mine has got to grade 8 on recorder!

A good wood recorder is better than a plastic one, but a bad wooden recorder can be much worse than a good plastic, even though it costs more. Some of the East German recorder making companies had (by necessity) very low standards during the Communist regime. Second-hand recorders from these companies are woefully awful. The modern Moeck School recorder is the cheapest wood recorder from a reputable manufacturer, but I would not rate it any better than a Yamaha top-of-the-line plastic.

Ahh. Because I've only encountered one wooden recorder, my mum's old one. It sounds so much nicer than any of our plastic ones.

¦M¦

wooden recordrs are much less forgiving as well

you have to be really careful when they are new, only play them for a short time , dry them carefully.......... I'll stick with my er.....seven! plastic ones

FABT

Drat! I've only six. But some of them are wooden.

I used to play what my teacher called a bass recorder, a big huge wooden one, but surely it has another name..? I also played descant, and I was pretty damn good too...

i really would like to take up the recorder again, i'm getting round to it!

I'll have to dig mine out from under the bed, along with the school reports....!

i've found mine!

now, to remeber how to play

the end with the slitty hole is the bit you put in your mouth (thats the hole chocolate normally goes in). the little round holes go under your fingers. and you need to blow, not suck.

that help?

FABT

Lizzy, you could always try consulting the Guide! How to Play the Recorder A506387.

Fords_prefect, the big recorder is actually called a Bass Recorder. I bought one just two weeks ago.

The recorder is definitely one of the most rewarding instruments to play. Although my principle instrument is the flute, I have continued to enjoy playing/teaching the recorder for many years.

From the smallest child to the keen adult, the sheer range of music now available, whether for solo work or groups (also called consorts) is impressive.

Hear how early music should have sounded by tackling the likes of Telemann, Loeillet and Valentine. Alternatively, swing along with latin rhythms, blues, jazz and folk songs.

'Real' baroque music tends to not specify ornaments, the onus being put on the performer to insert these in the proper places... so playing the recorder well can also be a good introduction to improvisation.

I agree with Gnomon's assessment of 'good' recorders. I have always preferred Dolmetsch over Yamaha because I have found them more reliable for high notes, giving a sweeter, in-tune, tone. They also don't 'clog up' so easily (a major problem, especially with the Tenor and Bass).

One point which hasn't been made yet concerns the style of model. If you are thinking of rushing out to buy one, please make sure it comes in three detachable pieces! Everyone has different fingers and it is essential that you can adjust the positioning of the lowest holes if you are ever going to play succesfully.

Steer well clear of instruments from Toy shops as they invariably are in one piece - difficult to keep clean and inflexible. I sympathise with the earlier poster who related about having the 'wrong' recorder, but those 'toy' recorders really do make for pretty poor tone and facility of playing!

shazz

i play the flute too

that entry was rather handerous, thanks!

shazz