Any recommendations for a book on learning to play the recorder?

[parachutes]

Hi, my ds is showing interest in his recorder (he's six) so I thought it might be a good place to start learning music (and with an instrument small enough to hide), would be grateful for any book recommendations.

TIA

[sorky]

I would opt for the "play your recorder at grandma's house" book, by Tony Deaf

[Pandoraneedsbugs]

hehe sorky!

We like:

Recorder Magic - books 1 2 3 4
Recorder from the beginning books 1 2 3 you get the picture

Recorder playing in colour by Brian Davey is was my favourite - he got sent to prison for rather unmentionable reasons, the books were good, though I suspect they are rather hard to get hold of now! - Id stick to the first two

Recorder magic introduces rhythm (hand clapping) from the start which is good I think
Not so sure about R from the beg (only ever borrowed a library copy)
Both those are better and take things more slowly than the usborne ones

HTH

[parachutes]

sorky

Thanks Pandora, I'll look the 'magic' titles up.

[epithet]

I taught myself, age 7, with this. An oldie but goodie.

at sorky.

[trickerg]

When I start teaching 6-7 yer olds, I don't bother with the stave, as that is introducing a new set of symbols that are generally way over the averge child's head! (Imagine - that AND learning to read and do maths - what can it all mean?!)

This is the method I've been using over the last 12 years. It's very cheap, as you don't need a book, but the child's fingers MUST reach all holes on the recorder.

I start by explaining that all instruments play the 'same' notes. If you have any other instruments at home, play an 'A' on all of them. The children are always really surprised by this, and it gives them a sense of belonging to a big musical family.

Then, we learn BAG, because they'll be able to blow them without a squeak, adn we do all sorts of exercises blowing these notes in different orders, getting the fingers moving around without having to look what we're doing!

THEN, contrary to all tutor books, we learn low notes such as C,D. This is to make sure the children are blowing softly enough, and brings their right hand into play. When they've mastered the blowing technique and can blow low notes without a squeak, we'll learn something like 'Hot Cross Buns' or 'Mary had a little lamb'. We clap and sing, and I give the notes as BAG BAG GGGGAAAA BAG (for instance - no stave) Within about 15 weeks, I find that the children can manage something like 'London's Burning', which ranges from low D to high D.

I find that this method reaches less able children as well as the more able (who are generally more mentally equipped to learn new symbols), and, because they aren't initially put off by mysterious notes and symbols, many more children carry on coming to lessons in later years. They move on to learn notes and time signatures, etc in Y3, and many take up an extra wind instrument.

I generally use a tenor recorder to play with the children, as this gives them a magnified view of what they should be doing!

[trickerg]

Sorry, missed some As myself in that first paragraph!

[Tinfoil]

Have a look at the Musicroom website in the Tuition > Woodwind section for lots of ideas. Another vote here for "Recorder from the Beginning".

[ShrinkingViolet]

we like Red Hot Recorder which comes with a CD (great for making the DC feel they can play something which sounds halfway decent).

[ceeb]

I like the Tobin method (Wizard's Way for the recorder). It helps children learn to read music through the association of notes with colours. Really fun and easy to use.

[BeNimble]

on this subject i know very little but am wondering about getting a penny or tin whistle from a music shop near us.

here they are mentioned online on a 'waldorf' site.

other waldorf searches might tell about learning in 1st grade which i think is 6/7 years.... i think it helps if you learn it too............ mind you i'm tone deaf so i'm not sure whether that would help or hinder my children!

HTH x

[Fillyjonk]

the waldorf ones might be pentatonic or something though.

the trouble I find with tin whistles, pentatonic whistles and so forth is that you cannot play all the sharps and flats. You normally just get, say, all the notes of the c major scale. This is rather limiting.

I'd just go to pretty much any music shop and get a decent recorder-aulos is always reliable, as are some yamahas. And they are not expensive, a descant will only be about £10. Get one for yourself too , the recorder is such an easy instrument and great for playing together.

trickg that is great, I am going to try that method with my kids.

I really don't think they need to learn music reading or theory from the start.

[dizzymac]

I second red hot recorder. I use it in school and DD 7 has used it herself too.