Beginning Recorder. Play your Recorder every day, especially the first month. Put together a Music Kit

Transcription

1 Mary Stoughton

2 This is a basic introduction to the sounds your Recorder can make. It is my intention to make it as simple as possible, so you can concentrate on the enjoyment that comes from making your own music. Success Play your Recorder every day, especially the first month. 15 minutes a day will train your brain that this is something really important you are doing... and it will give more memory toward your success. Put together a Music Kit Recorder Make your own instruction book Put these learning sheets in in a folder or binder, with the intention of adding more information as you come across it. Tray or box Everything will be in one place and easily accessible

3 Finger Control Finger Control means covering and uncovering the tone holes with precision. Use these fingers to cover the 8 holes of the Recorder: Pretend you are plying finger cymbals, but without the cymbals. Tap your first finger against your thumbs and say, 1. Tap your second finger against your thumb and say, 2, and so on. Your fingers should be flat, like the picture to the left. You want the pads of your fingers to come in contact, not the tips. Reason: 1. learn correct finger action 2. Feel the pad behind each finger tip 3. Learn to act with a regular rhythm Native American Flute

4 Finger Control, cont. 1. Look at your Recorder. Count the tone holes. Twist the sections to feel comfortable to your hand. 2. Place your fingers on the tone holes. -Left hand on top -Right hand on bottom 3. Remember your finger control practice. Take the recorder in both hands and cover and release the tone holes as if you were playing finger cymbals. Blow gently and hear how one note sounds from the other. Tonguing Helping your breath make a clear, clean note. The tip of the tongue is placed on the roof of your mouth just behind the upper teeth. Say doo as you blow gently into the Recorder Think of the tongue as a gate that opens and closes. -Opens to release the air when you whisper doo. -Closes to give a crisp sound to your note, as you put your tongue back behind your teeth and stop blowing.

5 Tips Make sure you cover the tone holes with intention. -look at your fingerpads...see the indentation made by the holes? Are they centered or to the side. They should be centered. -By practicing your finger cymbal technique you will learn how it feels to move your fingers correctly over the tone holes. Blow smooth, gentle and steady stream of air. -If you sound screechy you are blowing too hard. Embouchure Lip/Recorder connection Embouchure is a French word meaning how the lips engage and hold the instrument you are playing. Rest the Recorder on the red of the lip and close the mouth to form a seal. Native American Flute Tip: The Recorder does not go into your mouth. Your lower lip should curve slightly toward the lower teeth.

6 The Basic Notes Refer to this chart for fingering: Cover the underside hole with your left thumb. Cover the top hole with your left first finger. Call this hand position 1 1 Blow into the Recorder with a smooth, gentle stream of air much like you would blow on a spoon of hot soup to cool it. Native American Flute Make sure you can feel all the rim of each hole under each finger, but do not squeeze.

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8 I would like to acknowledge the sources from which these instructions were developed. The Native American Flute Understanding the Gift 3 rd edition by John Vames ISBN The Usborne First book of the Recorder Stephanie Roberts and Philip Hawthorn Music Sheets freely printed from: Changes made by me to compliment the number system used by Native American Flute Mary Stoughton libuse.makovicka@gmail.com April 2013