How to Play the

Recorder

A step-by-step guide
How to Play the
Recorder
A step-by-step guide

Lisete da Silva
 Contents
4–5 Introduction
6–7 Your recorder
Project editor Sam Priddy
Project art editor Fiona Macdonald 8–9 Recorder family
Managing editor Laura Gilbert
Managing art editor Diane Peyton Jones 10–11 Starting to play
Pre-production producer Ben Marcus
Producer Christine Ni
Jacket designer Lucy Sims
12–13 Reading music
Publisher Sarah Larter
Publishing director Sophie Mitchell
14–15 Time signatures
Commissioned photography Andy Crawford 16–17 Breathing
First published in Great Britain in 2015 by
Dorling Kindersley Limited
18–19 Tonguing
80 Strand, London, WC2R 0RL

Copyright © 2015 Dorling Kindersley Limited

20–21 Hand positions
A Penguin Random House Company
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
001–187497–Jul/2015
22–23 The note B
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or
24–25 The note A
introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any
form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the
prior written permission of the copyright owner.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is

available from the British Library.
ISBN: 978-0-2411-9617-5

Printed and bound in China.

A WORLD OF IDEAS:
SEE ALL THERE IS TO KNOW
 About the author
Lisete da Silva trained at the Royal Academy
of Music in London, and has played with
leading chamber groups and orchestras
across Europe and South America. She has
spent the last 20 years teaching the recorder
and raising awareness of its historical and
contemporary importance.

26–27 The note G 48–49 Low C

28–29 Good technique 50–51 F natural
30–31 High C 52–53 Scales
32–33 High D 54–55 Duets
34–35 Tied notes 56–57 High E
36–37 Long and short notes 58–59 Get practising
38–39 Practice tunes 60–61 Showtime
40–41 Low E 62–63 Fingering chart
42–43 Low D and Glossary
44–45 Making music 64 Index and
Acknowledgements
46–47 The note F#

Special thanks to
Mollenhauer for providing
all of the recorders used
in this book.
 Introduction
Welcome to the wonderful world
of recorders! They are a perfect
first instrument to learn, and
work as a great introduction to
music in general.

This book will teach you everything

you need to know to start playing a
descant recorder. This is the most
common type of recorder, and the
easiest to play.

The exercises and tunes in this

book have been designed to help
you learn the art of the recorder.
By the end, you will be able to play
all sorts of fun pieces of music!

4
How the book works
There are two different types of pages. The
coloured pages teach you how to play notes,
while the others teach you everything else you
need to know to play the recorder well. You’ll be
playing music
Discover which holes you in no time!
need to cover to play
each note

The note G Squeaky notes

If your recorder squeaks you
may not be covering the holes
properly. Check the holes you
Try not to
squeak like
a mouse!
Playing G requires you to use all of the fingers should be covering one by one,
on your left hand that are used to play the making sure no air is escaping.
recorder. The left little finger is never used. Don’t forget to check the back
hole too!
Try it out
Practise playing the note G in the first
Finger positions exercise. In the second piece get used to
Covering this
Play the note A, then place moving your fingers between G and A.
hole turns A
the third finger of your left
hand over the third hole.
Make sure you cover the
into G
Simple explanations
hole completely so that
no air escapes.
G G G G G G G G
break everything down
Play the first G for
two beats
The repeat sign means go
back to the beginning
into easy chunks
Remember to blow
gently to make the
best sounds.

Loud and quiet

G
This piece begins
with the note A
Making music
G G G G These symbols are called dynamics. They tell you when
to play notes loudly or quietly. If you see a dynamic, it
means that all of the following notes should be played
To play a note loudly,
you blow harder. To
play a note quietly,
blow gently.
Special symbols called accidentals and in that style, until you see another dynamic.
Fais Dodo dynamics tell you when to playZnotes Z
Z Learn how to play
This piece of music is an old French the note F# (F sharp) Forte (F) Piano (p)
lullaby. “Fais dodo” means “go to higher, lower,
You louder,
will need toor softer. on pages 46-47.
Z
An “f” symbol beneath a note means This symbol has nothing to do with
sleep” in French. It uses B, A, and G. cover two holes to
the following notes should be played actual pianos! It means the following
change from B to G
loudly. Forte means “strong” in Italian. notes should be played quietly.
Accidentals Sharps Flats Naturals
Sharps, flats, and Mezzo Forte (mf) Mezzo Piano (mp)
This symbol This symbol
naturals tell you when means play the means play the This symbol This symbol means the following notes This symbol means play the following
to play a note slightly note higher than note lower than means the note should be played fairly loudly, but not as notes fairly quietly, but not as quietly as
higher loudly as forte notes. piano notes.
G G or lowerGthan G
normal, but lower
than the note
normal, but
higher than the
should be played
as normal again.
usual. They appear
next to the treble clef above. note below. Crescendo (cresc.) Decrescendo (decresc.)
or before the note. An arrow-like symbol pointing to the An arrow-like symbol pointing to the
Musical note This means all F notes All B notes left means the notes should get right means the notes should get
G is easy to remember, because it in the piece must be must be gradually louder as you play them. gradually quieter as you play them.
is on the line in the middle of the G G G played sharp played flat
treble clef swirl.
Key signature Try it out
27
A sharp or a flat symbol next to See how the same notes can
the treble clef means you have to sound different depending on how
play that note sharp or flat for the hard you blow. Play the notes
whole piece. This is called the key B-A-G loudly, and then quietly.
Notes signature.

This F should be This F should The first three notes

played normally be played sharp should be played loudly

Learn how to identify and play Before a note

A sharp or flat written in front of
The Elephant and the Mouse
Before playing this piece look through it and take note
of the different dynamics. The elephant should be loud,

different notes, and then practise a note means you play that note
sharp or flat for the rest of the
bar, unless a natural appears.
while the mouse should be quiet (but not squeaky!).

them with special exercises. This means play all F

notes in the bar as F sharp
Naturals
Naturals also appear in front of
the note, and reverse the effects
of any sharps or flats earlier
in the piece.
This means play all F notes in
the bar as F natural again
44 45

Music basics Exercises give you a

Learn key skills that will chance to practise
help to make you a better what you’ve learnt
recorder player.

What you’ll need

All you need for this book is a
descant recorder. They can be
found in most music shops. Recorder
Ready to learn more
A music stand would also be
about recorders? Turn
useful for performing pieces, over the page to start
but this isn’t essential, so don’t your adventure.
worry if you haven’t got one. Music stand

5
 Your recorder
Before you start playing the recorder it’s good
to know what the different parts of it are called.
It’s also important to know where each one
of your fingers goes.
This descant recorder
is made out of wood,
Parts of a recorder but they can be made
Recorders are usually made up of three from plastic.
parts that are gently screwed together.
These parts are called the head section,
the middle section, and the foot section.

HEAD SECTION MIDDLE SECTION

This opening is called

the window

The part that you put This part of a recorder The first hole is covered
between your lips is is called the lip. It by the first finger of
called the mouthpiece makes the whistling the left hand
sound you hear

Back view
There is only one hole on the back of a
recorder. It is covered with the left thumb.

Only cover half of

this hole when you
play high notes
6
 Finger positions
2 1 1 2
You need to use most of your
3 3 fingers to play the recorder.
The only finger you do not
4 4 need to use at all is the little
T T finger on your left hand. The
only other finger that does not
cover a hole is your right
thumb. This thumb helps to
support the recorder.
LEFT RIGHT

FOOT SECTION

This hole is covered Use the first finger The lowest notes in
by the middle finger of your right hand to some recorders have
of the left hand cover this hole two holes each

2 3

1 2 3
4

Cover this hole The fifth finger The seventh finger hole is
with the third hole is covered by also sometimes a double
finger of your the middle finger hole. It is covered by the little
left hand of the right hand finger of your right hand

Side view
There is a small hole here
The mouthpiece is gently curved
that you blow through so it sits nicely in your mouth.

Some recorders
only have two
sections.

7
 Recorder family
The recorder is one of the most popular instruments
in the world. It is played by millions of people!
Would you like to meet the family?
The biggest
recorder ever
Types of recorder made was as tall
The recorder family is one of the as a giraffe!
biggest instrument families. There
are ten different sizes. The bigger they
get, the lower the sound they make.
With big recorders, special
keys help to cover the holes
the player can’t reach
Bass

Great bass

Timeline
Did you know the recorder is one of the oldest
instruments in the world? It has been played
ever since cave people were around.
Henry VIII
While he was King of
England, Henry VIII 18th century
Cave people People started
owned 76 recorders!
Prehistoric people listening to orchestras
made recorders out more, so the recorder
of bits of bone. Shakespeare
became less popular.
Recorders appeared in
William Shakespeare’s
play Hamlet.

8
 Sopranino

The descant is the

recorder we will
use in this book Descant

Treble

Tenor

Special mouthpieces make

sure your mouth is lower down,
20th century so your fingers are closer to the
holes on large recorders
Recorders became
popular again because
they are a great first Movies
instrument to learn. Recorders were
heard in films
such as Lord
Pop music of the Rings in
Bands such as The the 2000s.
Beatles used recorders in
pop songs in the 1960s.

9
Starting to play
It’s time to start playing the recorder. First you need
to learn how to blow into the recorder properly.
This will help make the best sounds.

How to blow properly Try to imagine

Raise your hand up to your face and blow you are blowing
into your palm, trying to keep a steady bubbles.
stream of air. This is how you need to
blow when playing your recorder.

Your breath
should go in a
straight line in
front of you
Making sound
Now you have got used to blowing, it’s time to pick Don’t blow too hard
into your recorder,
up your recorder and start making a noise. Follow
else it will squeak!
these steps to see how a recorder makes a sound.

1 Take your 2 Blow gently 3 Cover the window

recorder apart Place the head section between your The little window on the top of the
Gently unscrew your lips. Blow gently and see how long you recorder is what makes the noise.
recorder, being careful can make a sound for. Your teeth and Cover it up with your fingers and try
not to damage it. tongue should never touch the recorder. blowing. No sound will come out!

Looking after your recorder

It’s important to clean your recorder
every time you have finished using
it. Special cleaning tools help to
remove spit. A padded case protects
the recorder when it is not in use.

Cleaning rod

Cleaning mop Protective case

11
 Reading music
Written music tells you which notes to play on the
recorder. It tells you how high or low they should
sound, and how long they should be played for.

The stave
A way of
Music is written on a stave. It has five
remembering the
lines and four spaces. Each line and notes on the lines is
space has a note living in it. “Every Good Bee
Deserves Flowers”.
This E (high E) sounds
higher than the E at
the bottom (low E)

F
E
D
C
B
A
G
F
E
Low F sits on the lowest Low E is written on the
space in the stave bottom line. It is the lowest
note used in this book

Treble clef
The symbol often
seen at the start of
a stave is called a
treble clef.
All of the music
in this book uses
treble clefs.

12
Types of notes
Different types of notes show how long they should be
played for. Music is counted in something called beats.
Most of the music in this book is counted in crotchet beats.
Semibreve
A semibreve symbol
means you play the note
for four beats.

Minim
Each minim lasts two
beats. Two minims equal
one semibreve.

Crotchet
Each crotchet should be
played for one beat – the
same as two quavers.

Quaver
Quavers last half a beat.
Eight quavers are equal
to one semibreve.

Dotted notes Rests

A dotted note means you play the A rest is a silence in music. If you
note, then play it for half as much see one, you stop and count in
again in the same breath. silence for the length of the rest.
Semibreve rest

4 beats
Minim rest

A dot next to a
2 beats
Crotchet rest
crotchet means you
play the note for
one and a half beats 1 beat
Quaver rest

1
/2 a beat

13
 Time signatures
Music is divided up into bars. The two numbers next
to the treble clef tell you how many beats are in a bar.
This is called the time signature.

What does it mean?

A time signature tells you
that each bar will have the
same number of beats in it. The top number tells
It also lets you know what you how many beats
kind of beats they are. there are in each bar

Time signatures
come after the
treble clef The bottom number lets
you know what kind of
beats they are. The
number 4 means the
beats are crotchets

Bars and beats

Don’t forget that all of
In this example each bar has four beats. the different types of
The sum of all of the notes in each bar Two crotchets notes are on page 13.
must never be more than four. plus one minim
equals four beats

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Minims have two beats

each, so two minims
equal four beats
14
Clapping exercises For each note clap and
A good way to learn different time wait for the correct
signatures is to clap along to the beats. number of beats!
These exercises introduce you to the
other time signatures in the book.

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

4/4 time signature Two or more

Each bar is worth four beats. Hold each quavers next to each
note for the number of beats below it. other are joined
together like this.

1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 and 3 1 2 3

3/4 time signature A dotted minim lasts

There are three crotchet beats in each for three beats
bar in this time signature.

1 2 and 1 and 2 1 2 1 2 1 2

2/4 time signature

When you see a 2/4 time signature it means that
there are only two crotchet beats in each bar.
Each bar in this time signature
is worth three quaver beats

1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3

3/8 time signature A dotted crotchet

An eight at the bottom of a time signature means you count lasts for three
the bar in quaver beats. A quaver is worth half a crotchet. quaver beats
15
 Breathing
Normally you don’t think about breathing. However,
to play the recorder you have to breathe in a special
way. You can do this using a muscle in your stomach.

Use your muscles How it works

When using your stomach
muscles to breathe, it Your stomach has a muscle
helps to imagine that called a diaphragm. It moves
it is like a balloon. up and down to control the
amount of air in your lungs.

When you breathe in Lungs

deeply, your tummy
inflates like a balloon

When you breathe

out, your tummy
gets flatter, like a Diaphragm
shrivelled balloon

Good posture
Take a deep breath. Did your
shoulders move? They shouldn’t
have! Try to breathe using just
your stomach. This will help you
blow into the recorder for longer.
Hold your head
upright to keep
Concentrate on your airways open
keeping your
shoulders down

16
Practise your breathing See how high you
can move the
Lie on your back and take a deep book in the air!
breath. Notice how your stomach
rises and then falls. Now put
a book on your stomach and
practise moving the book
up and down.

Breathe out
Try using your stomach muscles to
blow a steady stream of air. Breathe
in through your mouth (filling up
the balloon), then blow out hissing
through your teeth. See how long
you can keep it going!

S
Make a hissing sound
S S
S S
S S
S S S
SSSS SSS

You could also imagine

you are filling a glass of
water when you breathe in.
Remember water hits the
bottom of the glass first!

17
 Tonguing
To produce sound you blow into a recorder, but
to start each different note clearly you have to
use your tongue. This is called tonguing.

How to use your tongue

With your mouth almost closed, say
the word “teddy”. Notice how your
tongue touches the inside of your
mouth just above your top teeth.

Your tongue should

touch the top of When blowing normally
your teeth when you don’t use your
blowing each note tongue, but with the
recorder you need to!

Making the right sound

Put your hand in front of your
lips and tongue a few times,
saying the words “do, do, do”.
Notice the gentle burst of air
on your hand each time.

Tongue the
words gently

Your tongue should

never touch the
recorder, and neither
should your teeth.

18
Practice exercises
Have a go at these tonguing If you’ve forgotten how
exercises using the head long each note lasts,
section of your recorder. turn back to page 13.
Remember to count out each
note properly as you play it.

This time signature means A semibreve is

there are four crotchet four beats long
beats in each bar

Minims last for

two beats

Each bar lasts for Remember to tongue

two crotchet beats each note individually

Each bar is three This dotted note is

crotchet beats long three beats long
 Hand positions
It is important to hold the recorder properly.
Certain fingers always cover the same holes,
so your hands are always in the same place.

Make sure you

Getting the basics right never grip your
The following steps will get you ready recorder too hard.
to play your very first note. Follow
them carefully, and if you get stuck
just start again.

1 Pick up your recorder 2 Start covering the holes 3 Position your thumb
With your left hand, hold the top of Bring your right hand up, adding Look to see where your right thumb
your recorder in front of you. You one finger at a time to the bottom goes. It should be roughly level with
should be facing the hole at the back. half of the recorder. your first and second fingers.

20
 Balance the
recorder on
your lower lip

Your right little

finger should
still be touching
the recorder
4 Bring to your lips
Stand straight and look
directly ahead. Then,
bring the recorder to your
lips. Make sure your head
does not move towards
the recorder.

5 Get your balance

Remove the first three
fingers of your right hand.
You will get “the three Rest the lower part
points of balance”: lower of the recorder on
lip, right thumb, and right your right thumb
little finger.

Now you’ve
learnt the basics
it’s time to learn
to read music!

6 Introduce your left hand 7 Play your first note

To get ready to play your first note, Put your left thumb on the hole on the
make this shape with the thumb back of the recorder, and your finger on
and first finger of your left hand. the first hole. Now blow your first note!

21
The note B
The first note you are going to learn is B.
It is the easiest note to play. You only need
to cover two holes! The holes you
need to cover are Only cover the
coloured black first hole on
the front of
Finger positions the recorder
Cover the first hole with
the first finger on your
left hand. The hole at the
back should be covered
completely by your left
thumb. Now, gently blow
into your recorder.

Remember to start
each note by blowing
a gentle “do” sound.

Musical note
The note B sits on the middle
line of the stave.
Expert tip
A good way to remember how
to play B is to touch your left
Are you ready to
thumb and first finger together.
play your first bit
This is the shape you need to
of music?
make when playing the note B.

Try it out
These pieces of music only have
one note – B! Count the length
of each note before you start so
that you get the timings right.

B B B B B B B B B B

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
The first note is a minim – Each crotchet is only
it lasts for two beats one beat long

B B B B B B B B B B

Try to make notes the This piece ends on a

same length sound semibreve, which is
exactly the same four beats long

B B B B B B B B B B B B B B

There are a lot of notes in this piece,

so make sure you count carefully
23
The note A
The note below B is A. It is the second note
you will learn, so you can now start to build
your first tune.

Covering this
Finger positions hole changes
Cover the first two holes the note from
B to A
with the first two fingers
of your left hand. Cover
the back hole with
your left thumb.

Don’t forget to breathe

properly using your
diaphragm.

Musical note
On a stave the note A is written
below the note B. This means it
will sound lower.
 The pads of your
fingers are coloured
red here Don’t raise your
fingers too high when
changing notes so you
can change quickly.
Finger pads
Make sure you cover the
holes with the pads of your
fingers, not the tips or sides.

Try it out
Now have a go playing a piece
with the note A. Don’t press too
The first note is hard with your fingers.
four beats long

A A A A A A A A

Keep your eyes

Play it on repeat peeled, as the repeat
The double dots at the end of the line is a sign can be hard
repeat sign. It means that once you finish to spot!
the piece, you must play it again once more.

A A A A A
This piece also includes This is the repeat sign
the note B

A A A A A A A
A dotted minim is Play the tune again!
worth three beats
25
The note G
Playing G requires you to use all of the fingers
on your left hand that are used to play the
recorder. The left little finger is never used.

Finger positions
Covering this
Play the note A, then place hole turns A
the third finger of your left into G
hand over the third hole.
Make sure you cover the
hole completely so that
no air escapes.

Remember to blow
gently to make the
best sounds.

Musical note
G is easy to remember, because it
is on the line in the middle of the
treble clef swirl.
 Squeaky notes Try not to
If your recorder squeaks you squeak like
may not be covering the holes a mouse!
properly. Check the holes you
should be covering one by one,
making sure no air is escaping.
Don’t forget to check the back
hole too!
Try it out
Practise playing the note G in the first
exercise. In the second piece get used to
moving your fingers between G and A.

G G G G G G G G
Play the first G for The repeat sign means go
two beats back to the beginning

G G G G G
This piece begins
with the note A
Fais Dodo Z
Z
This piece of music is an old French Z
Z
lullaby. “Fais dodo” means “go to You will need to
sleep” in French. It uses B, A, and G. cover two holes to
change from B to G

G G G G

G G G
27
 Good technique
To play the recorder well it is important to stand
up properly, and to know when to breathe. Most
importantly, you must practise a lot!

Standing tall
When playing it is
important to have a
GOOD vs BAD
relaxed and straight Imagine there is a
Lowering your
back, keep your piece of string holding
head will change
your head upright
shoulders down, and the way the
look straight ahead. recorder sounds
This helps you to Look straight
breathe better. in front of you

Keep your
back upright
You must
not bend
your back

Your whole body

should be relaxed, Don’t bend your
with no tension in knees too much
your muscles

28
Breath mark This is what a breath
While playing you must not forget mark looks like. Breathe
to breathe! Breath marks written when you see one, otherwise
above the stave let you know you might go red!
when to do this.

This is a breath mark

Make sure you breathe This is the last breath
quickly so you don’t you should take until
disrupt the tune the piece is finished

Practising tips Always make sure

To become a good musician you have to you are counting the
practise little and often. Here are two tunes beats properly.
for you to play. They use all of the notes you
have learnt so far.

Always look at the time Rest for two

signature so you know how crotchet beats This piece ends on a
many beats are in each bar rest – keep counting
until the end

Rest for one crotchet beat

29
High C
High C (also written as C') is the highest note
in this book so far. There is another C, low C,
that will appear later in the book.

Cover the
Finger positions second hole
To play high C, first play
A, then gently lift the
first finger of your left
hand off the first hole.

Don’t forget to keep a

straight back while
playing the note.

Musical note
High C is written in the second
space on the stave.
See-saw music See how long you can
Use these practice tunes to see-saw between A and
see-saw between high C and A, high C in one breath.
and high C and B. The second
piece is quite tricky.

C' C' C' C' C'

Start by playing high

C for four beats
Take a breath here

C' C' C' C'

Start by playing
the note B

Try it out
Here are more exercises using high C for
you to practise. Remember to breathe when Don’t forget to
you see the breath marks above the stave. breathe when you
see this mark

C' C' C'

This piece starts

with an A

C' C' C' C' C' C'

You have to remove two fingers Each quaver is

to go from a G to a high C worth half a crotchet
31
High D
The note high D (also written as D') is special,
because you only need one finger to play it.
The back hole is uncovered, so keep the
recorder supported with your right hand. This is the first
note in this book
that has the back
hole uncovered
Finger positions
Firstly play the note
high C. Then move
your left thumb away
from the back hole.
This is high D.

Move your left thumb on

and off the back hole, to
switch between high D
and high C.

Musical note
High D is written on the second
line of the stave.
Hand positions
When playing high D
in a piece, always
check where all of
your other fingers
are. If they are too
high, you will waste
time moving them
down to play the
next part of the tune.
Keep them low and
at the ready.
Good hand positions Bad hand positions
Keep your fingers close to the If your fingers are too high it is
holes. This will help you play harder to balance the recorder, and
the next note more smoothly. it takes longer to change notes.

Try it out
Practise these simple exercises Place your thumb over the
using high D, high C, and B. back hole to play high C

D' D' D' D' D'

D' D' D'

This piece starts Repeat the exercise again
with a B
Dragon dance
This piece is more difficult – it uses every note
you have learnt so far. It’s a good idea to practise Remove two fingers and
fingering each note before you start playing. one thumb to change
from G to high D

D' D'
33
 Tied notes
Two or more of the same note can be tied
together to make one long note. This is useful
when playing notes that go over two bars.

By myself I am ... but tied together

just one crotchet we are two crotchet
beat long... beats long!

How it works
Play the first note and count the second,
but do not tongue the second note.
Notes on the middle line or
above are tied at the top

Notes below the

middle line are tied
at the bottom
Ties across bars Remember to
Ties are useful for connecting two only tongue the
of the same notes over a bar line. When you can’t fit any more first note of
beats into a bar, you can use each tie.
a tie to go into the next bar

1 2 1 2
34
Try it out
Practise playing tied notes with
this tune. Add the beats up
carefully when you play tied notes,
and keep blowing until the end of
the second note. This tie is worth Play the last note for
three crotchet beats six crotchet beats

Don’t forget to breathe

when you see this mark

This piece should

Tied up be played
Here is a longer piece of music smoothly.
that includes tied notes. Take a
good breath before you start, and
remember to breathe when you
see the tick mark. Play this note
for three beats

This note needs to be

played for six beats

Take a breath before

the last big note
35
 Long and short notes
To make a note longer, it can be joined
to two or more notes in a slur. To make a
note shorter, it can be played in a special
Slurred notes are joined by an
style called staccato. arch, like tied notes, but unlike
tied notes they connect different
notes (for example B and C)

Slurred notes
A slur joins two or
more different notes.
They should be played
as one long note, and
only the first note
should be tongued.

Remember – tied
notes only join
together notes on the
same line.

Slurred note exercises

For each slur in these exercises,
tongue the first note with a gentle
“do”. Then only tongue again once This note should be played
the slur arch is over. as part of the slur, but
shouldn’t be tongued

Tongue the first note

of each slur

The last note isn’t part

of a slur, so it should be
tongued as normal
36
Staccato notes
Staccato notes are short, punchy notes played with
a quick movement of the tip of your tongue. To play
a staccato note, finger the note like normal and
tongue the words “ti, ti, ti”. When playing staccato
notes, imagine you are
bouncing a ball. This is
the kind of bouncy sound
you need to make.

Staccato notes are

written with a dot above
or below the note

Don’t confuse
Staccato note exercises staccato notes with
When playing staccato notes, it dotted notes (see
is important that your tonguing page 13).
movements are shorter than normal.

Don’t forget to play

the notes without
dots smoothly

Each bar in this exercise is

two crotchet beats long

These staccato
notes are quavers
37
 Practice tunes
These pieces of music bring together all of
the notes you have learnt so far, as well as
legato, staccato, and slurred notes.

Up until now most

of the notes you
Legato have played have
Legato is the word for been legato.
normal smooth notes. They
are the opposite of staccato Staccato notes
notes. Practise both of them will have a dot
either above or
in this piece of music. below them

Smoothly tongue
each legato note

Remember that staccato

notes should be short
and sharp

Note connections
Imagine that each note is a pearl, and the
music is a necklace connecting them
together. The steady stream of air you Here you need to
blow to make sound is the thread. change from slurred
notes to staccato notes

The first two notes, G and

A, are slurred together
38
Winter Goodbye
This piece is a traditional German tune
celebrating the end of winter and the
arrival of spring.
This sign is called a sharp (see Play legato notes
page 44). You don’t need to know more smoothly than
about sharps to play this piece staccato notes

Before you start, take notice Make sure you don’t

of each of the staccato confuse dotted notes
notes in the piece with staccato notes

Gilotte This is a long piece

While playing this piece so it might help to
remember to keep your recorder break it down into This is the name of
nicely balanced using the three three sections. the person who
points of contact (see page 21). composed the piece

Michael Praetorius

Take a breath and repeat

the section again

Each of these notes is a Do not tongue the

quaver (half a crotchet) second note of the slur
39
Low E
To play low E you need to use your right
hand for the first time. This note will sound
lower than the others you have played.

Finger positions
First play the note G
(see pages 26–27). Now
gently place the first two
fingers of your right
hand over the fourth The two double
and fifth holes. holes at the
bottom remain
uncovered

When adding lots of

fingers to the recorder,
take care that no air is
escaping where it
shouldn’t be.

Musical note
Low E is written on the bottom
line of the stave.
Try it out The first two fingers on
Slur between G and low E in the your right hand should
first exercise, and then alternate work as a team, moving
between low E and a variety of up and down together.
higher notes in the second.

E E E E E E

Remember only to tongue

the first note in a slur

E E E E E

Each bar is two Be careful balancing your

crotchet beats long recorder when changing
between low E and B

While practising this

Mirror on the wall piece, stand in front of
This piece uses notes ranging a mirror to make sure
from low E up to high C. It contains your posture is correct.
dotted notes, so count through the Don’t forget to
piece carefully before you begin. breathe when you
see this mark

E E E

The last low E is

three beats long
41
Low D
Low D is a low note that should be played
gently. To play it you have to cover the first
double hole on the recorder for the first time.

Finger positions
Finger and play the note E.
Notice how the third finger on
your right hand hovers just
above the first double hole.
Place it down gently, making Cover this
double hole
sure you cover both small
holes completely.

Be patient with low D.

If it squeaks a little, go
back up to E or even G,
and then come back
down again.

Musical note
Low D is written on the
space underneath the last
line of the stave.
 Escaping air
It is easy to make mistakes
when covering a double hole. Can you feel both
The most common problem is holes with your finger?
air escaping from the side.
If you can’t then air
If it sounds funny, check that
might be escaping.
your third finger is covering
both holes completely.

Try it out
Get used to the feel of playing
low D with these two exercises.
Go up and down with the third
Pay particular attention to the
finger of your right hand, getting
double hole. used to the finger movement

D D D D

D D D D D

You have to play low D for longer

here – make sure no air escapes
It’s not a good idea
Hot Cross Buns to eat and play the
This tune is an old English recorder at the
nursery rhyme about sweet same time!
buns filled with raisins.

D D D

The jump between high D Repeat the tune again

and low D is called an octave
43
 Making music
Special symbols called accidentals and
dynamics tell you when to play notes Learn how to play
the note F# (F sharp)
higher, lower, louder, or softer. on pages 46-47.

Accidentals Sharps Flats Naturals

Sharps, flats, and
This symbol This symbol
naturals tell you when means play the means play the This symbol
to play a note slightly note higher than note lower than means the note
higher or lower than normal, but lower normal, but should be played
usual. They appear than the note higher than the as normal again.
next to the treble clef above. note below.
or before the note.
This means all F notes All B notes
in the piece must be must be
played sharp played flat

Key signature
A sharp or a flat symbol next to
the treble clef means you have to
play that note sharp or flat for the
whole piece. This is called the key
signature.

This F should be This F should

played normally be played sharp
Before a note
A sharp or flat written in front of
a note means you play that note
sharp or flat for the rest of the
bar, unless a natural appears.

This means play all F

notes in the bar as F sharp
Naturals
Naturals also appear in front of
the note, and reverse the effects
of any sharps or flats earlier
in the piece.
This means play all F notes in
the bar as F natural again
44
Loud and quiet
To play a note loudly,
These symbols are called dynamics. They tell you when you blow harder. To
to play notes loudly or quietly. If you see a dynamic, it play a note quietly,
means that all of the following notes should be played blow gently.
in that style, until you see another dynamic.

Forte (F) Piano (p)

An “f” symbol beneath a note means This symbol has nothing to do with
the following notes should be played actual pianos! It means the following
loudly. Forte means “strong” in Italian. notes should be played quietly.

Mezzo Forte (mf) Mezzo Piano (mp)

This symbol means the following notes This symbol means play the following
should be played fairly loudly, but not as notes fairly quietly, but not as quietly as
loudly as forte notes. piano notes.

Crescendo (cresc.) Decrescendo (decresc.)

An arrow-like symbol pointing to the An arrow-like symbol pointing to the
left means the notes should get right means the notes should get
gradually louder as you play them. gradually quieter as you play them.

Try it out
See how the same notes can
sound different depending on how
hard you blow. Play the notes
B-A-G loudly, and then quietly.

The first three notes

should be played loudly
The Elephant and the Mouse
Before playing this piece look through it and take note
of the different dynamics. The elephant should be loud,
while the mouse should be quiet (but not squeaky!).

45
The note F#
F sharp (F#) is the first sharp note in this
book. It sounds slightly higher than F, but
slightly lower than G (the note above F).

Finger positions
Start by playing the note
low D. Then lift the first Uncover
this hole to
finger on your right turn low D
hand. This is F#. into F#

Make sure any fingers

not being used hover
just above the holes.

Musical note
The note F# is written on the
fourth space on the stave. It has
a sharp symbol in front of it.
 Dog hand-shape
It’s helpful to remember that
to play the note F#, you have
to make the shape of a dog
with your right hand. Your first
and little fingers should be in
Try it out the air, while your second and
third fingers are down.
Practise F# with these see-saw
exercises. Don’t forget to breathe
when you see the breath mark.

F# F# F# F#

Only tongue the first

note of the slur

F# F# F# F# F# F#

Goddesses
This piece has a sharp symbol next to the No one knows who
treble clef on the top F note (there are two F wrote this piece!
notes on a stave). This means all F notes in
the piece must be played sharp. Play these notes
fairly loudly
ANON.
F# F# F# F# F#

F# F# F#

Play these notes Play these notes

loudly (forte) gradually quieter
47
Low C
This note is the lowest one you can play
on your descant recorder. To play low C,
you need to cover all of the holes.

Finger positions
First finger and play low D,
and then place the little
finger of your right hand
on the last double hole.
This is low C. Cover both
holes with
your right
little finger

Because all of the holes

need to be covered to
play this note, take
special care that no
air escapes.

Musical note
Low C is written on a special
line beneath the stave. This is
called a ledger line.
 Foot section
Before you start playing, look
at the position of the last
double hole of the recorder.
Most recorders have a
movable foot joint, which can
be adjusted. It should be
Try it out rotated slightly to the right of
Pay attention to how your the other holes, so your little
finger can cover it easily.
fingers lie on the holes,
making sure you’re using
the pads to cover them.

C C C C C

Although the notes are the

same as the first two bars,
the timings are different

C C C C C

Make sure you have enough

breath for this note

Morning Mood
This Norwegian piece of music is
about the rising of the sun. It is a low
piece – the highest note is an A.

Edvard Grieg

C C C

This low D should be The last low C is

played staccato three beats long
49
F natural
This note is the natural version of F#. Once you
have learnt it you will be able to play your first
scale – the C major scale (see page 52).

Finger positions
First play low C, by covering
all of the holes. Now gently
lift the second finger of This is the
only hole
your right hand off its that should
hole. This is F natural. remain
uncovered

This note sounds

slightly lower
than F#.

Musical note
The note F is written on the
same line as F#, but doesn’t
have the sharp symbol written
in front of it.
Try it out
The second finger on your
Play between low C and F right hand doesn’t have to
natural, slurring the notes. lift very far to change from
Then experiment changing low C to F natural.
between low E and F natural.

F F F F F

F F F F F F F F F

To go from low E to F
natural, you have to
move three fingers on
your right hand

F hand position
The piece of music Midnight
Stroll requires you to move
down from a G to an F natural.
Practise the F natural hand
position to prepare. The
Midnight Stroll second finger on your right
When playing this piece hand should be raised, but all
remember your breath should of the others should be down.
bind the notes together, like
the thread of a necklace.

F F F F F

Play the notes Only tongue the first

fairly softly note of the slur
51
 Scales
A scale is eight notes, one after the other, C
getting higher or lower. Scales start and
B
end on notes of the same letter.
A
G
F
E
C Major scale D
Your first scale is C Major.
It uses all of the notes you
C
have learnt so far, and has
no sharps or flats.

C Major scale exercise

Practise changing between notes in this C Major scale exercise.
Pay close attention to how your fingers move together, in
particular from low E to F natural, and from F natural to G.

This is called an
ascending scale
Don’t let your
fingers rise too high
as they come off
the holes.

C Major scale This is called a

Now you have practised the links between descending scale
notes, try playing all of them at once. In this
exercise you will go up and down the scale.
52
 High C#
To play the D Major scale, you
need to know how to play high C
sharp. Finger and play the note
A, then gently remove your left
thumb from the back hole.

The back hole

should be open

Musical note
Try it out High C# is written on the same
See-saw between A and line as high C, but with a sharp
high C# to get used to the symbol in front of it.
thumb movements.

C'# C'# C'# C'# C'# C'#

This sharp sign is in

brackets to remind you
that it is a sharp

D Major scale
Play the D Major scale. See how It’s good to practise
fluid you can make the connections scales regularly, so that
between the different notes. Take a breath in you remember how to
between scales play all of the notes.

The key signature tells you that the F and C

notes should be played sharp throughout
53
 Duets
When you play a piece of music with another player,
it is called a duet. You must listen carefully to your
partner – keep in rhythm and don’t play too loudly. One person plays
this line...

Double lines
Duets are written on
connected lines. The
first player plays the
top line, and the
second player plays
the bottom line. ... while at the same
time another person
plays this line
Tallis’s Canon
The key to playing a duet well is keeping
the beat. Count carefully – both players While the first person plays
should start and finish at the same time. an A, the second person
plays G (directly below it)
Thomas Tallis

2
When you get here don’t start
playing the line below, but skip
ahead to the line marked “2”

Make sure you keep time

even when taking a breath
54
Minuet
A minuet was a dance that was played at
the court of a king or queen. It should be
played gracefully and lightly.

Anon.

55
High E
This note is the highest in the book. To
play high E you have to uncover half of
the thumb hole. As you learn more This hole
notes in the future you’ll do this a lot. should be half
uncovered

Finger positions
First finger and play a low E.
Now gently bend your left
thumb so it uncovers
half of the hole at the
back. This is how you
play high E.

High E sounds a bit

like low E – it is just a
higher version of the
same note.

Musical note
The note high E is written on the
first space in the stave.
 Bent thumb
Practise gently
bending your thumb
to uncover the right
side of the back Feel the edge of the
hole. Be careful not back hole with your
to lose balance of thumb to make sure
you are uncovering
your recorder.
half of it.

Try it out
See-saw between low E and high
E. You’ll need to blow a little more
to play high E.

E' E' E' E'

E' E' E' E' E' E' E'

Use the rests to bend and

straighten your thumb,
Frère Jacques ready for the next note
This piece is a famous French This means we think
nursery rhyme about someone Rameau was the
composer, but we
sleeping too much! are not sure!
Attributed to Jean-Philippe Rameau

E E

Take care to adjust your

thumb correctly
57
 Get practising
The key to becoming a better recorder player is
practice. It’s best to practise little and often.

Top tips
Before each practice session go through
this checklist. It will help to make sure
you are doing the basics correctly.

Checklist
Turn to page 28 to
Check your posture see exactly how you
Stand in front of a mirror so you can see how should be standing.
you are holding the recorder. You should have
a relaxed, straight posture.

Think about your breathing

Breathe using your stomach muscles. Do not Remember how your
raise your shoulders, and blow out a steady stomach inflates and
stream of air. deflates like a balloon
(see page 16).

Keep your balance

Make sure your recorder is balanced correctly
using the three points of contact: lower lip, right
thumb, and your right little finger (see page 21).

Look at the position of your fingers

Keep your fingers hovering low above their holes
so that they can be used quickly. This will help
you to move your fingers more efficiently.
Don’t forget to clean
your recorder after
playing.
Watch your mouth!
Remember that your tongue should touch the
top of your teeth, not the recorder. Your teeth
should never touch the recorder either.

58
Exercise 1
Before you begin practising, play a couple
of scales. This will help you to get a fluid
movement between notes. This is a D
Major scale

Exercise 2 Scales and exercises

are a warm-up
Now try something a little more complicated. This before you play a
scale exercise uses the same notes as exercise 1, longer piece.
but there are bigger jumps between them.

St Paul’s Steeple
After playing the exercises, play a piece of music
that includes many of the same notes. This will
help reinforce what you have just practised.

Anon.

59
 Showtime
Now that you have learnt all about playing
the recorder it’s time for your performance!

La Morisque
At the end of this 16th-century piece you
will see the words “D.C. al Fine”. This is a
performance direction that tells you to go
back to the beginning and play again until you
reach the word “Fine”. Then you must stop.

Tielman Susato

Fine

D.C. al Fine

60
Tempo di Minuetto
This piece was very popular in
the 18th century, when it was
frequently danced to.
James Hook

Gavotte
This piece is also a dance. It was
written by one of the most famous
composers of all time – Handel.

George Frideric Handel

61
 Fingering C D E F

chart
This handy chart shows you the
finger and stave positions of all
the notes covered in this book.

This is the
back hole

Glossary
accidentals dynamics
Symbols such as sharps, flats, and naturals that Special instructions that tell you when to play
change how high or low a note should be played notes loudly or quietly

bar fingering
Music is divided into bars. A time signature at the start Covering up specific holes with your fingers in
of a piece tells you how many beats are in each bar order to play different notes

composer flats
Musician who writes a piece of music. Their name is Symbols that tell you to play a note a little lower
usually written in the top-right corner of a piece than normal, but higher than the next note down

crotchet key signature

Musical note worth one beat. It is written as a Sharps or flats written next to the treble clef, indicating
black circle with a stem all notes of that type should be played sharp or flat

diaphragm legato
Muscle that moves up and down to control how Playing notes in a piece smoothly. Legato is the
much air is in your lungs opposite of playing notes staccato

dotted note minim

A note with a dot next to it, which makes it half as long Musical note worth two beats. It is written as a
again. For example, a dotted minim lasts three beats white circle with a stem

duet naturals
Piece of music for two players to play together Symbols that cancel out the effects of any sharps
at the same time or flats earlier in the bar
62
F# G A B C' C'# D' E'

octave slurred notes

Distance between two notes of the same letter. Two or more different notes joined together. Only
For example, the space between high D and low D the first note should be tongued

quaver staccato notes

Musical note worth half a beat. It is written as a Short, punchy notes played with a quick movement
black circle with a tail on the stem of the tip of the tongue

repeat sign stave

Two dots that indicate that the musician should Music is written on a stave. It has five lines
play the section once more and four spaces

rest tied notes

Silence in music. If you see a rest symbol, stop Two or more of the same note joined together.
and count in silence for the length of the rest Only the first note should be tongued

scale time signature

Series of eight notes, one after the other, getting Two numbers next to a treble clef that show how many
higher or lower beats are in a bar, and what type of beats they are

semibreve tonguing
Musical note worth four beats. It is written as Technique of using your tongue to start each
a white circle with no stem new note clearly

sharps treble clef

Symbol that tells you to play a note a little higher Symbol that appears before the music at
than normal, but lower than the next note up the start of a stave
63
 Index low C 48–9 staccato notes 37, 38, 63
ABC
accidentals 44, 62
GH
great bass recorder 8–9
low D 42–3 stave 12, 63
low E 40–1 stomach muscles 16, 17
air, escaping 43 hand positions 20–1 names and position
balance 21, 58
bars 14, 62
head section 6, 11
Henry VIII, King 8
on stave 12
slurred 36 T
tenor recorder 9
ties across 34 hissing 17 staccato 37
bass recorder 8–9 holes 6–7 tied 34–5, 37 thumb position 6, 57
beats 13, 14–15, 29 types of 13 tied notes 34–5, 37, 63
time signatures 14–15,
blowing 10–11, 17
KL 29, 63
breath marks 29, 35
breathing 16–17, 29, 58 key signatures 44, 62
keys 8
OPQ
octaves 63
tonguing 18–19, 63
staccato notes 37
C Major scale 52
cases 11 legato 38, 62 piano (p) 45 treble clef 12, 14, 63
clapping exercises 15 lip 6 pop music 9 treble recorder 9
cleaning 11 lungs 16 posture 16, 28, 58 tunes
composers 62 practice 28, 29, 58–9 Dragon Dance 33
counting 13, 29
crescendo (cresc.) 45
MN
mezzo forte (mf) 45
quavers 13, 63
joined together 15
Fais Dodo 27
Frère Jacques (Rameau) 57
crotchets 13, 62 Gavotte (Handel) 61
mezzo piano (mp) 45
middle section 6–7 R Gilotte (Praetorius) 39
Goddesses 47
D
D Major scale 53
minims 13, 62
mops, cleaning 11
recorders
care of 11
Hot Cross Buns 43
La Morisque (Susato) 60
decrescendo (decresc.) 45 mouthpiece 6, 7, 58 history 8–9 Midnight Stroll 51
descant recorder 9 great bass 9 parts of 6–7 Minuet 55
diaphragm 16, 62 music, reading 12–13 types of 8–9 Mirror on the Wall 41
dotted notes 13, 62 music stands 5 repeat sign 25, 63 Morning Mood (Grieg) 49
double holes 7, 43 naturals 44, 62 rests 13, 63 St Paul’s Steeple 59
duets 54–5, 62 notes rods, cleaning 11 Tallis’s Canon (Tallis) 54
dynamics 45, 62 A 24–5
Tempo di Minuetto
B 22–3
dotted 13 S (Hook) 61
F
films 9
F# 46–7
F natural 50–1
scales 52–3, 59
semibreves 13, 63
The Elephant and the
Mouse 45
Shakespeare, William 8 Winter Goodbye 39
finger pads 25 G 26–7
finger positions 7, 20, 58 high C# 53 sharps 44, 63
flats 44, 62 high C 30–1 slurred notes 36, 38, 63
foot section 7, 49 high D 32–3 sopranino 9
forte (f) 45 high E 56 squeaking 27

Acknowledgements
DORLING KINDERSLEY would like to thank: Jim Green for his 5 Getty Images: Vincenzo Lombardo / Photographer’s Choice
design assistance; Olivia Stanford for her editorial assistance; RF (br). 8-9 Mollenhauer Recorders. 10 Corbis: Wavebreak
Caroline Hunt for proofreading; and Helen Peters for the index. Media Ltd. / Alloy. 16 Dorling Kindersley: Stephen Oliver (c).
18 Corbis: Monalyn Gracia / Fancy.
All music, unless otherwise stated, courtesy of Lisete da Silva.
Jacket images: Back: Dreamstime.com: Dimijana (tc).
The publisher would like to thank the following for their kind
permission to reproduce their photographs: (Key: a-above; All other images © Dorling Kindersley
b-below/bottom; c-centre; f-far; l-left; r-right; t-top) For further information see: www.dkimages.com

64