Choosing a PLASTIC recorder! | Team Recorder

[@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.

[@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.

[@christophertsiliacos8958]

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

[@LuckyPikinini]

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

[@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!

[@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".

[@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

[@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.

[@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 ?

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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！

[@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. 😅

[@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.

[@annelogged]

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!

[@maximellow5745]

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

[@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!

[@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!

[@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))

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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?

[@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.

[@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.

[@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?

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@sonjacarigiet6941]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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!

[@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.

[@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

[@AnnFBug]

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.

[@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!!

[@TrippedTheFuckOut]

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

[@joelflautista]

Wow the Mollenhauer Adris Dream 0119R sounds awesome, beautiful and very Epic , I hope one day I can get one. Thanks for this video , I am Yahelflautista from Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 ❤.

[@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!!

[@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

[@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

[@marcichristian7304]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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. 💖✨🎶😘

[@Maria-jh7fi]

I started playing about 2 months ago. I bought a Yamaha YRA-402B based on your recommendations. Don’t know if it’s the recorder or me but I find the lower notes (g to b) hard to play on that one. 🥴 Anyway as an adult learner it’s hard to find other beginners to play with so if anyone else in Stockholm, Sweden want to learn to play the recorder and have fun together - please contact me! 😺

[@benywidodo]

Don't blow as hard as you were on higher tune... that makes lower notes sound better, especially the lowest ones... Note: I've played recorder for more than 15 years just for fun and the lowest notes were the hardest until I learnt to blow more gently

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@RoscoesRiffs]

You could tell me the commode is backed up and overflowing, and it would sound like the most sprightly, delightful event of the day. 😂 I think I've settled on my Coronavirus Apocalypse recorder instructor.

[@alexmcd378]

Any chance there's a 2023 update coming? Thinking of picking up the recorder for a throw in my bag instrument. I love my ocarinas, but they just don't make good daily carry options because they're either too big, too expensive, or way higher pitch than I want. Recorders coming in plastic instead of ceramic, and coming in pieces, are big pluses

[@pabslondon]

If I want to play Bach's Badinerie as my ultimate goal, what Recorder(s) would be the best choice?

[@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.

[@Uniyou0459]

I remember when I was young I took my own recorder to music class. I had a Yamaha pink plastic recorder but everyone thought it was from dollerama because they also have colored recorders. My goodness, when I was young I seemed to have this conversation about how I didn't have a dollerama recorder XD

[@milicitrus]

I still use my pink Yamaha 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.

[@dougg1976]

The renaissance one was cool and the one with darker tone I like

[@jillfarkas]

Douglas Boucheix Renaissance music is beautiful

[@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.

[@acyutanandadas1326]

An executive of the NY Philharmonic told me that Yamaha recorders were made with plastic of the same density as wood. Which wood she didn't say --ebony or walnut or?

[@marcofantechi]

Hi Sarah. I'm Marco and I'm writing to you from Italy. I always follow your videos with enthusiasm, which are very instructive for me. I have been playing the recorder for a few months and I am really passionate about it. I purchased a Yamaha soprano flute: exactly the yrs314BIII, the one you feel in the video and a used contralto by Fehr. What would you recommend to me? I thank you for the contribution you give us to learn, your videos are very informative and you are really nice. Thanks again Marco

[@slmartist]

You're super. I've loved my first lesson! Thank you!

[@garybrodie-p7p]

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!

[@orthohawk]

I rather like the yamaha clear ones. The low range seems to be a bit more stable than the others (less prone to overblowing) and the upper notes don't seem to be as shrieky as the other plastic ones I have (all yamaha). I have yet to get an ecodear, and after hearng your review, I can't wait! do you know if they have plans on making any of the other sizes? I'd really be interested in having a sopranino ecodear.

[@andreacareless4141]

I have an encoder and I like it.

[@windsinger1766]

Ecodear is only made in Alto and Soprano right now. I recommend the Aulos Sopranino

[@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.

[@melissajaninepeters3694]

I'm happy with my wooden recorders, I just watched the video because I was curious about how good a plastic recorder could be... Looks like they are better than their image, but I'm happy with my wooden recorders and don't want others... I still think that wooden instruments sound better but plastic is cheaper, of course. I'm so glad my parents can effort to buy me wooden instruments...

[@zijdezacht3738]

Melissa Janine Peters A well made wooden recorder sounds better indeed, but I buy my ABS recorders so save my precious wooden ones, not because they sound better.

[@ELizbeth135]

Would you be open to doing an updated review of plastic soprano recorders? I’m so happy to have found your channel!!

[@Team_Recorder]

Oh it is coming!

[@computerex]

I love the little face she makes after she's done playing the song samples for each recorder. So adorable.

[@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.

[@mrsenstitz]

OMy aulos alto is 43 years old. It’s wide bodied, so takes a lot breath support and air

[@MsBettyRubble]

Katrine Roberts That's so cool!

[@jillfarkas]

That’s really awesome! I wouldn’t have a problem, I play the clarinet XD. So when I play the recorder, it’s a big change in embouchure.

[@mrsenstitz]

Rohan_Patel I have a number of instruments. I’ve been playing for more than 40 years. I have a wood alto, it’s not good. I studied.& and I have a diploma. I played flute professionally. I think I know quite a lot about air and support already.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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)

[@notafan1275]

Firstly, condensation is not the same as spit!!! Breath contains water vapour, which condenses when it hits a cold surface (you can test by breathing on a windowpane in winter) - in other words, the droplets in the recorder are distilled water - nothing yucky at all. I have several of these recorders, and for me the Yamaha 3XX Alto did not work at all because it was clogging up all the time. Switching to the Aulos 5xx solved the problem (I then liked it so much that I had a hard time finding a wooden recorder I liked better...) As for the Thomann soprano - it only sounds as good as it does because Sarah is a very good player! Even after a few years I couldn't get a decent sound out of it and finally got rid of it (when beginning it was so awful I switched immediately to a Aulos Robin, the 2xx model. Which was okay enough for starting out and deciding that soprano recorders are not for me...) However, the Thomann Alto is decent enough, and so is the Thomann Tenor IF your hands are big/stretchy enough - I can't use it, and I recently talked to a (male) bass recorder player who hardly ever uses it because of it's stiff key. The keys on the Thomann Bass are the same, but they are closer together and thus easier to press, and the sound is perfectly okay for the price (under € 100). I also have the Dream recorder and like the sound, but the bottom ring has actually comie loose after some time, which I find rather disappointing for a Mollenhauer instrument. And I have enormous difficulties getting the high notes (over a"') out of it. Last but not least, whereas the sound of the translucent Yamaha is not great, the red is just such a gorgeous colour that I couldn't resist (and the droplets you see are still not spit)! Another recorder not mentioned in the video is the Aulos Robin (2xx) Tenor recorder, which has no c/c#-key. It's built shorter than recorders with this key and thus easier to finger. I had the neck bent by Kunath Instrumentebau (Germany) and now it's my backup tenor recorder. My plastic bass is the Yamaha, which at the time of buying (I had a selection on approval from the Blockfloetenshop) was my favourite regarding sound and key quality (Aulos, Dolmetsch and Wood... were in the package as well). However, I think the bigger the recorder, the more noticeable the difference between plastic and wood, and I'm not sure whether I'd recommend paying the almost € 500 for a plastic Yamaha bass when at twice that one can buy a Waldorf wood bass which sounds MUCH better.

[@honeychurchgipsy6]

Not a fan - how much did Kunath charge you to 'knick' your Aulos tenor and did you have to buy it from them or can you send one to them? I have short arms and stiff hands/fingers due to having chronic myofascial pain and Fibromylagia so have trouble with playing a tenor: I bought a secondhand plastic one but could either get my fingers on the holes - or - get the instrument in my mouth - but not both at the same time - so I gave it away. I do not want to pay £4-500 for a wooden knick tenor until I know whether or not I get on with it so having a cheaper plastic one bent would be a brilliant option.

[@notafan1275]

I paid 45 Euros for the modification to the Aulos Robin, and I happened to have bought it from them the year before, but I'm pretty sure you could send them any instrument. However, if I'm not mistaken, Dolmetsch used to make a bent-neck tenor recorder (but I believe with c-key) - you might look for one of them. Or you might try to find a really dirt cheap second-hand plastic tenor and "bending" it yourself (it's a cut on the diagonal and then one of the pieces is turned 180 degrees before glueing it back together - I had to try it with a cardboard tube to understand.) - as long as it's an instrument you won't mind too much ruining if things go wrong. As for wood - are you aware that both Moeck and Mollenhauer produce bent neck recorders with EXTRA keys (ring finger left hand and index finger right hand, in addition to the one for the right pinky)? Mollenhauer's are called "Comfort", Moeck's Tenor Plus (I believe - the website is horrible and they hide them very well). With these extra keys my Mollenhauer Canta Comfort has become my favourite recorder, I find it more comfortable than some altos (which are not all the same either, as far as required stretch is concerned).

[@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.

[@mrsenstitz]

A415 plastic? About time.

[@alicewyan]

A432 is the future! ;-)

[@alicewyan]

how rude :(

[@vesteel]

A392 in meantone 1/4 temperament

[@RolandHutchinson]

@@vesteel Don't hold your breath for that one.

[@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.

[@TonyBittner1]

Dear Sarah, The link to the Zen-On G1-A Bressan is broken. Here is the new one: earlymusicshop.com/products/zen-on-g1a-415-alto-recorder

[@TonyBittner1]

I found another website, but the Zen-On G-1 A Bressan is a wee bit more expensive than at the Early Music Shop. www.woodbrass.com/en-gb/recorders-alto-zen-on-bressan-alto-g-1a-(a=415-hz)-p311500.html

[@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.

[@alujambio1]

Have you tried the Aulos Haka series ?

[@windsinger1766]

Alvaro Lujambio - Agreed, I am shocked these were not included!!!

[@AndyMossMetta]

Yes, this was a major omission. The Aulos Haka is often considered by many as being THE best of the mass produced alto plastics. However who knows, perhaps Sarah is saving this for a mention on a future video (hint hint Sarah!) It was however really interesting to hear the Yamaha Ecodear alto being played which many also rate highly.

[@Team_Recorder]

Hey guys! Actually - no, I haven't! Believe it or not, I don't (yet) know absolutely e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g existent in the recorder world, and as a Yamaha girl at heart, the Autos Haha has thus far escaped my notice (emoji of person shrugging). As I said in the video, I also couldn't hope to include everything available on the market! But this is why I love Team Recorder - I learn just as much from you guys :) I'm hearing a lot of call for a Haka review, so if that's something you all would like, holler!

[@pauldouglas4082]

I love my Aulos Haka! I understand you can't cover everything, but some reviews of larger plastic instruments would be interesting as the savings are so great - a pearwood mollenhauer canta soprano is €69 from Thomann which is not a huge sum, whereas a bass in the same range is €990. The Aulos 211 also merits a mention - afaik it's the only (decent at least) plastic keyless tenor and is €69 from Thomann as against €365 for a basic Küng Studio keyless pearwood tenor.

[@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 :)

[@sudonim7552]

4:17 do I hear an ye olde *Licke*

[@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 ;)

[@cmad2345]

Recorders are slept on..

[@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!

[@fcopaja]

Aulos Haka Alto! Please try it and comment I like it a lot

[@TruthSeekerAi]

wow Sarah you are awesome with this instruments i just got the Yamaha YRS-302B Soprano Recorder, Baroque fingering, Key of C and i am clueless to playing it lol i had this in my music class back when i was in school in the 80s 90s but i was raised in a very bad time and place in nyc east ny brooklyn so i couldn't learn things like this i had to learn to stay alive lol but i always made music all my life tho electronically even tho i never learned music theory i can hear what i like as a start and build from there. after awhile of fighting to make music i found i luv not knowing cause it comes from a place of mystery, i think i am a real musician in the sense as in i hear music in me and fight to get it out with anything i have. this has worked for me well for almost 36 years out of my 46 on earth but i said when i turn 47 on april 26th this year i will do more live instruments not for recording them but to play them and master 1 i like this instrument indeed. it was great finding you you are amazing with this instrument i hope to be as good 1 day. i like this instrument because it is so small but powerful and wow sounding when played right is the key or in key lol i wish you goodness health and protection evils 1 luv Ameer/Reemabeats taurus age46 nyc check out some of my works if you wish soundcloud.com/ai-ri5

[@ravenmoon9834]

I just got my first recorder , plastic blue

[@rah2865]

Same, except mine looks like glass. (Kinsley Kolors)

[@ravenmoon9834]

@@rah2865 can you play it yet ,

[@rah2865]

Yes, i carry it to school. We practice. In music class

[@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.

[@josevalverde2656]

As for me, Record it's the best instrument over the world...lol...