The Recorder is an easy-to-play musical instrument and a popular instrument for teaching music to children because of its size. Find useful ‘learn to play’ resources for the recorder music instrument, and reviews of quality recorder instruments.
Best Recorder Instrument
The benefits of learning to play a musical instrument are well documented.
However, learning to play an instrument takes time and certain instruments are more physically demanding that others.
The Recorder is considered to be an easier instrument to learn and play because of its size, which makes it easy to hold, and the ease with which you can produce the notes.
A recorder is a wind instrument with a simple design and yet is capable of producing a charming sound.
Recorders are simple musical instruments, and because of their portability, these have become popular among beginners for learning music. A large number of recorders get manufactured and sold every year.
Music teachers use recorders to teach basic music theory to beginners, and it is commonly used in educational programmes in the western world. Its common to see recorders in the hands of children in music schools and even in the hands of enthusiastic amateurs.
While its popular among children, the recorder should not be just viewed as a toy for kids, because the musical instrument is capable of serious musical expression (requires years of dedicated study though).
Various Parts of the Recorder Musical Instrument
These are the parts of any typical recorder instrument.
- Beak (or mouthpiece) – the part of the recorder that you place on your lips
- Window – the rectangular hole in the mouthpiece.
- Tone hole (or finger hole) – Holes that are covered and uncovered by the fingers to change the note played.
- Double holes – Tone holes that have two separate holes.
- Foot joint – the bottom part of the recorder; it has the bottom finger hole (a double hole) and is turned slightly to the side.
- Head joint – the top part of the recorder, the part you blow into.
- Lip (or labium) – the sharp edge next to the window; air from the windway hits the labium and produces sound. (Caution: Never touch this part of the recorder – it can warp).
- Middle section (or barrel) – the middle part of the recorder; it has most of the finger holes.
- Ramp – the gradual incline that leads to the window (in the head joint).
Learn to Play the Recorder: Stepping Stone
Most music teachers recommend that kids learn on instruments such as the recorder before learning to play the guitar or the piano. It makes the learning process much easier. Learning the recorder is like a stepping stone that will make it easy to learn whatever instrument you want to play.
WATCH: Great introduction to the Recorder musical instrument
Evolution of Recorder Musical Instrument
The recorder has been around for centuries, since the medieval times.
During the Renaissance period, the recorder was often played in churches and royal palaces and was considered as the instrument of the stars. Due to its associations with angels, it appears in many works of art.
During the 16th century, recorder was the popular choice of instrument among professional wind players. Soon, the instrument became popular among the masses as well. After 1750 however, the popularity of the instrument declined.
The turn of the 20th century brought a revival of the Recorder. Several popular musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen used the recorder while performing and in their recordings.
Even though the construction of the recorder has changed drastically throughout history, the basic structure still remains the same – whistle mouthpiece, seven finger-holes.
The ‘midfield blockflute,’ created by Michael Barker is an attempt to modernize the recorder, combines the traditional recorder with synthesized sounds.
Buying a Recorder Instrument
The recorder is a flute-like musical instrument (belongs to the woodwind family) with holes for seven fingers and one for the thumb.
There are two main types of recorders: plastic and wood.
The plastics ones are the inexpensive ones and are more suitable for beginners. There are several options available and most beginner recorder instruments cost under 10 dollars.
Wooden ones are more expensive and are used by experienced musicians.
Further, you get different sized recorders – Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass Recorder!
In general, you have several options available, across various price points, with the top manufacturers being Yamaha, Harmony and Aulos.
Yamaha YRS-23 Soprano Recorder
Built on key of C, it features a simplified German fingering system. The 20-series recorders in general and designed for beginners and makes it easy to play right from the start.
The recorder is made of durable plastic resin and is available in a natural color.
Intermediate and experienced players may consider the Yamaha YRS-302B due to its better build quality and arched windway that gives more control.
Nuvo N310RDPK Soprano Recorder
The Nuvo recorder is entirely waterproof, so you can clean with warm soapy water to maintain optimal hygiene. It comes with a comprehensive fingering chart and a vinyl case for convenient storage.
Selections from Star Wars movies, for Recorder (by John Williams)
It includes large, easily readable notes, a beginner’s guide to playing the recorder, and a straightforward introduction to reading music. Additionally, it features seven of the most famous Star Wars themes and melodies.
Most schools use Recorder Instruments for imparting beginner music lessons to children. These are great beginner music instruments, with several models available under $10 and they are very easy to use as well. The more advanced models are much more expensive, but till the time your child is learning the basics of music, the less expensive recorder instruments will do just fine for the beginner music student.
KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
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