Monday, March 21, 2011

Recorders - more than Hot Cross Buns!!

Recorders have a reputation today as being those annoying little plastic things that school children make awful sounds on.

But they are really so much more!

Recorders are beautiful woodwind instruments of the Flute family, and have been used in Orchestras since the Renaissance. Good Recorders are made out of wood, and produce a soft, sweet, warm tone.

Recorders today come in three main sizes: Soprano (the most popular for school children), Alto, and Tenor. There are also Bass Recorders used in many Orchestras.

Recorders that are not wooden are usually made out of ABS Resin, a synthetic wood, which is the same as what student Clarinets are made out of. They are cheaper and lighter and require less maintenance than the wooden models.

Yamaha Recorders have been the favourite for schools in Australia for many years, and the quality can be heard by even beginning students!

If you are wondering just how awesome Recorders can really be, check out this Recorder Ensemble from Hong Kong:

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