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How to... play the recorder
THERE are few people who didn't make their first foray into the wide world of music with the humble recorder.
THERE are few people who didn't make their first foray into the wide world of music with the humble recorder.I have a vivid memory of sitting cross-legged on the floor of my primary school class with the little plastic instrument, running through Three Blind Mice after school, before packing it into a little drawstring bag to take home.
For many people, this is where their relationship with the recorder begins and ends. In the same way that being force-fed Julius Caesar in school can put people off Shakespeare for life, it may be that enforced after-school recorder lessons give people hang-ups about this wonderful instrument.
I suppose that the association with school also means the recorder doesn't benefit from the glamour and rock prestige that one might attach to the electric guitar or the drumkit. Fool On The Hill and Ruby Tuesday aside, are there many recorder solos in the world of popular music?
A visit to the Peterborough branch of the Society of Recorder Players, however, offers a glimpse into just what the instrument can do. Being a guitar player (and only in the loosest possible sense), all things musical are a bit of a mystery to me.
I didn't have a clue, for instance, that there are actually four different kinds of recorder. The treble, or alto recorder, is the kind you probably had in school, and is small, so perfect for tiny hands.
There are also descant, or soprano, recorders, as well as tenor and bass variants, and the blend of sounds that came from the 15-strong group as they played together sounded absolutely wonderful.
I was half-expecting to be having another crack at Three Blind Mice as I arrived, but it was in at the deep end from the off, as I was given a tenor recorder to play.
I've met any number of groups as I've taken part in these How To . . . challenges over the months, but I can confidently say that the recorder players are among the most friendly and helpful people I've met along the way.
Under the initial tutelage of retired music teacher Jan Theedom, and later, an incredibly patient lady called Diane, I was shown how to play G, C, and D before it was straight off into a piece.
The biggest stumbling block was not so much my lack of knowledge of the architecture of the recorder as the fact that I can't read a note of music. Thankfully, Diane was able to overcome my initial baffled looks and soldiered on until I was able to recognise a C in the notation. As the group ran through the piece, I was able to drop in the odd C, with the help of the odd nudge to tell me where to come in. Soon, I was able to play a few Cs before shifting to an A, and my confidence was slowly increasing.
Throwing in another note, however, proved disastrous, and the beautiful sound that cascaded through the air of St Mark's Church Hall was rent asunder by my tuneless parping.As a group, the Peterborough branch performed at City Hall recently to mark the anniversary of Katharine of Aragon's burial at Peterborough Cathedral, and although I'm probably not the best judge of good musicianship, it was easy to see why they were selected.
Jan said that the recorder isn't a terribly difficult instrument to begin with, but, like anything, dedication and effort are required to reach a high standard.
"It isn't difficult, because it's small and light, and plastic recorders are relatively inexpensive," she said.
Plastic recorders are recommended at first, she added.
"It's best to start off with a plastic recorder because you can get a few things under control first."
She said that many people find that bits and bobs from their recorder lessons at school can come back to them when they return to the instrument.
Sadly, this wasn't something I experienced, but the chance to sit in on the group's playing had made my efforts worthwhile.
Why do it . . .
For the joy of playing. Jan Theedom said that being able to sight read music is important when playing in a group, but stressed that the most important thing "is having a go – it's about being not afraid to try".
Where is it . . .
The Peterborough branch of the Society of Recorder Players meets on the second Saturday of each month from 2pm to 5pm and on the last Wednesday of each month from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. The new venue is St Jude's Church Hall, Peterborough.
How much . . .
Recorders can cost anything from around 4.99 to thousands of pounds.
More info . . .
Call Audrey Evans on 01778 380791, or Phil Brown on 01733 243811.
Details correct at 28/03/08
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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