yamaha YRS312B or YRS302B (recorder)

[JimBobplusasprog]

Is there actually a difference other than looks? Ds has been playing the most basic yamaha up to now but he has bashed it about a bit and when I borrowed it to demonstrate a trill this evening I really noticed that it's not sounding quite right.

The difference in price between the models is less than the cost of a single music lesson so perhaps I'm over thinking this...

[MiddleAgeMiddleEngland]

Yamaha change their numbers a lot so it's difficult to keep up. However, as far as I can see with a quick check, the difference is the looks - the 302 has a simulated rosewood pattern. Both are better than the all brown ones. They have curved windways which will help the sound and reduce clogging.

You might like to consider an Aulos, although if your DS plays at school with others, it's better to have the same make to increase the chance that they'll all play in tune.

[JimBobplusasprog]

Ds doesn't play with others - not unless you count his recorder teacher or me. We need something to see him through his grade 4 and 5 so I wanted more than the basic model he has now.

It's interesting you recommend aulos - his sopranino is an aulos and it does make a nice sound but I was looking at yamahas having seen previous threads recommending them in preference to aulos.

[Theas18]

Yamaha over aulos here I think. I assume we are looking at the rose wood pattern with cream mouthpiece and embellishments vs the black with cream?

Iirc they are same model in different colours! Ring the early music shop or somewhere that knows and check though.

[Knottyknitter]

I always used aulos, and really preferred them to the yamahas others in my class used (admittedly a heck of a long time ago)

Hey we're fine to play in groups from 5-18, and still hold a tune ok now.

[HercShipwright]

Definitely Yamaha over Aulos.

[Wafflenose]

Jumping on board a bit late here... wondering what to get DD after Grade 5 (which is in 9 days!) She is 8 so I don't want to spend a fortune. She's using a £20 Aulos descant and an even cheaper treble at the moment. I have promised her new ones, but don't really know where to start!

[WhereShallWeGo]

Waffle We went to Early Music Shop in London, highly recommended by a friend who plays recorders at a high standard. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable. They let us try any number of recorders and we took three "on loan" with refundable deposit (if you end up purchasing from them). A good system IMO as things get more personal once at around your DD's level and there were lots and lots of choices. The shop is small and not great acoustics but this way you can try playing in different locations to test which one you like best.

[HercShipwright]

I wouldn't get a good recorder for an 8 year old. My DD2 is grade 5 and no way am I spending decent money on instruments for her (she plays both descant and treble at that level) till she is a bit older. Good recorders need a lot of looking after, they need to be properly broken in etc and an 8 year old or a 10 year old just won't look after them properly. And you have to be so careful too - it's so easy to overplay them. I had plenty of second thoughts before buying DD1 her conservatoire level instruments when she was 15 and by then she had already got distinction at gr 8, playing a mid range wooden treble and a plastic descant. For some instruments, a really decent one is needed for grades 6 and above - but not recorders. DD1 is still playing plastic tenor and bass.

[Wafflenose]

We won't be buying anything expensive... she already has a £400 flute, and is not allowed to play my good recorders. But a £14.99 treble isn't cutting it any more!

[HercShipwright]

DD2 is grade 5 flute and she has a hand me down flute (from DD1) which certainly didn't cost £400 when new. DD1 got her good flute after passing grade 7. When she was old enough to look after it.