How to Play Recorder Series

Is your child wanting to further their music education? Would they like to learn to play an inexpensive instrument? Is there no recorder teacher that your child has access to? Then my How to Play Recorder series might just be the thing your child needs.

The Recorder Series Was Born!

Just like my Online Music Classes, this recorder series was born out of a need.  I taught recorders once a week at our local Boys and Girls Club last year. It didn’t take long to figure out that there was a huge difference in abilities, and I was only given a half hour to teach each group.

Feeling frustrated that I couldn’t spend more time with them, I started making How To Play Recorder videos that they could access from home. At the same time, my own school students also found them helpful. My students also only got me once a week for music, and heaven help them if they had music on Mondays! (Monday holidays)

How to Get Started

What your child will need:

1. To be old enough to handle crossfingering (picking up and placing fingers down on opposite hands.)  I prefer students to be at least in 3^rd or 4^th grade, but your child might be the exception.
2. A quality recorder purchased from a music store or online, not at a dollar store! $5- $10
3. A place they can practice without persecution (listening to a new player is not for the faint of heart.)  Click here to watch this parent video!
4. Praise for persevering!

Encourage your child to breathe into the recorder, not blow. That will solve most of the problems. If you continue to hear sharp loud piercing sounds, it might be time to take it a way for a season.  Again, watch the parent video for ways for you to help.

The recorder is not for everyone. But the investment cost is low so if it’s not for your child, all is not lost. But if your child does succeed, there are definitely benefits to learning to play the recorder. If the recorder isn’t your child’s thing, check out my Online Music Classes.

Benefits to Playing the Recorder

Your child will:

1. develop patience. These can be good teaching moments for you.
2. develop and improve hand/eye coordination.
3. learn to breathe correctly.
4. learn to develop listening skills to improve playing ability.
5. practice note reading if they choose to do so.
6. have all these skills transfer to another instrument if they move on to band or orchestra.

Check out my first video to see if your child might like to learn to play the recorder. The series is not complete yet, but it will definitely get your child off to a solid start! Happy playing (and don’t forget to get your dog some noise canceling ear muffs!)