Beginner recorder?

[meringue33]

Hi could anyone recommend a recorder for a beginner player? TIA :)

The aulos descant is an excellent starter recorder, pretty much universal recommended by teachers.
aulos recorder

Ditto.

I just clicked on the link above- that takes me back, especially the mustard yellow corduroy drawstring carrying case!

DS asked for a recorder last Christmas. As he would start learning the recorder at school the following September, I bought a school recorder from the music teacher. It’s this one here

The Aulos one linked is perfect up to about G3.

DD now has a wooden Moeck one but no need to spend the ££ when starting out

Amazing! Thanks so much for all the speedy replies! I suppose what I should also ask is there a book to go with it?

If you want a funkier colour but still with a good sound, Yamaha do clear coloured ones!
Otherwise it's aulos all the way, tried and tested best school recorder, anything cheaper just sounds horrendous and is harder to play. A cheap ( less than about £60 imho) wooden one will not be as good as a decent plastic one. There are lots of learn to play books, it's important they also play music they like. Recorder can be really satisfying as it doesn't take too long to get the very basics ( obviously you can take it to as high a level as they like, there are also other sizes to try out.) Mine 3 have all enjoyed it and two still do, have a musical Christmas!

Thanks, my Mum has suggested that a descant may be too big for DD who is only four (though she is big for her age and in 6-7 clothes). Would a piccolo be suitable? Anyone know how big the holes are? X

Virtually everyone starts on the descant as far as I remember. I wouldn't start on a piccolo for sure.

I can't believe this is still the go to recorder brand! What a blast from the past!

If you want a small recorder for little hands then you need a sopranino

Agree that Aulos are a great make. Don't be tempted to buy a wooden one. The cheaper ones are rubbish and the better makes need piling regularly.

It is rare to start on sopranino, because it is different fingering and there would be very few beginner books. Eg all fingers down gives an F, not a C. Unless the fingers are incredibly slim or petite, pretty sure descant will be fine. Aulos also do them though if necessary. Beware though, they are even higher pitched!

Actually the fingers are the same shape so I suppose you could use a descant book and use the C fingering instead and then move to a descant when a bit bigger but I suppose it would be no good to join a group or play along with the CD s that the books often have!

Or you could really torture the neighbours and have all the local dogs howling and let her start on a garklein!

Omg that takes me back too! I think I might get one for dd after seeing this!

Thanks guys! I need to watch some videos I think or go to a shop. Really appreciate all the advice :-)

I would say a descant is fine- I started playing at 5 and I was tiny.

I should add that it was an Aulos and it’s still playable today after nearly 40 years, so definitely good quality!

At size 6-7 she should be easily able to start with a descant it is widely used in children from age 6.

Ask your ndn which one they would recommend.
None will likey be the answer!!
Have you actually heard a novice player??

I'm sure I started the descant (badly) at 4-5, but like your daughter I was probably physically bigger.

Sorry to the NDN!

Don’t start her on anything smaller than a descant. The smaller ones are more high pitched and require better breath control. The holes aren’t that big / far apart. Only thing she might find is that the lowest note might be difficult depending on the size of her hands.

Interesting, we went for the Yamaha (for all 4 she got from descant to bass) , as recommended by some experts here on Mumsnet.
And have now also bought her the Yamaha sopranino.
I was just doing a search for sopranainos and came accros this thread....