Choosing a PLASTIC recorder! | Team Recorder

How to choose the right plastic recorder for you! I review a bunch of the most popular models, and give you my honest opinion :)
I review a mix of a sopranos and altos, but in general everything I say applies to soprano, alto, and tenor from the same make and model.
If there are multiple price ranges from a certain brand (such as Yamaha) I have always gone for the most expensive, and thus the highest quality. Often we are only talking about a difference of €10 or so!
//// THE RECORDERS REVIEWED
(the timestamp links are to where I play music so you can compare, not the talking!)
04:04 Yamaha YRS-314 BIII
www.thomann.de/nl/yamaha_yrs3...
05:12 Yamaha YRA-402 B Ecodear
www.thomann.de/nl/yamaha_yra_...
07:03 Zen-On Bressan G1-A
www.earlymusicshop.com/product...
08:58 Kulossa/Music Garden MRS-1B
Order by email [e-mail]
(also available in other places, thanks for those who shared in the comments!)
10:24 Aulos 503B 'Symphony'
www.thomann.de/nl/aulos_503b_...
12:15 Mollenhauer/Adris Dream 0119R
www.thomann.de/nl/mollenhauer...
13:47 Thomann TRS-31B Soprano
www.thomann.de/nl/thomann_trs...
15:29 Yamaha YRS-20 BB
www.thomann.de/nl/yamaha_yrs2...
17:11 Nuvo soprano black-grey
www.thomann.de/nl/nuvo_sopran...
//// WHERE TO ORDER FROM
I ordered all of these instruments from www.thomann.de , with the exception of the Kulossa and Zen-On Bressan recorders, which were given to me by colleagues.
Guys, unfortunately I don't know the locations of every music shop in the world... yet! If thomann.de doesn't work for you and you aren't sure where to order your recorder from, it's much more efficient to ask a search engine than to ask me! ;)
//// THE MUSIC I PLAY
- 'Doen Daphne' by Jacob van Eyck
- 'Allemande' from Partita in Am by bach
- 'Banish Misfortune' folk dance (traditonal)
/////
THE TEAM RECORDER WEBSHOP!
Buy all your TR-related goodies here!
team-recorder.myshopify.com/
//////
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------
Website: www.sarahjeffery.com
Twitter/Instagram @sockmyshoe
Wanna send me stuff? My PO box:
Sarah Jeffery
Keurenplein 41
Box C350
1069CD Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Go #teamrecorder

[@FranciscoCunha2004]

This woman deserves more attention

[@idraote]

You're absolutely right, but one must also say she's getting it: when this video was pubblished she was still under 20k subscribers, if I remember correctly. I'm sure she'll top 100k withing a year or two.

[@lunamoone5231]

Ikr!

[@lunamoone5231]

Ian Reid what?

[@mountainking8855]

Yes

[@delibro8292]

simps lol

[@aprilshowers6752]

I didnt know there was so much to recorders, let alone playing one professionally. I am old now. I taught myself to play a recorder when my friends were being taught at school. I wasnt allowed because I was not in the school choir. My first recorder was a plastic one. It was a schol and it cost pocket money ( 2/6 - in old money.......15p in todays money) . It came with basic fingering charts and a couple of songs. Never one to be daunted I bought the school recorder book and started at the back - the hardest songs. I must have been crazy. My lovely two bob recorder broke when I droped it in the school playground. I cried so much my mum took me to a music shop and got me a "Viceroy" C descant . It was made of wood with a strong plastic mouth piece section. It has the curved mouth piece as you spoke of in the video. it cost 11/- - thats 55p in todays money. I still have my recorder. It is sixty years old and still plays as good as new.

[@stevebrooks9119]

I know it was a long time ago April but If I remember correctly, 2/6d is 12.5 pence in 'new money'. Don't worry though, I have the same problem these days.... Keep whistling....

[@honeychurchgipsy6]

@@stevebrooks9119 - you are correct - half a crown I believe - serious money for sweet buying in the late 60's !!

[@honeychurchgipsy6]

@@djdjne8471 - No what??? Just curious as to what you are 'no'ing ??

[@Chloe34265]

You ment shcool 😄

[@fancydeer]

@@djdjne8471 lmao chill bub. Its okay that gran still plays the recorder her ma bought her in the 50's.

[@christophertsiliacos8958]

An excellent nineteen minute block of instruction in "Choosing a Plastic Recorder." The sprightly British accent is an added bonus. 😊

[@bomber5242]

WOW ! I wish I had a music teacher like this 50 years ago when I was first trying to play music . She is exciting , vibrant , enthusiastic , jovial , and passionate about music . She has this way of holding my attention . Never boring . A true great asset to the world of music . Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge with me . You are a natural at what you are doing . Please don't ever stop !

[@kishascape]

Recorder forever!

[@opabinnier]

Did you go to Aske's? Are you "Bomber" Hall??? Never knew you were into music though.

[@bomber5242]

I am not the Bomber you are referring to .

[@captebbtide]

Yes, I would have benefited from a music teacher like Sarah on many levels. As much an intensive fan of classical music as I am, my background in music is surprisingly anemic. But that's on me.

[@nathaliebrunet6769]

Adding another good reason for needing a plastic recorder: when you are a junior-high science teacher and you keep a recorder in your lab/classroom for calming the children at the start of class, or whenever you want them to sit and listen. Twelve-year-olds in a lab are a very good reason for owning a basically indestructible recorder!

[@ClaudiaArnold]

Well, I think you could make a hollow cucumber make sound nice. I always found that a good player with a weak instrument gets a better result than the other way around.

[@katievonolendorp5894]

So true! I made recorders of carottes and the sound was great. I even got answers from a pair of doves sitting on a tree nearby. 😂🕊🕊😍 A good player makes the music beautiful. The instrument is just able to make the perfect details. And a bad player with an instrument you can buy a house for the same price makes me feel sick.

[@charlesfranks1902]

You need to see the video where she plays a carrot.

[@Chloe34265]

There you go girl

[@Chloe34265]

Good 👍 🦸‍♂️ 🦸‍♀️

[@MedusaMrigesh]

I went to a concert by a group that made all their instruments from vegetables once - the Gemüseorchester they call themselves. After the gig they gave away their instruments to the audience to cook :P

[@samecoff2788]

It's really a shame that the companies didn't send you instruments to review. You are without a doubt one of the most watched recorder performer on KZbin. Thanks for this awesome vid. I'm looking for a plastic bass after seeing the gentleman who played one on the score of "The Mallorean".

[@LuckyPikinini]

DUDE I DECIDED TO BUY A RECORDER BECAUSE OF THIS CHANNEL I STARTED LIKING IT BECUASE OF THIS CHANNEL, I SUBSCRIBED

[@TashaLovesyourface]

Don't know where I am, or how I got here. But by God, I wasnt expecting to hear a recorder sound soooo damn fierce

[@James-nr9gm]

KZbin is a place of miracles.

[@CJBrewification]

You never heard a class full of primary schoolchildren playing soprano recorders together? Damn.

[@tulsatrash]

That's not fierce, it's just harsh.

[@juliansanders6324]

Perhaps the main thing to take from this film is that if you've been playing a short time and you have a plastic recorder don't think that buying a cheap wooden recorder will necessarily get you a better sound. The remedy is perhaps in our own hands (and mouths and lungs, etc), as she gets great sounds from plastic.

[@katievonolendorp5894]

True! And as a beginner a ABS recorder for just a few € is maybe best because it forgives you not to treat it so well as kids often do... And it is easy to clean and to keep it in a condition to give it as a teacher to different kids which would be very ugly with wooden flutes. And they sound better than expected. I have two different Thomanns for less than 10€ for both (!!!) and the tuning, handling and the look are wonderful and the sound is quite good. She got a bad instrument for this vid. But instruments like this can be changed without any problems. Normally the quality is fine.

[@RolandHutchinson]

Also, a really good plastic recorder is going to be a better instrument than the cheapest sorts of wooden recorder.

[@NucleicWit]

Well, actually, it depends... If you're using a super cheap plastic recorder, as I started with, changing to wood is unwise. I changed to some inexpensive (but not too bad) German/West German vintage recorders. An alto and a soprano. They played MUCH better than the cheap plastic. However, the problem arose, that since I was a beginner, I wanted to practice longer than the wooden recorder would provide. I ended up picking up a pair of Yamaha YRS/YRA 302-B. They enable me to practice, in tune, as long as I want to. Economically speaking, one could side step the wooden instruments initially. However, playing the wooden ones let me know that there was a huge difference in material.

[@rickmccloy4201]

I find that a wooden recorder that plays as well as a top ABS Yamaha will cost me about 5 times as much; this difference gets multiplied by the number of recorders you wish to own. I enjoy having the basic range, soparino to bass, so cost does become a factor.

[@emilynightingale7758]

7:18 every time you play that I think it's going to be the lick (any Adam Neely fans here?)

[@markbarry3314]

*plays the lick, and gives a firm nod.*

[@pabslondon]

do d d d.. duh da duh..

[@cbfedge5593]

Any Adam Neely fans? (Repetition legitimises)

[@Slunkzillla]

@@cbfedge5593 BASS!

[@wammytammy]

@@cbfedge5593 repetition legitimizes

[@adrianschuurmans]

Love the presentation style, the bit of humour and informative. 1st played a soprano, alto and tenor recorders 55 years ago.

[@alfabsc]

THANK you, Miss Sarah! Very honest appraisals. I agree with everything you said. The moderately priced instruments are MUCH better than the lowest cost plastic. The next step up in sound quality is very expensive. I enjoyed your enthusiasm and love of music. When you transition from Bach to folk music, your eyes light up and sparkle.

[@michaelsmolens2742]

Very impressed with Ms. Jeffery as a clinician. Clear and concise, she communicates the most essential aspects of each company's recorders. Also, she demonstrated each instrument using * the same three pieces" that makes comparison much easier. I also really appreciated that she has significant experience in early music performance practice, so the Bach dance movement really swung ! My only question is, does she have a similar video comparing tenor and bass recorders ?

[@ozzymann-dyas1330]

Until they moved away from the area my wife and I used to play recorders with a friend and her daughters. We all had Aulos plastic instruments, which sounded well together: amongst us we had a kleine sopranino, a sopranino, 5 descants, 3 trebles, 2 tenors and a bass. It would be useful to hear how well the different instruments in a given manufacturer's range sound when played in consort.

[@keiththurlow-bishop1617]

Thanks for another awesome video, Sarah (and congratulations on the little one!) I bought the Yamaha Ecodear alto for when I'm traveling and absolutely love it. Great sound for a plastic recorder and very reasonably priced.

[@davidcowan9127]

For Christmas one year I bought the clear plastic Yamaha recorders for my son and I. His was green and mine red. Yes, festive colours was the idea. Now I've finally decided it was time to learn to play mine, so thanks for all your tips.

[@kishascape]

That’s so sweet.

[@rakninja]

i've been learning on a plain ivory yamaha. i plan on giving it to my grandson in a few years, when he's old enough.

[@kmhob]

Love this channel. I used to play the recorder and this video made me wanna get a recorder once again. The Mollenhaus sounded lovely.

[@jenniferwheeler850]

I purchased the Yamaha YRS-314 B, which must be a model prior to the YRS-314 BIII. I play in a contra dance band and found I needed plastic to deal with the cold room, condensation issues, and hours of playing. The octave hole is extremely fussy regardless of how short I cut my thumbnail. I've never been prone to squeaking on any other recorder. After you posted the video with the soprano ecodear I purchased one and have been extremely happy with the tone and ease of playing. My Yamaha alto doesn't get a lot of playing, but after 37 years (no model number) it still sounds awesome.

[@yonatanbeer3475]

People often feel pressured to play a wooden instrument, and although wooden instruments sound and feel noticeably better, they have many setbacks that are unfortunately are not brought up much

[@annebaiel]

Thank you for the wide range for this review! Looking forward to the next video in this series! Cheers!

[@tonyhorowitz9056]

Sarah, Thanks so much for this review, and for playing the recorders so beautifully to show off their strengths. For many years, I felt that the Yamaha 300 series soprano and alto recorders were the only inexpensive plastic instruments worth playing. I was very excited when the Aulos Haka instruments came along. They were certainly comparable in quality, and have the most cooperative high G# and C (high C# and F on the alto) that I have run into on any instruments, wooden or plastic. They also have a reedier tone quality than the Yamaha recorders. I still prefer the Yamaha recorders in the low register, but I think the Haka recorders are considerably better in the high register. I bought myself a soprano Ecodear when it came out, but I haven't yet bought an alto, so it was nice to hear what you're able to do with it. I felt the soprano was for the most part an improvement on the Yamaha YRS 312B, but was still pretty comparable both to that and to the soprano Haka. I'm itching to get my hands on the Zen-On Bressan alto now, having heard you play it. I'm also curious about the Mollenhauer plastic and hybrid (wood and plastic) instruments. By the way, if you have any interest in the traverso, the Aulos AF3 Stanesby has quite an impressive sound for a plastic instrument, and it is tuned to A-415. Do you know anything about good plastic tenor recorders? The sound of the Yamaha YRT-304 is good (not great), but I find it hard on the hands to play for long. The Aulos 211A (Robin) is easy on the hands, but a horrible instrument-- not nearly as good tone, and actually missing the C# near the top of the instrument. I do have a set of Moeck wooden SAT instruments, by the way, but I live in Florida, so I have to be careful about where I go with them (extremes of heat and humidity), and there is no one in the state that I know of whom I would trust to revoice them.

[@raeandringa7260]

Absolutely love this video!! I mean, I love all your videos (and you) but this is SO HELPFUL, and concise, and well done. I'm finally going to add a recorder to my collection, and I found that Eco plastic recorder for surprisingly cheap. Between the price and materials I probably would've been suspicious enough to not get it, but hearing the comparison changed my mind!

[@davidcornick3110]

Hi Sarah, I am just getting back into playing the recorder and brought a Yamaha 302B Alto from the Early Music Shop. I think you hit the nail on the head when you where saying it's the musician and not the instrument because apart from the last recorder you made them all sound great.

[@waynehankin8672]

Well done Sarah. This is some good work the public should know about and you took the time to say the proper things combined with a good personality.

[@chrismacable]

Thank you Sarah, this is a very helpful video. I just ordered the Mollenhauer Dream recorder, I liked its 'bigger' sound. I am familiar with Yamaha and Aulos and also play a wooden Moeck soprano. Thank you again Sarah, all the best.

[@sonjacarigiet6941]

I stumbled upon you accidentally and I'm so happy!! Aaaaaamazing! So inspiring!

[@stephend7420]

I found this video hugely encouraging. I have a set (SATB) of Yamaha plastic recorders which I play with other recorder-playing friends at musical get-togethers. Their sound is not unpleasant. But most importantly their pitch is accurate. This really is essential. In consort playing at my level pitch is vital, tone quality not so important. I've tested my wooden altos (one Moeck and one Hohner) with a pitch meter and although their tone quality is good both have one or more badly flat notes that cannot be adjusted up in playing. I would love to own really nice wooden instruments - an expense I can't really justify. But it is great to know that plastic is OK with a player of Sarah's standard - at least in some contexts. Now I don't need to have an inferiority complex over my plastic recorders. Thank you!

[@zimamup]

I have enjoyed your presentation so much. It certainly makes one feel keen on going to the music shop right away, buy some of these and start learning a new skill (while watching your tutorials, of course). Thanks a lot.

[@midi_in]

Thank you for this Sarah. It's always great to hear top players playing on cheap instruments. In the brass band world I've often seen inexperienced players buy really expensive instruments (it happens in all walks of life). I guess there is a benefit if it encourages you to pick up the instrument, but you make the point well at the end - it's not the instrument but the player. I haven't moved off plastic yet and don't feel that the cost is justified until I'm at a much better standard! Very enjoyable as always, and I'm particularly pleased about your review of the Dream because I'm particularly interested in Renaissance music. That's on my shopping list now.

[@212bellota]

I love how much you love music and what you do. Thank you! You’re a great example of how to live your purpose. 💖✨🎶😘

[@carlosfloresramirez8742]

Brass player here. Have been craving getting into the woodwind life and the Baroque lover in me calls for the recorder. Thanks for this vid!

[@annebaiel]

I highly recommend the Aulos Haka line, which you've reviewed. The descant is fantastic for practice! I bought them due to your reviews and am so glad I did. Cheers!

[@matiasguajardoquintana770]

The aulos haka soprano with wood grain effect it's good?

[@GuirriGandul]

I have a Yamaha YRA 314Blll and was amazed at the sound and the ease of playing. I compare it to an Aulos plastic that I lent to a friend and have not seen them since! The finish on the Yamaha soon wears away around the holes, maybe I'm related to 'Alien', but there's a difference between a bruise and a love-bite so really I'm quite proud of the effect as is shows all the effort (hahaha) I've put in. I was genuinely and happily surprised with this instrument and recommend it within the limits of my experience. Cheers,and thanks Sarah.

[@richardgroomer5309]

I studied for several years with a wonderful teacher who urged me to play plastic instruments. I did. They were wonderful to play and so easy to care for (soap and water!). When I became confident of my recorder skills I bought a high-end wooden recorder and brought it in to show my teacher. He was completely non-plussed with it. The wooden instrument cost me 25 to 30 times what I paid for my Zen-on Bressan alto. I think the lesson here is to play a good plastic instrument until you develop your playing skills and your ear to the point where you can appreciate the nuances of a more refined instrument. From this video I learned that there is a good plastic recorder that would be suitable for playing Van Eyck! Thank you.

[@Martin-kg8tt]

U really paid 1350 for a wooden recorder huh

[@GuitaristInProgress]

LOL, every time I think about picking up a new recorder or learning something new about it and Sarah Jeffery turns up in my suggested videos it makes me happy. So glad she's out there and making these vids. Except, I was about to pull the trigger on a plastic Yamaha tenor, and now I'm not so sure.

[@DonCrowder]

Lovely, talented, enthusiastic and 100% genuine. You're awesome. Loved this video.

[@gretaheddy629]

Because of the wonderful information and gorgeous music of this video, my new Mollenhauer Adris Dream Recorder 0119R arrived this week and I couldn’t be happier! I am looking forward to learning to make mine sound as beautiful as yours.

[@Team_Recorder]

Guys! I'm hearing a lot of call for an review of the Autos Haka, something which I missed out from this selection. Y'know, as I say in the video, I can't hope to include everything all the time, and believe it or not, I didn't know the Haka instruments until you brought it to my attention!!! "How can that be?!" you cry? Well, I'm human ;) But that's why I love Team R - I learn just as much from you guys as you do from me :) So who would like an Autos Haka review video in the future? Comment with 'YES' or 'PICKLES' or whichever word takes your fancy and I'll pencil it in for the future! x update: other ones I haven't tried myself: Angel, Dolmetsch Nova. Have you tried them? Share your experiences below!

[@Cecilia-bp2dn]

Yes please! After quite a bit of online research, I purchased an Aulos Haka alto (in simulated palisander finish) 709BW as my very first (and to date only) recorder a couple of months ago. It sounds good to me as a beginner, but I would certainly value your opinion Sarah : ) P.S. Has your little one arrived yet? P.P.S. Have you considered a 'Team Recorder' baby wear range? A tiny all-in-one with the Team Recorder logo would be so cute!

[@zijdezacht3738]

I would love a review of the Aulos Haka, I bought a Haka alto last summer.

[@danadrian2752]

Sarah Jeffery / Team Recorder i would love for you to cover the Haka! Apparently the only difference with the W version (ex aulos a709bw vs aulos a709b) is the finish so if that’s not important to you the one without the w is normally cheaper

[@windsinger1766]

The Aulos Haka is my favorite Soprano AND Alto. I also own the 503 you reviewed and the Yamaha 300 and 400 series (Ecodear). I find the Haka to be the most expressive. I have Angel Recorders, but only the under $4 one piece (101) model. The tone could be better and they tend to be flat on higher notes without a lot of breath pressure but for the price they are good, I carry one in my Car for backup and sometimes give them away.

[@juliansanders6324]

Perhaps if you compared those plastic recorders like the bressan and the haka which claim to draw their design from early models that could be a worthwhile film. I think Yamaha also do a recorder in that style. It could also be interesting to look at whether these tubes are really so very different from "ordinary" designs like the Aulos symphony - I'm probably not the only person wondering if all the "this is designed after such and such" is more sales pitch than content. Either way, please do alto as well as descant, or failing that just alto.

[@CCTippers]

Learnt a little recorder at school and play some music on piano and guitar etc etc now I’m going back to the start so I’ve just gone for the Dream Mullenhauer? Just love it’s tone, I have watched this vid over and over to be certain and I’ve now just gone for it and ordered my Dream and can not wait for it to arrive along with a book you recommended on your other video. Great advice and enjoy your Vids Thank you 😊

[@superjam18]

It's been a year since this post. Are you liking your recorder?

[@arrayindexoutofboundsexcep1088]

Thank you so much for your videos! It really inspired me to start playing the recorder. I've had piano lessons for 10 years so I have a good basis I guess. I bought the blue Yamaha because I like the style, three days ago. And I do enjoy it. Now I can play the Japanese, Israel Anthem and Always with me from Spirited Away.

[@TrippedTheFuckOut]

Got the yamaha YRA 402b (alto) and it sounds great to my amerature ears! Love this community! God bless ♡

[@vintavis]

Thank you so much for sharing this! I cant believe I havent come across this one before. This is valuable information and a big help. Thanks again!

[@rogerclark7418]

I'm new to recorders. She makes fun and she is a very knowledgeable musicians. But, she explains it in simple words and easy to understand. A cheery personality. Pleasurable!

[@Team_Recorder]

Thank you!

[@meelliemoe]

This is super helpful. I played in school and loved it and my son needs a recorder now for school but every recorder I’ve had since his toddler time is awfully screechy. I wasn’t going to get a cheap one from the shop for him to learn properly so this is what I stumbled on from youtube. Subscriber now!!

[@RAH1861]

Yes, I would appreciate a review of the Aulos Haka (alto, if possible). The model number is 709B (alto) or 703B(soprano). You can get them with or without the woodgrain finish (models 709BW and 703BW for woodgrain). I agree with others who have said that the recessed opening at the end of the Aulos recorders is a mistake. I cannot imagine why they did that - the earlier models did not have that. About 25 years ago I bought FIVE Aulos alto Symphony models (model 509 - the first version of the "Symphony" line Sarah mentioned). That first version does not have the recessed end and is about the best plastic alto I have ever had - hence my purchase of a lifetime supply (eventually you wear a groove on the thumb hole). The new version (509B) is not nearly as good and has that recessed end. But the Haka model is excellent, IMHO (other than the recessed end), and is VERY different from the Yamaha Banana - er Ecodear. So, in other words, I'd get both!!

[@AilsaJ]

I have just got my Zen-On Bresson and I am loving it! Thank you for this video Sarah x Btw this is my first recorder since I was at primary school, a very long time ago!

[@Team_Recorder]

Congrats!

[@maximellow5745]

I have been playing the same cheap plastic recorder for 7 years now...it is time for a new one.

[@lshin80]

Thanks for taking time and spendig money to make this group review! I'll put Italian subtitles as soon as I can (adding subtitles takes about 4 hours for a fully spoken 10 minute video...) as I think so many people need this video. As for the recorders, I find Yamaha to shine in the high register but to be thin in the low notes, except fot the ecodear which are warmer. Aulos are opposite to Yamaha: warm and big in the low notes, a bit coarse in the high notes. Anybody has experience with the Aulos Haka series? They say great things about them.

[@thefrozensea9314]

I'm interested in trying out the recorder and your videos have been very helpful. I'd like a wooden recorder fairly soon but this video made me settle on a Yamaha YRA-402 Alto to start with. Thanks for many great videos including this one :)

[@markdeegan4916]

I own both the Yamaha 300 series and the Aulos 500 series in soprano, alto and tenor sizes. Both series are excellent. I find myself reaching for the Aulos soprano and alto more often than the Yamahas, but that is just personal preference. With the tenor, it's a bit more complicated: I think the Yamaha has a better sound, but the holes on the Aulos are ever so slightly closer together, and that makes a big difference to me: I can play the Aulos tenor for longer than the Yamaha before my right hand starts to ache. Regarding sopranino, I only have the Aulos instrument as I find the Yamaha too cheap and plasticky. I hope this is helpful.

[@keithstarkey5584]

Sarah, you just rock, plain and simple. You rock! Thanks very much for your vids.

[@dondattler7085]

I'm really enjoying your Recorder videos. I'm in my 60's and just bought a Yamaha yra-28b just to see If I'd enjoy it. I was all set to return it until I saw your videos, and realized what I was doing wrong. Keep it up please. We love your music.

[@DJI_MBensi]

Hi Sarah ... congratulations on your great videos. In this, however, I was amazed that one of the most famous plastic flutes, widely used in schools, was missing, as at a very low cost (about 10 euros on Amazon) it also has a nice sound and a system to reduce condensation. the flute is the Hohner Melody soprano. bye Marco from Italy

[@michaelthescreechowl9427]

You have a very soothing voice. I appreciate your video; interested in recorders. Played the sax for more than a decade; love the medieval sound that some of those recorders had.

[@erlethepearl]

As a retired, elementary music teacher, I have several. I agree, my Yamaha alto has a good sound and is easy to play. A former music teacher gave me an ancient, ivory colored Hohner which has a solid sound overall for a plastic recorder, and a very good lower register. My Aulos is what I learned on, and it is comfortable throughout, but not as full at the bottom as the Hohner.

[@frankiebrown3559]

I have the Aulos 709W 'Haka' alto which I love - just another suggestion. It's really a very personal choice. I also tried the equivalent Yamaha and preferred the sound of the Aulos.

[@Sarah-cd3eb]

Thanks a lot Sarah for this video. I watched it so many times to compare the 2 altos you recommended and decided to go for the Yamaha Ecodear and I really enjoy playing it. Nice mellow sound. My husband wants to learn it now ;o)

[@clairemaurier6487]

Hi Sarah, thank you for this video ! I chose to buy a YAMAHA YRA-402B ECODEAR, as my first alto recorder ! I don't have enough money to buy a nice wooden recorder yet, and I like the fact that the plastic is made from plants and not petrol. After trying it, I can tell I will have to work hard on that, switching from soprano doesn't seem that easy !

[@Mega16031989]

You just encouraged me to go forward and start learning it .. thank u really and I will check on your videos for sure

[@elizabethsole5294]

Thank you Sarah. My choice is always the Yamaha rosewood lookalike. The intonation is good, it looks good, it sounds good. It's just the best thing. Thank you for the comparisons. YRS 312B .

[@philipnalls]

Agreed. I have a few different recorders but the Yamaha rosewood is my favorite.

[@brbrofsvl]

The way I understand it, the curved windway does a couple of things. First, since the labium is also curved, it increases the total width of the labium relative to the window size. Second, and more importantly, the curvature better matches the curvature of the bore, which if I understand correctly activates more of the bore's modes of vibration. This makes the sound more complex (stronger overtones) and can also make high note response better (more stable higher modes). Side note - apparently the wood trim plastic recorders like the Yamaha you showed sound better than the plain ones. I don't know why but I imagine it has to do with it being present on the ramp.

[@deezynar]

Sounds good to me, Matt.

[@juliansanders6324]

On the face of it, a curved windway might give more condensation problems as the moisture droplets will tend to run to the side and meet up whereas on a flat windway the moisture might stay more where it is and form a film. I'm not dogmatically saying that this is so, just that this is how it seems to me - what do you think?

[@honeychurchgipsy6]

JULIAN SANDERS and Matt Barber - I have a Moeck Tuju soprano with straight windway and the sound is definitely less complex and perhaps more 'whistle' like so good for folk tunes, and yes now I think about it, it never gets clogged up with spit and I am a very spitty player - all my recorders (especially my Moeck Rottenburgh alto but the soprano not so much) get clogged and stop playing well after a few minutes despite warming them etc. - still - it makes a lovely pianissimo tone - lol!!!! Does anyone know whether different woods are more prone to clogging up? My Rottenburgh in Pallisander - a less porous wood that sounds almost metallic when you gently knock the parts together, seems less prone to condensation issues, but my older Pear wood alto is awful.

[@brbrofsvl]

honeychurchgipsy6 older instruments tend to clog more because the block wears. But also your pearwood is likely infused with paraffin, which could make a difference but I don't recall. My old Küng studio in paraffin-infused cherrywood have straight windways but old blocks and they clog almost immediately. The voicing is completely off on the alto.

[@blokfluitpiano1462]

Recorder centrum AFAB* told me that a curved windway has the advantage that is is stronger. A flat windway can descend due to gravity. The form of the curved windway prevents this. * (Sarah has visited AFAB in the videos Which recorder should you buy? (kzbin.info/www/bejne/imWudYF7jJppirs) and See how a recorder is made (kzbin.info/www/bejne/qaO7pa2LjK6dm9E))

[@stevewolfe3214]

Thanks Sarah!! Also to the group: please also take a Look at Sarah's earlier video "Guide for parents: YOUR CHILD'S FIRST RECORDER." Sarah says essentially the same recorder advice for children of all ages (big ones too) .. plus a big boost for playing the recorder. There are also many other videos...

[@izzyp.1763]

Hi Sarah! I was very curious about the Mollenhauer Adris soprano so I tried it. I think it sounds dramatically louder than the other ones, which I love ❤️. The head joint was way too loose so it leaked a bit. I added some cigarette paper around the top tenon and it did the trick, then the recorder sounded even louder and richer. I wasn’t expecting that from a plastic instrument! Thanks for your interesting videos!

[@drronmccoy]

This was really good! I bought Yamaha recorders, YRS-A-3028 - descant and treble in early 2019. I was in Kagoshima in Japan on holidays from Melbourne, Australia. I was wondering around a large shopping mall, and saw a music shop. They had a table of clearance items. The descant and treble recorder were a set in a bag on the clearance table for 15 Australian dollars (just over 8 pounds). I can speak a little bit of Japanese, and checked in the shop if that was the correct price, because I thought I had misread it. The shop assistant said to me in Japanese, “yes, that’s correct. It’s really cheap isn’t it?”I haven’t played recorders since school, which is about 50 years ago. However, I do play other instruments and can read quite well. So, I thought I had nothing to lose and bought them. A music teacher friend from New Zealand visited and she brought her recorders with her. We spent a lot of time playing duets together, and it was terrific fun. I went back to Japan at the end of 2019, and came home with a sopranino, tenor and bass in F. I can’t put them down now! They are marvellous instruments. I am really enjoying your KZbin channel. I read music very well, so I especially like all the tips on technique. Thanks for all. The great tips!

[@norikosato7823]

Good to know an Aussie had a good experience in Japan. I am a Japanese enjoying a life in Melbourne.

[@drronmccoy]

@@norikosato7823 ありがとうございました！日本が大好きです！

[@DellaStreet123]

I bought an Ecodear Alto as a holiday instrument shortly after it came out, and I like the sound of it. The only thing that's wrong with it is that, all of a sudden, the windway can be full of water. Wooden recorders give you warning signs that moisture is accumulating in the windway, the plastic one does not. I think it must have something to do with the lack of a wooden plug, which absorbs excess moisture. I also had a plastic recorder when I was young, a cheapie soprano I bought from two kids selling stuff on a blanket outside their house. The kiddos charged me one mark for it. I tried to play some simple songs from a hymnal on it, but my mother couldn't stand the sound. I then told my family that I would like a good recorder for Christmas. I got one - my grandparents paid for it. It was a Moeck Rondo in maple. There was a problem with it, though: It was an alto, and I knew enough about recorders to know that their lowest note is an F, so I could no longer play most songs from the hymnal. So, each day, after playing a few tunes on the alto, I returned to the plastic recorder, which angered my mother. She didn't stop nagging until I threw the plastic recorder into the trash before her eyes. Later, I first learned some music theory and then I learned to play the alto recorder as well. I think, among the recorder family, I like the alto best. I like high-pitched woodwinds as long as they are not super-high. I draw the line at the garklein - it simply is too high-pitched an piercing for me.

[@didi_1522]

Hi Sarah. First of all thank you for your videos they are really super interesting. In the last part of your video you asked for other plastic recorders we might know/use. I've started playing the recorder using a hohner soprano recorder. My personal one has the body made of wood and the head joint in plastic but I know for certain that hohner also produces completely plastic recorders. The sound is lovely and I still play it almost daily along with another plastic soprano from Bontempi. The only difference I see and hear is the finger positions for low and high F/F#, but apart from that the sound is very good.

[@vancouverpingpong]

Thank you for this great video and it’s so helpful for me. My eight years old is learning recorder from school and she is also teaching me how to play.

[@carlabarbatti]

Hi Sarah, thanks for this very instructive review. I'm in the process of getting back to learning how to play the recorder after a 15 years' gap (I play the piano at a decent level and have mostly been focusing on opera singing). I just bought an Aulos Alto Symphony and, influenced by a previous post where you recommended the wooden/plastic Dream Recorder model as a first recorder for children, I also ordered one for myself. While deciding on this purchase I saw other hybrid recorders by Mollenhauer and also Moeck. It would be nice if you could make such a review on the hybrid models, which could be a good compromise between price/sound quality/maintenance.

[@CoxJoxSox]

I'm amazed at how many professionals use plastic recorders - esp in the mid range

[@AdeebaZamaan]

wooden ones get wet unless they're upwards of $300

[@gabrielvieira9832]

Just by the smartphone I couldn't notice the difference between my plastic and the wooden you played in the other video, but now also listening from the smartphone you playing the plastic I could notice a huge difference.

[@andreacareless4141]

Thanks, Sarah! I play Yamaha instruments and I'm generally happy with them. With the tenor, though, the third and fourth holes (counting from the top down) are spaced quite far apart, compared to my wooden one. I found it a bit difficult to play for a while, and hard on my right hand. It's fine now, unless I don't play for a while, and then I have the same problem.

[@davidnixon4509]

Thank you Sarah for such wonderful videos! I just today bought 3 plastic soprano recorders at my local Dollar Tree store for yes $1 each. I am sure they are fairly horrible instruments but neither my ear nor my technique is good enough to tell the difference yet. I have granddaughters ages 3 and 6 so we will make our own "Three Dollar Orchestra" and drive everyone crazy. If they are still playing in few weeks then maybe decent instruments are in store for them this Christmas.

[@justingodesky5912]

That's awesome. How did it go?

[@ubizmo]

I have found the Yamaha Ecodear soprano to be a gem compared to all the others in my large collection of cheap recorders. It lets me jump right in and play a high B or C without any attack squeal, and the sound is mellower throughout it's range. But the real surprise value is the Woodnote two piece Alto. It's dirt cheap but has a nice open clear sound. The Woodnote soprano is unfortunately not in the same league. But definitely give the Alto a try. For the low price it's not to be missed.

[@hAnkoCZ]

I have a plastic Yamaha with which I started my "musical career" at 6 years old. I later went on to play the clarinette and soprano and tenor saxophone. However the little Yamaha is still in my possesion and I started playing it again to my 2 yo daughter while we sing and dance at home. ☺ Btw I am 37 now. 😅

[@lothariobazaroff3333]

I haven't played my old maple wood recorder (strange name by the way, in Polish we call it literally "straight flute") for years, but that second piece by Bach is so brilliant that I feel an immense urge to return to playing this instrument. I wasn't aware that a recorder could produce such marvellous sounds.

[@rakninja]

in most languages it's simply a "flute." it's the other instrument that usually gets a qualifier, usually "transverse flute," but at least in some of ye olden days, you might see it called the "german flute." the best guess anyone has to the origin of the name "recorder" is from the french verb "recorder," which means "to memorize." musical performers could be called "recordeurs." so the best guess goes that the job of the recordeur is to recorder, and his tool is the recorder. no one knows why our little flute was picked and not some other instrument.

[@ashleyburke2031]

Got mine today! I got the soprano yamaha YRS 4028 . It is made of the same plastic that the Yamaha Alto is. I’ve already broken it in and taught myself the basic hot cross bun song LOL 😁 I love your channel!

[@cjanquart]

Regarding the "I'm a different chemical makeup" comment, in the short time I taught myself to play the Highland bagpipe, one of my manuals stated people are either "wet" or "dry" blowers, in various degrees. Probably not a huge issue with the recorder since you can just disassemble and run a mop through it but with a bagpipe you have three drone and a chanter reed to worry about.

[@martilewis44356]

Thanks for another helpful video, Sarah. The ad that played before it started was for Yamaha saxophones.

[@Oaktreealley]

I think i got the ecodears because of this video. I love them. And now, watching the vid again, I think I will order a Mollenhauer dream, lol. Thank you.

[@user-sw9qq8rl4e]

Thank you for the review. I’m about to order from Bernolin and judging by the many positive comments here, I’m not going to be disappointed!

[@tobortine]

I have no intention of ever playing recorder, don't fret it's probably better for the audience that I don't, but I'm fascinated by your passion for your instrument. Two Set sent me but I don't play violin either. Keep up the great work.

[@deirdrebowers6426]

Sarah you are great! Important information, so delightfully presented!

[@mallows9779]

I bought the Yamaha Recorder back in 2012, and I still play it up to this day :D

[@honeychurchgipsy6]

I really liked the Yamaha recorders especially the first soprano. Also the Zen-on Bressan was great. I've always had Aulos plastics because - not sure - probably because my local music shop stocked them - and their sopranino is excellent - but I need a decent plastic alto so might get a Yamaha for a change - thanks for this - very informative and lovely playing as usual!

[@justasmorkunas7638]

This is so cool, and you're amazing! Thanks for your videos! I've had my ups and downs playing recorder, now I'm definitely re-inspired. Now I'm looking for a new wooden soprano recorder which could be easy to control at high ranges. Plastic ones are somewhat less reliable to me, and tend to get moist too soon. I need to play some folk tunes in choir pieces from time to time, and typically I need a louder sound with a character. I wonder if you have a recommendation?

[@deborahbirk4894]

Hey Sarah thank you for your informative videos. So far I have been learning the flute. Thanks to you I decided to learn a "real" instrument now: the alto recorder ;)

[@brbrofsvl]

Another good reason to have plastic instruments is that you don't have to play them in and you don't run the risk of clogging the block by overplaying. I love my Zen-On, but it gets way too much condensation. Some anti-condensation solution helps a bit.

[@zijdezacht3738]

Though there are commercial bottles for sale, I make my anti-condens solution (and grease) myself. Add some drops of dishwashing detergent in 75 ml distilled water. A few drops in the windway, let it dry and just play. But first always warm the head of the recorder before playing in armpit, pocket or bra. I don't like to suck up the drops when my ww is clogged, so I cut a piece of cardboard from an empty toilet or kitchenpaper roll. Just cut a bit narrower than the ww of the recorder, and insert it gently in the windway. It is long enough to hold it and it has the right curve for modern windways. The cardboard soaks up the moist quite good and it is not hard enough to damage the windway.

[@ullalief3449]

Hi Sarah, thanks for all the awesome videos and congrats on your new bubba! A question for you just in case you have time: The Aulos AU105A is advertised as having no double holes on the bottom two holes (i.e. only single ones). Could you please tell me whether this would be okay for a beginner recorder player? How important/non-important are the double holes?

[@cathy7382]

I just received 2 of the recorders that you featured, the Yamaha 302B and the Aulos Haka both are excellent and am pleased with both

[@jakatti1]

I love your videos, watch them almost every day 😂 VERY HELPFUL!!! big thanks for that! I would like to ask if you need play in a plastic instrument? I bought a Yamaha alto yra-302blll recently n need advice... thank you so much for sharing your experience n wisdom! have a nice weekend 😁

[@Team_Recorder]

No you don’t need to play in plastic! And glad you like my videos ☺️

[@MagicalAuroraDream]

I just bought my niece the yamaha transluscent colored recorder to play around with. She's almost 8, so will probably be getting into recorders pretty soon, though not quite sure when her particular school will do that. I just remember being about her age or a little older. Plus, she's been blasting away on this tiny recorder-shaped whistle that doesn't function as a proper recorder very well for years, and I figure even a recorder squealing has to be better than that thing. I'll update and tell you all if that's the case, LOL! Anyway, I bought 2 so I can show her how to do some of the fingering and stuff I remember from school. I hope she'll enjoy. I also showed her your video where you compared a $10 recorder to a $1000 recorder, after I'd ordered hers, and she really wants it. 😄

[@reillywalker195]

After watching this, I'm torn between the Yamaha Ecodear and the Aulos Haka. I love the darker sound of the Ecodear, which I think would really suit the Celtic and bluegrass music I normally play, but I also like the sound of the Haka and I know the Haka is much easier to track down here in Canada. I'm definitely going for a plastic recorder, though, now that I know I don't need to compromise on sound to get an instrument that suits my budget and extreme Canadian weather. You've made this Jew's harper/tin whistler/harmonica player/hand percussionist fall in love with the recorder again for the first time since elementary school. Thank you.

[@gblan]

Buy one of each. It's not exactly like you're buying a Von Huene.

[@bluescat5258]

Hi Sarah. I’ve just ordered a Haka treble recorder, I hope my choice is ok. Wish I’d known your video was coming out a couple of days later! Ha! I’ve played piano all my life and have been wanting to get into renaissance/Tudor recordermusic for some time, thought an alto would be a more pleasant sound. Some of your other videos helped me make the alto rather than soprano choice.I’ve watched quite a few of your videos this week. You’re a lot of fun and I look forward to future videos from you. Have fun with the new bub ❤️

[@Merel-fb2uu]

Hi Louise, I have both the descant/soprano and treble/alto Aulos Haka. I love them and I don't think you'll regret ordering this one! For reference, I also have a Dolmetsch Nova and an Aulos Robin and they are both lovely as well, but the Haka is the best one. It was also the most expensive one of the three, but totally worth it. Apart from the sound I love the wood-look on it, I like that it's not shiney. Like many kids I played the soprano recorder when I was very young and learning about music in general, after that I played the flute and saxophone. Now that I'm much older I've found my way back to the recorder and started playing the alto for the first time. I love it! Once I get better at it I want to start playing Medieval music.

[@marcichristian7304]

I think you are an incredible musician and can make a PVC pipe sound wonderful!🥰🎶

[@AnnBurgess00]

I'll be honest with you - as my school's recorder teacher, I have bought a wide range of recorders from my Küng garklein to my Helder treble - and taking in some plastic Aulos models over many years on the way. Only twice have I received a new recorder and been so thrilled with it I couldn't put it down. In both cases it was a larger Aulos recorder: my tenor thirty seven years ago; and a few months ago when I finally bought a basset from the Symphony range. I know many would turn their noses up at my undiscerning response when compared with several thousand pounds' worth of expensive wooden instruments in grenadilla, plumwood and castello boxwood, by the best makers - but that is how it has been for me. However, the condensation - that has always sent me scurrying back to my wooden instruments, and I have found their sound always improves the more I play them. My Dream treble now sounds 100% better than when I bought it! Thanks for this, Sarah - it's always good to know what to recommend to people who want a cheap recorder for their kids.

[@fcopaja]

Hi, I also own the Autos basset Symphony series. How's been your experience? In my case it has serious clogging issues when using the bocal, so I use direct blowing, however, though I'm not a short guy, that stresses my play a lot.

[@IvanRodriguez-bn7jf]

when I was a kid, my parents bought me a soprano recorder by Hohner. The curious thing about it is that it is halve wooden and halve plastic. I'm talking about year 1978. I still have it and I love it's sound...

[@elizabethkapas9437]

Sarah, thank you for sharing your expertise and insights into playing the recorder. I have begun playing the alto recorder after coming across your videos a few months ago. I own the wood finish Yamaha plastic recorder (model 312B iii), and overall am very pleased with it , although low b natural sounds muffled to me...maybe it is incorrect technique with my playing. I wonder if you could give your insight on modification with bent necks on tenor recorders. I would like to try the tenor recorder, but, I am petit and have trouble losing my place for low f , even on the alto recorder. I have come across sellers who will modify the tenor resin aulos with bent neck and/or extra keys for small hands.

[@elusiveeskimo3013]

When playing duets, trios, etc on plastic recorders I've found it important that we all have the same brand of recorders, to get the best combined (matched) quality of sound. Different brands, having differences in tone and tuning, have at times proven to be painful when played together. I also liked that I could hand my plastic recorders to a small child, watch them excitedly blow all kinds of slobber through them, and know a quick cleaning would have them good as new again. Before all the covid induced fear, while playing in public areas, parents often happily watched as I handed one of my recorders to their child for a moment of joyful noise. I would then give a quick beginner lesson if the child was old enough to understand. For the rest, some basic beginner instruction to the parents of the budding musician. So they could nurture the seed we just planted.

[@MM-th4zu]

A really good musician can play every quality of instrument. Thank you very much for the introduction of different ones! I am trying to become a halfway acceptable musician. I wish you all the best!

[@tiagobsreis]

I'm sure this video is very helpful for many people living in certain countries where musical instruments are too expensive. I live in Brazil and I know this reality, and even the price difference from two plastic Yamaha soprano recorders can be huge here. Their simpler models cost 30 BRL, which is around 3% of our monthly minimum wage, but the more expensive models can reach more than 400 BRL, which makes for half of what many people earn in a month. And don't get me started on good wooden recorders, their price is astronomical around here.