What is a recorder?
A recorder is a simple, open-holed woodwind instrument that is commonly taught in elementary schools, but also has a long and rich history from the Middle Ages on. This instrument is a great educational tool because it is easy to produce sound on a recorder while students learn about breath control, fingering, tonguing, coordination, and music reading. Recorder is a great first wind instrument to prepare students to participate in band. Recorders come in a variety of sizes and tunings. In music class, we will be playing standard soprano recorders, which are just over one foot long. Aren't recorders and flutophones the same thing? Nope! These instruments are similar, but not the same. Please make sure if you're bringing your own instrument that it is a recorder, not a flutophone. The easiest ways to tell the difference between the two is to look at the end and at the finger holes. The end of a flutophone is flared, like the end of a trumpet. Also, a flutophone has raised finger holes, while a recorder simply has holes drilled into the straight cylinder of the instrument's body. When will we get the recorders we ordered? I expect the recorder shipment to arrive around Tuesday, January 24th. What do the recorder colors look like? You can check out the five color options at the Musician's Friend website: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/classroom-kids/canto-one-piece-translucent-soprano-recorder-with-baroque-fingering When will we start playing recorders in class? As soon as the recorder shipment arrives, we will begin our recorder units. I'm using my own recorder from home. When should I bring it to school? Make sure to bring your recorder to school by Tuesday, January 24th (or Wednesday, January 25th if you don't have music class on Tuesday). You can bring it earlier and store it at school, if you'd like. I have my own recorder from home, but I'm not sure if it's the right kind of recorder. If you have any doubts about your instrument, please bring it by the music room and I will check it out to make sure it is a standard soprano recorder. (Please note, there is a difference between recorders and the flutophones!)
2 Comments
jeff zelinka
1/31/2019 02:46:32 pm
I teach 3rd grade music in California. My district has been teaching music using flutophones in 3rd almost since the invention of the flutophone. We are starting to discuss moving to recorder or song flute. I suggested German fingering. We can only afford one piece Angel recorders since they are less than $3/each. What is your opinion?
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Maia
1/31/2019 03:48:48 pm
I think my school was using flutophones just as long! One of the main reasons I chose to switch to recorders is that they are well-established instruments with a long history and substantial repertoire. Flutophones and song flutes are educational instruments, but don't have "serious" repertoire written specifically for those instruments. They do have some advantages over recorder (they're easier on the ears!), but I wanted my students to learn and be able to take home an instrument that they might hear in a concert or on the radio.
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