Which recorder to buy for a 6-year-old boy? With nice high quality sound.

[Lovefruitsandvegs]

I have seen on the internet lots of recorders. Does anyone think that Aulos 205 is a very good recorder? www.amazon.co.uk/Aulos-205-Descant-Recorder-Yellow/dp/B000SQC13A

Which recorders you would not buy?
I do not want to buy just any recorder for a beginner because the bad sound might put my son off playing recorders.
I have read that there are recorders with different sounds. How can I know which one is which.
Thank you.

DeWe

I don't think you can easily get hard cases made for recorders if the original didn't come with one (if it did then contact the maker for a replacement). It is normal for even descants to be taken apart to put in cases.

Even my low pitch recorder (worth may be £800 ) lives in one like this

www.earlymusicshop.com/product.aspx/en-GB/1002657-ems-9-slot-fleece-lined-recorder-roll-bag-nylon

but it's just a single recorder case.

I have a great bass recorder that lives in a bit of cardboard wrapped inthe old cot duvet because I think I will, eventually make it a case....

You'll have to get a case made by a carpenter/handyman and it'll be heavy if wood so no good for a school kid. I'm thinking I'll ask a coffin maker about my great bass!

or even
www.earlymusicshop.com/product.aspx/en-GB/1002657-ems-9-slot-fleece-lined-recorder-roll-bag-nylon

The original doesn't come with one.

It basically works with stops and holes. So for the right hand only recorder, blowing with no fingers gives you a G. For notes where you keep the left hand fully on, you just play the notes as normal (low F, E, D, C). For notes where you would have not all the left hand fingers off, you use the stops with your right hand. eg for A you only press the stop down with your 3rd finger.

Dd2's charity has them commissioned for them. There are left hand one too.

I'll see if I can get my dad to make one, I was just hoping there might be an easier (and quicker!) option.
Thanks:

I've seen those one handed recorders - they are very clever indeed!

Theas My husband was moaning about the combined cost of all the recorders just yesterday. I think it was the bass that finally pushed him over the edge although it's not as if it was a Kung (just a Mollenhaueur). I mentioned that DD will have to upgrade her descant and especially her treble (which is my first Moeck and which is now......32 years old!) soon or at least after her Grade 7. Since she also needs to upgrade her flute......I'm going to be selling a kidney, I think.

I second the yamaha ones. I used to work in a shop that sells them (and other recorders) and the plastic yamaha ones were a firm favorite with primary school teachers as they have a good sound, are well tuned and most importantly can go in the dishwasher (gentle cycle) if a yoghurt bursts in the school bag.

I spent a lot of time searching for the best prices. But I still think the best variety and often the best deals are on Amazon: Amazon

Don't buy a wooden one for a beginner! The cheap wooden ones just aren't worth it, they're mostly made of soft wood and need far too much looking after.
Yamaha and Aulos are both good in different ways.

Good wooden ones are fine once a child really shows an interest and an ability. Plenty of people take Grade 5 and above on plastic. They can be washed, dropped, left in a hot car or out in the garden overnight and won't mind. Wooden ones are rather precious and new ones have to be "played in" gradually over several weeks.

The Moeck plastic/wooden one is nice although I don't think it has a particularly strong sound.

Recorder buying can get surprisingly expensive - we know someone who paid nearly £1,000 for a descant, and the larger sizes are easily that.

Just wish the recorder didn't get such bad press, it's just as valid an instrument, when played properly, as a violin or piano.

The Saunders Recorders website has lots of recorders as well as down to earth information. What the proprieter doesn't know about recorders isn't worth knowing.