Process Essay 1
How to Play the Recorder
Have you ever learned how to play the instrument named the recorder in elementary and junior high schools? Why was it so difficult to make beautiful sound with a simple pipe? Although the recorders are the instrument taught most often and most familiar in Taiwan’s music classes, many still don’t know how to play the recorder. There are three basic steps to play the recorders well.
To begin with, it is important to learn the right playing position. Gently hold the recorder between your lips and fingers. Be careful not to raise or strain your shoulder, and make sure that the angle between the recorder and your body is about forty-five degrees. The one-hole side should be facing you, or you won't be able to play the instrument. In this way, the recorder is vertical and you will maintain a standard posture of playing the recorder now.
As you continue, identifying the corresponding positions of the fingers and the holes on the recorder is essential. The index, middle and ring fingers of the left hand should cover the first three holes on the front side respectively, while the back hole is covered with the left thumb. Then, except the thumb, you cover the rest of hole with our right-hand fingers. The right thumb is used to balance the recorder to avoid it being unstable. Also, if it’s too difficult to remember the corresponding positions, you can refer to finger chart (see Picture 1). It shows that number zero represents the left thumb; number one represents the left index finger; number
Picture 1
two represents the second left finger, etc. Don’t forget to relax the fingers and don’t grasp too hard: you have mastered the fingering of a recorder.
Picture 2
Last, remember to use your tongues when you start and stop the sounds. Blow the recorder as when you pronounce the syllable “tu” by moving your tongue. This is the key to make sound with a rich timbre. If you don’t use our tongues to block the airflow, the sound will become fuzzy. In the meantime, exhale into the mouthpieces gently instead of roughly; otherwise it will be out of tune. If there are still some
unwanted whistles or squeaks make sure that holes are covered well. You can look at Picture 2 and check if your tongue is like hers.
To conclude, by following the above three steps you would have the knowledge of holding the recorder, fingering the sounds, and using the tongues now. Practice these basic steps, then you will play the recorder better than before in music classes.