By Mr. Wray
Recorder Countdown
• Bring
• Buy
• Borrow
Ready for Recorder!
Learn how to:
•Take care of your recorder
•Clean your recorder
•Hold your recorder…. and…
•Play!
Class Recorder Rules
• Bring your recorder with you to
every music class! You may not play
but carry it.
• In music class, “resting position” =
around your neck, in your lap, or on
the table in front of you.
• If you play when you’re not
supposed to, you will finger a
headless recorder for 5 minutes.
Take Care of Your Recorder!
• This is a musical instrument, not
a toy!
• Don’t let anyone else play your
recorder!
• Pack and store your recorder
carefully.
Clean Your Recorder!
• The cleaning rod is not necessary.
• After playing in class, we cover
the window and blow.
• If you play a long time or it smells
bad, use alcohol to clean or
Clean Your Recorder!
• Wash with soap and water in the
sink, rinse and leave standing
upright to dry.
Parts of
the
Recorder
About the Recorder
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.
Types of Recorder
Hold Your Recorder
• Sit near the edge of your seat
with your feet flat on the floor.
• Hold the bottom of the recorder
with your right hand.
• Put your left hand on the top of
the recorder with the thumb hole
covered in the back.
Hold Your Recorder
• Notice how
your pointer,
middle &
ring fingers of
your left hand
cover the holes.
Hold Your Recorder
• As you get more
comfortable,
you can rest the
recorder on your
right thumb.
Hold Your Recorder
• Eventually your
fingers can
cover all of the
holes.
Hold Your Recorder
• Your LEFT hand
always fingers
the top holes.
Hold Your Recorder
• Your LEFT hand
always fingers
the top holes.
Play!
• Left hand cover the thumb hole
and top hole with pointer finger.
• Blow soft warm air
• Whisper “DUH” = tonguing!
Play – and NOT Squeak!
• Blow soft hot air
• Cover the holes
“Hole check!” Do
your fingers have
hole marks?
The Beginning!
Now you’re ready to begin playing.
Remember:
- We play in Position #2 (back straight, edge of
seat)
- We play TOGETHER.
- We play to the best of our ability, and
demonstrate our Learner Profile traits.
- We only play when instructed to play.