One of the most useful instruments for the classroom, the recorder is a wonderful way to introduce children to musicality.  While professional musicians can find many nuances in playing the recorder, the instrument is straight forward enough for kids to produce affable sounds with only elementary instruction.  The Woodwind and Brasswind is the ultimate music teacher resource with numerous plastic recorders to choose from along with complete sets of 30 to 40 recorders for the entire classroom.  Browse top brands like Lyons, Yamaha, and Aulos for the set of recorders best suited for your students.

The Woodwind and Brasswind also offers several professional level instruments.  Traditionally used in early music through the Baroque era, pieces for the recorder have been written by famous composers like Johann Sebastian Bach, Joseph Haydn, and George Frideric Handel.  Professional musicians play recorders in traditional Baroque concerts, recorder consorts, world music, and music therapy.  For more professional or advanced purposes, consider recorders like the Yamaha Maple Bass Recorder or the Yamaha YRT-304B Professional Tenor with Baroque Fingering whose Rottenburg-style body produces a rich, full sound.

Baroque fingering is most common in contemporary recorders and emulates the Renaissance style of the instrument.  A French family called the Hotteterres developed this fingering in the 18th century.  Their recorders possessed a more tapered bore which brought the finger holes for the lower hand closer together.  In the early 20th century Peter Harlan developed German fingering which has a hole 5 smaller than the hole 4.  This development allowed for simpler fingering for certain notes but negatively impacted other sounds.  German fingering is still preferred by some and is useful for beginners but has declined in use overall.

The popularization of the recorder in schools is due greatly to Carl Orff.  A music teacher and composer, Carl Orff developed Orff-Schulwerk in the early 20th century with an emphasis on percussive and musical exploration for children.  This popular methodology is still widely used today and has been greatly influential in the association of the recorder as a children’s instrument.  Orff’s 5-volume book, “Music for Children” contains lots of recorder music for children and is still a popular resource for teachers.

Recorders are a wonderful way for young students to learn more about breathing, rhythm, and pitch. The soprano recorder is most common among kids but older student groups may benefit from the inclusion of alto or bass recorders for more complex music.  Most recorder ensembles include a sopranino, soprano, alto, and tenor recorder.  The Woodwind and Brasswind offers sets like the Rhythm Band Four Recorder Package for a group of recorder players or for a single musician in need of a range of instruments.  More fun than ever, recorders now come in fun and bright colors.  Choose from translucent blue, pink, or purple recorders from Lyons and get the students even more excited about music.  Purchase recorders individually or get a set for the classroom complete with a carrying case and cleaning rod.

 
Introduce recorders to your students and cultivate a love of music in a whole new generation!