The Recorder

Recorder

Before you turn your nose up at the thought of being forced to learn some lame plastic instrument, there's a few things you should know about the recorder.

The Recorder - Recording Fun

The recorder is a flute-like musical instrument. It's made of wood or plastic and has holes for seven fingers and one for the thumb. It belongs to the woodwind family because blowing into the body produces a sound. But anyone can blow air into an instrument - the skill is learning to make notes with those magic fingers!

The Recorder - Cool for School

In many schools, learning to play the recorder for music class is a required part of the curriculum. Even though you may want to jump head-first into learning the guitar, piano or drums, learning the recorder can be a major help before you move on to bigger and better things. Think of it as a stepping stone - like the A-B-C's of guitar or whatever instrument you would rather be playing. You've got to start somewhere. After all, Jimi Hendrix wasn't born cranking out great guitar riffs.

The Recorder - Learning to Play

When you're starting out, your fingers will probably feel clumsy and awkward cuz you're bending and holding them in a way that they aren't used to. With practice, it'll start to feel natural and your fingers will do what you want them to. You'll also get used to how much pressure you need to apply with your fingers to make a clear note and not one that sounds like a squeaky hinge. While learning to play the recorder, you'll have to learn how to read sheet music too. This is a great skill that can be used with any instrument.

The Recorder - Did U Know?

The recorder has been around since medieval times - you know, the same time period as castles, knights and princesses.

Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen are just a few musicians who can play the recorder.

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