our child has just come home from school and asked to play the recorder. Maybe you are wondering if this is the right instrument for them or whether there is something else better for them to play. Maybe you are thinking “eek! Recorder sounds awful! Is there something else?”. If you need advice in deciding and are asking yourself, which instrument should my child play?” then this might help you.
Young children need to start simple. There is no reason why a young child can’t play a musical instrument however it is good to start with gaining some musical ability before they start with the technique of an instrument. Enrolling them in a music class with a focus on singing and developing musical concepts such as pulse, rhythm and pitch is very important to get the grounding.
Why Recorder?
The recorder is an easily accessible instrument and cheap to buy in comparison to other instruments. If your child has expressed an interest in music but you’re not sure if they will stick with it then this instrument can be a very good buy. Along with the ukulele this would be my other choice for young children.
Breath control
One of the hardest things to learn with recorder is breath control. Children want to blow as hard as they can however this does not help our ears! There might be plenty of squeaks however teaching them how to blow can be made easier. Pre-instrumental classes that teach rhythm using the rhythm names like ‘ta’ and ‘titi’ helps children control the sound of the recorder. Asking them to blow into it using the rhythm names reduces the need to blow so hard.
Breath control can be beneficial for asthma and playing an instrument can increase lung capacity like singing.
Finger Dexterity
Learning an instrument means using your hands and fingers. Placing them correctly in the right places and moving them to produce different notes. Moving fingers into these positions helps them get exercise by stretching and moving them quickly very useful for developing the finger skills needed for writing too.
The recorder has the same basic fingering as the saxophone. Starting from the top BAG FEDC. Of course, there are many more keys on a saxophone however it is a good start.
Using the tongue
Woodwind instruments such as clarinet and saxophone require the ability to use a technique called ‘tonguing’. Placing and removing your tongue from the reed helps musical phrasing and sound quality. www.tamingthesaxophone.com
Develop your child’s understanding of rhythm. Using rhythm names ‘ta’ and ‘ti-ti’ (for crotchets and quavers) helps develop the tonging technique needed for recorder and woodwind instruments. Tonguing is important to get a clear sound and control breath, so less of the squeaks and a better sound.
Musical Timing
Being able to feel the pulse (beat) of music has great benefits. Music reading and writing lends itself to mathematics. Being able to count and feel beats in the length of a song and divide that up into musical phrasing helps young minds develop mathematical skills.
Children must be able to feel the pulse before they can understand how rhythm fits in. It can be quite common for children to want to fill in songs where a musical rest should be. For example, in the song Hot Cross Buns, children will often miss the rest beat at the end of ‘Hot cross buns (rest beat)’ and carry on singing the next phrase. Musical timing develops from playing an instrument or attending a pre-instrumental music class. It also helps develop mathematical skills simultaneously without children realising.
Working Together
Group music lessons always offer a lot more than just music learning. Children must work together and more importantly develop good listening skills to be able to play or sing in time together. Working together is FUN!
Children can learn about harmony playing together through rounds and canons. This is easily achievable using the recorder as an instrument. Encourage your child to join a recorder group and learn alongside others. This will ensure your child stays motivated, makes new friends, develops music skills and has fun!
If you were in any doubt about your child learning recorder I hope this has alleviated your fears. However, I would always follow your child’s lead. If they want to play piano then don’t force them to play violin! Go with their interests and if they are a little too young to start playing consider music classes learning music through singing. Find out more here.
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Are you a school looking to introduce recorder group lessons? Get in touch here