| The recorder is a wind musical instrument made | | | | playing the instrument, you learn how to read |
| from wood or plastic and comes in a range of | | | | music, with note names, note lengths and how to |
| different sizes. Like any wind instrument, air is | | | | interpret music with markings including expression |
| blown in one end and comes out holes and the | | | | marks ofdynamics ( lounds and softs ), speed and |
| other end. The vibration of air moving down the | | | | more. There is a lot of theory in music which is |
| tube causes sound. Recorder players produce | | | | often built into a tutor book. The benefit of |
| different pitched sounds by pressing finger pads | | | | learning the recorder is to concentrate on learning |
| on the holes in different configurations. Why would | | | | theory and musical terminology, because the |
| anyone want to learn this instrument? Here are | | | | technic of sound production is usually mastered |
| the seven secrets. | | | | quite quickly. |
| 1. The recorder is a simple instrument to play and | | | | 5. Learning the recorder as a first instrument |
| hence is suitable for a wide range of people to | | | | benefits learning another instrument. Because you |
| learn, including young children. It is taught widely in | | | | have learnt a certain amount of theory and |
| primary schools as part of their music program. | | | | musical terminology then you can spend your |
| The most popular recorders to learn are the | | | | time concentrating on mastering the technique of |
| descant or soprano recorder, which is around 12.2 | | | | playing your next instrument. And hence learning |
| inches long and the longer tenor recorder. This is | | | | another instrument can be quicker than if you had |
| because they most closely resemble the human | | | | learnt this other instrument as your first |
| voice. | | | | instrument. |
| There are two main techniques to play this | | | | 6. There is a large range of recorder sizes |
| instrument. One is to seal the mouth over the | | | | available to play ranging from six inches to over |
| mouthpiece about half way down and to blow | | | | two metres. You can join a recorder ensemble on |
| gently.Sometimes players use their tongue by | | | | any of these instruments and the range of notes |
| saying silently "tu" or "du" in order to get clear | | | | covered is like the range of notes you hear from |
| beginnings to notes. TThis is called articulation. The | | | | a band or orchestra. However the larger |
| other is to place your finger pads flat on the holes | | | | instruments are expensive and harder to handle |
| such that no air leaks out. You can tell if your | | | | and so are less often used. |
| fingers are placed on the holes properly by | | | | 7. One reason to learn the recorder today is to |
| pressing firmly on the hole and seeing a round | | | | revive the playing of old music. Recorders date |
| hole mark on your finger or by blowing the | | | | back to medieval times ( 500 -1400 ), through the |
| desired note and getting it. The sound will be | | | | medieval period ( 1400 - 1600 ) and Baroque |
| different if air escapes around a hole. Admittedly | | | | Period ( 1600 - 1760 ). They were extremely |
| some young children getting fingers on the holes | | | | popular in the 16th, 17th and 18th century with |
| properly quite difficult. However on the whole, | | | | music being played from well known composers |
| most people can master both techniques quite | | | | such as Bach, Telemann and Handel. They declined |
| quickly and playing pieces. | | | | in popularity from the 18th century in favour of |
| 2. The most popular recorders which people learn | | | | the flute, clarinet and oboe. However it was |
| first eg the descant and then tenor are | | | | revived in the 20th century. There are people |
| reasonably cheap to buy, and hence accessible for | | | | interested in the medieval period and form |
| many people to purchase for fun in music making. | | | | societies with regular social events. At these social |
| 3. The most popular sizes are very portable | | | | events the participants dress up in period |
| especially the descant recorder. You can throw a | | | | costume, partake in a medieval banquet and |
| recorder in any travelling bag and pull it out easily | | | | create music with dancing. So a consort of |
| to play a tune. If you are a tramper or skier, a | | | | recorders is formed and medieval music is |
| small descant recorder would be great to take to | | | | revived. What better chance to combine two |
| the top of a mountain and play to the world. | | | | interests of recorder playing with the medieval |
| What a wonderful feeling. Can you imagine a | | | | period. |
| double bassist doing this? | | | | Have these seven secrets on why you would |
| 4. The recorder is usually the first instrument | | | | learn the recorder stimulated you to learn. |
| people learn. As well as learning the technic of | | | | |