The recorder - woodwind instrument

[bass_dinger]

I recently picked up a recorder - a woodwind instrument.

 

Many of us will have experienced them at primary school.  Cheap instrument, sounds shrill and painful when played badly. Rarely played well.

 

I have a Yamaha with an arched windway, which gave a more mellow tone than the other instrument at a similar price range. 

 

I have found that it is a very sensitive instrument to the skill of the player- blow it too hard, or unevenly, and it will punish one with an unpleasant tone.

 

However, it is an accessible instrument  - a fingering diagram and some music and one can play a tune - usually London's Burning or Twinkle Twinkle Little Star....

 

I also see that the fingering diagrams are different  for (say) A flat and G sharp - because, strictly speaking, they are different notes.

 

Any other recordists on here?

[ahpook]

I was so bad at recorder I used to mime in music lessons at school, so I'd not be told off for playing the wrong note.

[MichaelDean]

I wasn't terrible at recorder, but I didn't stick with it for longer than I needed to. I did attempt clarinet too. I couldn't get my 8/9 year old head around needing to transpose everything.  

 

A previous manager of mine did a music degree on recorder. She said it was so handy just being able to put it in her handbag! 

[ezbass]

The descant recorder is a horrible sounding thing when played badly, the lower pitched recorders are far more pleasant. I’ve always wondered why they have children play the descant or the violin, both sound excruciating in their hands. No wonder so many quit, as did I.