Recorder Introduction

•Take care of your recorder.

•Clean your recorder.•Hold your recorder correctly.

Ready for Recorder!

Learn how to…

•Don’t let anyone else play your recorder.

•Recorders are not batons or swords.

•Before playing your recorder, make sure you ask permission of an adult in the area.

Take care of your Recorder!

•The cleaning rod is not necessary.

•Blow & cover the window!•You will hardly ever need the

joint grease, so put it in a safe place at home.

Clean your Recorder!

•For a good cleaning, if it smells bad or if you play it a LOT:

(1) Put it in soapy water,(2) Rinse with clean water, (3) Set it out to dry before putting it in your case.

Clean your Recorder!

Mouthpiece (Beak)

Double holes

Middle section(Barrel)

WindowHead joint

Foot joint

Recorder parts

The recorder is an old instrument, which used to be made of wood. It was

first named a “recorder” in the thirteenth century, though it became

most popular in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Later, it was

replaced by the flute, which was louder and had more notes. Now, recorders,

mostly made of plastic, are more popular than ever! They are made to

resemble the recorders from the Baroque period hundreds of years ago.

Recorder history

Proper holdRIGHT!

Too high Too low

Hold Your Recorder!The recorder in my RIGHT HAND is where we will begin.Make sure I hold the bottom.Then move it to my chin.

L R

With the LEFT HAND give the ‘thumbs up.’

On the back hole it must go.

Ready for Recorder!

Learning “B”Cover the top hole on the front side of the recorder.

Learning “B”•Blow gently!

•Whisper “DUH” into the mouthpiece – tonguing!

Learning “B”•Here is what B looks like on

the music staff.

•LINE 3

B B B B B B

B B B B B B

B B B B B

B B B B B

Learning “A”Cover the top 2 holes on the

front side of the recorder.

Learning “A”•Blow gently!

•Whisper “DUH” into the mouthpiece – tonguing!

Learning “A”•Here is what A looks like on

the music staff.

•SPACE 2

A A A A A A

A A A A A A

B B B A A A

A B A B A B

Learning “G”Cover the top 3 holes on the

front side of the recorder.

Learning “G”•Blow gently!

•Whisper “DUH” into the mouthpiece – tonguing!

Learning “G”•Here is what G looks like on

the music staff.

•LINE 2

G G G G G G

G G G G G G

Check your hold again!

RIGHT!

Too high Too low

Why might your recorder squeak?

•You blew to hard!

•Your fingers didn’t cover the holes completely!

RECORDER SECRETS:

•Blow WARM air and whisper “duh”!

•Cover the holes.

Cover the holes

X

B

A

G