Do boys play the recorder (and not get teased?)

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I began to teach DS1 (now 8) the recorder, and he was doing well. He's now learning the guitar, but I'd still like to do recorder with him at home, as it's an instrument we can play together. But he's a bit resistant, saying it's 'just for girls'.

I'm not suggesting that he join the school recorder group etc, 'cos I KNOW that is mostly, if not ALL, girls.

But is he right, do boys not play recorders these days?

I also want to teach DS2 who's 5. (Is that too young do you think?)

the whole class learn the recorder in yr 3 at my children's school ( and the guitar in yr 4)

They do play recorder - quite a few of DS3's boy classmates opted to do so in Year 2. (DS1's year was almost a straight split between the boys on drums and the girls on recorders, apart from a few tomboy girls and a music teacher's son whose arm may have been twisted). Actually, I rather wish DS3 had opted for the drums like DS1 and DS2 as it was rather better done. Can it really take a year to do A, B, C and G, then another to add on E? Needless to say I did show him a few other notes, and teach him how to read music, at home!

As for your DS2, it depends on how compliant he is and whether he can manage the rhythm and coordination involved - it's harder than is obvious to adults No harm in giving it a go, other than to your own eardrums and sanity... but I'd wait until he's six if I were you.

I think it depends on the school ethos to be honest. At my childrens school boys played recorder quite happily, but it doesn't happen everywhere.

5 is OK if they have enough fine motor control to cover the holes properly, if not it will sound awful.

My ds hasn't heard of this one yet; at his school recorders are gender neutral.

DS2 learns it, he's 7 and its not a problem, neither is he the only boy.

My BIL is a musician (guitar) and says the recorder is by far the best way to start little ones.

I teach the recorder club at my school for Y2 and have done for the last 8 years. I have pretty much always had an even split and as far as I know, boys aren;t teased for playing it.

Mine were playing a few minutes ago but they're at an all boys school so music is easier then. Boys are happier to sing in the choir too if there are no girls around. As soon as a school goes mixed the boys stupidly then think music is for girls , some of them.

No Xenia, have to disagree. My dc's are at co-ed school. ds(13) saw this thread & said: ' plays recorder and no-one teases him - they think he's awesome'. Also loads of boys there sing too - no stigma. Possibly single sex education makes it easier to create the ethos needed, but there are plenty of boys only schools where it's just not macho to sing/play recorder.

May be. I just remember the change when my ex husband's school went mixed. Much harder to get those trebles into cassocks and all that get up as well as being in the choir. Girls just kind of took over and it was even harder to compete with the pull of rugby etc.

My 9 year old boy started recorder in a whole class setting and has just bought himself a rather fancy proper wooden one and has asked to have lessons. It's not 'for girls'! Point out to him that it is a great stepping stone to all kinds of other wind instruments.

At our school, if you haven't learned an instrument by Year 5, then recorder is compulsory. As is Choir.

But I don't know whether that removes any 'recorder is for girls' teasing or whether that still comes from boys who have already learned guitar or percussion and thus don't do girly recorder.

It does always seem to be the girls that perform at assemblies etc.

He might enjoy a larger recorder - sopranos (descants) are a bit squeaky. He should be able to manage an alto (treble), which is much more satisfying to play, I think.

My son used to be the only boy in recorder club but he loved it and never got teased.

However, our school has now got government funding which has allowed them to buy every child in years 3-6 a recorder and book, and every class has a weekly recorder lesson. So lots of boys now happily bringing in their recorder each week and tootling away!

Have to say, recorder was the best thing ever for my children. We started them late on more expensive instruments, mainly because of the cost of instruments and lessons, but they had progressed so well on recorder they just flew once they started other instruments. My son plays the sax and that really is cool according to all his friends (and the girls!), and it all started with the humble recorder.