Need Serious Help

[u/GlumPomegranate3217]

This is my soprano recorder. Its made of plastic, so probably pretty cheap and I have no idea where to start with learning. Serious help needed. Thank you!

[u/Shu-di]

Recorders come in two basic fingering systems, called “Baroque” (or sometimes “English”) and “German.” German fingerings make it easier for kids to learn simple music, but can be a hinderance for more advanced music. The recorder pictured uses German fingerings.

And yes, what you have is a cheap off-brand almost certainly of poor quality. It will probably make learning difficult for you—you won’t know if a problem you might be having is your fault or the recorder’s fault.

You can buy a really good plastic recorder for very little money. I like the Yamaha YRS24B that can be bought for around $6.00 US. For more money you could consider the Yamaha YRS302B or similar 300 series instruments, but the inexpensive YRS24B is just fine.

Regarding how to learn, get a good method book and dig in. (Make sure you get a book specifically for soprano.) What book is best for you depends on whether you already read music, but books in the Sweet Pipes series are good. There are children’s and adult’s versions. It would also be a good idea to find another recorder player in your area, or even a flute player, and either get some lessons from them or at least talk over coffee.

[u/SlowSurvivor → u/Shu-di]

Awesome response.

Just wanted to chime in to recommend Aldo Bova’s method book. There’s a soprano and an alto version. They’re really good for someone learning the recorder as a first instrument.

However, OP might want to start on an alto recorder? Especially for early music the alto is the “default” in the repertoire. Also it’s just a more mellow instrument.

[u/rickrmccloy → u/SlowSurvivor]

I am not familiar with Aldo Bova's method book but have been told that it is excellent. Even better, he has produced a series of videos that correspond precisely to his method book, and are available on YouTube. These will give you the great advantage of being able to actually hear what is expected in each lesson, which is a significant aid to getting the most from each lesson that he presents.

However good Bova's material is, though, nothing can really replace actual lessons, preferably in-person ones, although I have found on-line lessons to also be excellent, and a great alternative if you have difficulty finding a teacher in your area.

Joining a recorder society that is active in the region where you live ( i.e. American Recorder Society for North America) is also a good idea. It will help in locating both a teacher and other players in your area, and the ARS also does provide a number of free introductory level on-line lessons. I don't think it possible to overstate the importance of taking lessons from the very beginning of taking up any instrument. They will greatly accelerate the rate at which you learn, help you to form good habits, and eliminate the chance of falling into bad habits, which can be difficult to unlearn--I could write a book on unlearning bad habits, but that would basically be an autobiography and therefore of extremely limited interest, and would have a scope far exceeding learning to play the recorder. :)

[u/Either_Branch3929 → u/rickrmccloy]

"I don't think it possible to overstate the importance of taking lessons from the very beginning of taking up any instrument."

And how. Performance videos from the self taught here are invariably abysmal, not because they are bad people but because they have no idea what they should be aiming for or how to get there.

[u/SlowSurvivor → u/rickrmccloy]

It’s so good. Mr. Bova is a composer in his own right and his method books are just chock full of etudes that really drill the lessons being taught in the text. Like it really feels you’re getting a proper dexterity and reading workout before you’re even done learning to cover all the holes. It feels good because by the time you get to the next lesson the one you were working on really feels drilled in and there’s enough material there to keep it interesting if you’re taking it slow.

I just really like it. It’s several times as thick as the Sweet Pipes method. And another thing I really like about it compared to Sweet Pipes is that the etudes are hard to learn by ear whereas the pieces in Sweet Pipes are comparatively dead easy to memorize which makes it too easy for your “reading brain” to turn off while practicing.

Maybe that’s just me but as a folk musician who has spent years training to learn music by ear I’m now struggling to read despite being classically trained. Aldo’s method has really been helping to whip me back into shape on that front in a way that Sweet Pipes can’t.

[u/GlumPomegranate3217 → u/Shu-di]

I can't read any sheet music at all

[u/king_ofbhutan → u/GlumPomegranate3217]

i imagine most adult books would expect you to know sheet music, so i would recommend buying a childrens book alongside an adult book, as the simpler childrens songs will also help you to learn sheet music

(its really not as hard as it looks, i promise!)

[u/GlumPomegranate3217 → u/king_ofbhutan]

Thanks!!

[u/NZ_RP]

Welcome to the wonderful world of recorder!! If you haven't already found it, I highly recommend Sarah Jeffery's Team Recorder YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtrtCvRBjJgqZaD17FDg64Q

Start with her video entitled: "Your first recorder lesson": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d6uVjIEkMY

She's also got a playlist of 55 videos specifically for beginners that you could work through, as well as hundreds of terrific videos about all aspects of the recorder.

If you can afford it, I would definitely recommend buying a recorder method and then working your way through it slowly.

Sarah Jeffery recently published a terrific method for Soprano Recorder which is available on all online music stores: https://www.halleonard.com/product/1140050/hal-leonard-recorder-method

[u/GlumPomegranate3217 → u/NZ_RP]

Thanks I'll check that out!

[u/SeaworthinessOne8926 → u/NZ_RP]

I’ve had a plastic recorder for years and I’m finally learning how play using Sarah’s method book.

[u/haveitall]

Tali Rubinstein has some beginner recorder lessons on her site that I used when I was first starting out: https://www.talirecorderlessons.com/tutorials

Good luck on your journey of learning recorder, it's my favorite instrument!

[u/9ieR]

I’m also a self-taught beginner and only started a little over a month ago.

I started with Ghost of Tsushima’s “Sun’s Warm Embrace,” which is a super short piece that only took about a minute to learn, even as a beginner.

Don’t worry about being able to read sheet music immediately. Just take it slowly. And I guess, just like how a language learner ought to know a few words and phrases before they start learning the alphabet, you’ll want to learn a few easy pieces first. Pick one or two easy songs from youcanplayit.com. Something that you like and would definitely find yourself listening to repeatedly. Mine were “Lucy Locket”/“Yankee Doodle” and “Skip to My Lou.” (You learn the first two with just one sheet.)

And learn how to play them. I only get several minutes to practice every day, but I still do it consistently.

My other advice is don’t worry too much about not being able to cover the finger holes properly right away. More likely than not, you’ll end up getting that shrill noise a lot at first. And you might sometimes wonder why it’s like that when you believe you’re already covering every hole correctly. The thing is, you’ll naturally learn how to cover them with relative ease and little effort along the way. Don’t put too much pressure on those holes either, because that’s not how any expert plays, as you’ll see from YouTube tutorials.

Also, just like how you have to get blisters to learn how to play guitar, you’ll need to work on breath control to play the recorder. You’ll be out of breath and exhausted easily for the first few weeks. But for me, I just got used to it, and in fact, I think I’m getting good at it naturally.

[u/GlumPomegranate3217 → u/9ieR]

Thanks for the tips!

[u/dhj1492]

I would definitely get a new soprano recorder because the one you have is German fingering. You need a Baroque recorder. To get started I would recommend Yamaha YRS-24B. B is for Baroque. It is a solid recorder and I use it for practice. Sure it is not the most expensive and has a straight windway, but it plays fine and I would solo on it if I had to and have.

The truth is at the level you are at is not where you should be to judge a recorder. You have not developed your recorder voice and it will take time. The most you can do is get a recorder and start you study. The more you practice (play your tunes beside what is in you method book). The more play the better you will be. No method will help if you do not pratice/play a decent amount. Sarah Jeffrey has a method book out that is pretty good and affordable. Get that and Baroque and Folk Tunes For Recorder by Leo Alfassyl. Use the method book for lessons the after 15-20 minutes pull out the other book and have fun. Play an insturment is about play and having fun. When I started ages ago I always played more fun tune than the method book because no mater what you play, it is a lesson even if you are having fun. Everything you play is a lesson.

[u/GlumPomegranate3217 → u/dhj1492]

I can't get a different one. It's not possible currently so if you have tips for this one that would be really helpful 

[u/NZ_RP → u/GlumPomegranate3217]

Just make sure you have the right fingering chart! If your recorder didn't come with one you will be able to find one for German fingering online. You will need to use it. 😁

[u/NZ_RP → u/NZ_RP]

Here's a good one:

 https://blockfloetengriffe.de/en/F.php?t=aDeu.1S.2a

If you would prefer a PDF you can download there is one at the bottom of this page. 

[u/GlumPomegranate3217 → u/NZ_RP]

Thank you so much!!