What is the best recorder for beginners?

What is the best recorder for beginners?

"I think the best bet for a new player is to begin (on soprano or alto) with a top-of-the-line "wood grain" plastic recorder made by Yamaha, Zen-on, or Aulos. Once a player has enough experience to know that they really like playing recorder, I suggest moving on to a high-quality production-line model.

Is recorder a serious instrument?

For most of us, a plastic recorder was the first musical instrument we encountered back in elementary school, and for that reason it's something we tend to think of as a childhood toy. However, the recorder is actually a serious instrument, with a rich history that goes back to ancient times.

Is the recorder easy to learn?

The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument that was popular as early as the 14th century. … Compared to other instruments, the recorder is relatively easy to play, making it a great first instrument for kids or novice musicians. They come in many different colors and sizes to fit you.

What is the highest type of recorder?

There are many types within the soprano recorder family (including the soprano, tenor, great, sub contra and others) and alto recorder family (including the sopranino, alto, bass and contrabass), with each of these types one octave higher in pitch than its predecessor.

Why does the recorder sound so bad?

You probably think recorders sound bad because they are usually beginner instruments in junior school bands. … Any instrument sounds bad when played badly. The recorder actually sounds substantially better when played by a beginner than the violin does.

What is the easiest instrument to learn?

Wooden recorders are much more rewarding to play as they allow you to play with more expression. … There is more resistance in wooden recorders, and often they are easier to play than plastic ones, especially on the lowest notes. Plastic recorders tend to "block up" very quickly with moisture.

Which recorder has the highest pitch?

How do you play the recorder for beginners?

Most recorders are made in the following sizes (note names referring to the lowest note; c′ = middle C): descant (soprano) in c″; treble (alto) in f′; tenor in c′; and bass in f.

How do I know what type of recorder I have?

You can easily tell which type of recorder you have by comparing just two tone holes. If you look at the holes on a traditional Baroque recorder, the fourth hole down from the top is smaller than the fifth hole. On a German recorder, the order is switched – the fourth hole is larger than the fifth hole.

Can a recorder Sound good?

What is the smallest recorder called?

The garklein recorder in C, also known as the sopranissimo recorder or piccolo recorder, is the smallest size of the recorder family. Its range is C6–A7 (C8). The name garklein is German for "quite small", and is also sometimes used to describe the sopranino in G (Reuter 2002, 81).

How many notes can recorder play?

The range of a recorder is about two octaves. A skilled player can extend this and can typically play chromatically over two octaves and a fifth.

Why is the recorder called the recorder?

Why is a recorder called a recorder? The word "recorder" comes from the Latin "recordari," which combines "re" (again) and "cor" (heart).

Is a descant recorder the same as a soprano?

The soprano recorder in c2, also known as the descant, is the third-smallest instrument of the modern recorder family and is usually played as the highest voice in four-part ensembles (SATB = soprano, alto, tenor, bass).

Can you tune a recorder?

To modify the pitch of a note either the position of the appropriate hole or its diameter needs to be modified. A note that is too low can be tuned by moving the hole up the instrument (towards the windway) or by enlarging it.

How old is the recorder?

The recorder likely dates back to the Middle Ages (5th-15th centuries), based on instruments appearing in artwork of the period. One of the oldest recorders still in existence was discovered in Göttigen, Germany and likely dates from between 1246 and 1322.

How many holes does a recorder have?

The eight holes of the recorder are comprised of seven finger holes and an additional hole for the thumb of the upper hand. The lower two holes are normally smaller than the rest and positioned side by side so that the player can cover them with a single finger.

Who invented the recorder musical instrument?

The first recorders were made in the 1500s. Some remains of these have been found in Germany, the Netherlands and Greece. Many people played the recorder in Europe in the 1500s and 1600s. King Henry VIII of England had 76 recorders.

Are alto and treble recorders the same?

The alto recorder in F, also known as a treble (and, historically, as consort flute and common flute) is a member of the recorder family. Up until the 17th century the alto instrument was normally in G4 instead of F4 (Lasocki 2001, (ii) Renaissance; Sachs 1913, 50). … Maintenance is the same as for the soprano recorder.

What family is the recorder in?

The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument that belongs to the flute family.

Are wooden recorders better than plastic ones?

Is the recorder a serious instrument?

What’s the difference between a flute and a recorder?

The most obvious difference is in the playing position or orientation of the instrument: The recorder is held vertically, straight and with both hands in front of the upper body, while the transverse flute is held in an asymmetrical position from the mouth to the right shoulder.

What is the difference between a descant and soprano recorder?

I agree, but if you look at the traditional choir setup you have bass, tenor, alto and then soprano. The voice sung against (higher) the soprano voice is called the descant (where I come from at least!). So technically you could say that the sopranino can be called "descant".

What is a small recorder called?

The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument in the group known as internal duct flutes—flutes with a whistle mouthpiece, also known as fipple flutes. … It is the most prominent duct flute in the western classical tradition.

What is the stick that comes with a recorder?

A recorder plastic cleaning stick is usually provided with your first recorder. You are then required to purchase a cleaning cloth so that you can thread it through the eye of the cleaning stick and clean any excess saliva in your recorder after use.

What is the difference between Baroque and German recorders?

Do recorders come in different keys?

Larger recorders may have one or more keys. Most recorders are made in the following sizes (note names referring to the lowest note; c′ = middle C): descant (soprano) in c″; treble (alto) in f′; tenor in c′; and bass in f. … (For non-Western variants, see fipple flute.)