Get faster fingers, handmade vs. factory... and more! | Q&A

[@katiesmith5748]

I love all of your videos!! You are literally the only person on KZbin that is a dedicated recorder player that does this for a living. I often revert back to your videos because I'm self teaching myself how to play (pretty basic tunes). I'm an experienced high school flute player and the recorder is pretty similar with the fingerings. I think the recorder is a fun instrument to learn for fun and i enjoy it a lot!

[@Team_Recorder]

+Katie Smith Thanks, and welcome to the recorder team! I played flute in my high school concert band too, but the recorder eventually won out for me :)

[@starman2671]

I just found your site and subscribed. I'm an adult beginner, read a little, but really thought I would like the recorder, Just wanted to say it's a great site I'll be tuning in for years to come.

[@khalidayes186]

As I have lived in the love of recorder since child, seeing in all folk paintings as the shepherds'' instrument, I like you - so much, like you that I am, now age 59 years old in September, I have no hesitation in calling you "my teacher". So: Sarah Geoffery, you are my recorder teacher. My daughters also love you, because you have a spontaneous way of teaching that fees good, full of spirit. Please carry on - we are all listening and learning; all ages and all tendencies. My plan now, because of you: to bur a decent tenor recorder.

[@ЕленаЮсупова-в5м]

Sarah, thanks a lot for your explanation on the DIDL tecnique! I developed my DIDL starting from the lowest notes, for me it was easier to "catch" it there. And now I'm glad to say I've made a significant progress and really enjoy the new sound. This is something like a feeling of "popping bubbles notes", and it's great! )))

[@pabslondon]

I play recorder, a plastic flute with J head-joint, a Bansuri (india bamboo flute) and also the Yamaha Venova which is a sort of Soprano sax/recorder hybrid. I'd love to try a Shakuhachi

[@santigaitero]

Nice channel!! :) love to hear you playing irish folk music with whistles or recorders! :)

[@willemkossen]

My old basset is german fingered as are two of my sopraninos. For fast folk work i still prefer german fingering. So i play both, although mostly baroque fingering. Nice q&a

[@goldenrule4064]

Thank you for responding to my questions. Valuable vids. Happy holidays!

[@MrInitialMan]

I will admit to naming two recorders I owned. One is my Hohner bass, which I named The Coffee Grinder (feel free to ask after that amusing tale), and my lost and unlamented Garkleinflötlein was The Earsplitter.

[@nalanihamby3710]

actually yes! Your videos made me realize that I was very sadly misinformed about the recorder, I'm learning now so I can teach my children.

[@joannmarii3768]

Thank you for your great video lessons! I am a (very) amateur recorder player. I play only on German fingered recorders because I am used to it (I was taught German fingering and always used it), I foud it difficult to switch to Baroque/English fingering. Just wanted to inform you, I found (and purchased) Aulos sopranino recorder (Symphony series) 506B(G) (G for German fingering) but indeed, as you said, the choice of German fingered recorders is much more limited. (Cheers, Marius)

[@mynvision]

This was such a great video! I love how you talk about a bit of everything. I've always wanted to know which line of Irish whistles you like best. From what I could see on the Darragh Kearns-Hayes videos, you have some basic Generations, Tony Dixon and Chieftain whistles. Have you considered any of the more expensive handmade custom whistles someday? Also, if you ever get a chance, I highly recommend Native American style end-blown flutes. Those are fun, and just super-relaxing to play (and my favorite line, if you want to consider one, is High Spirits Flutes by Odell Borg...I own a few of those).

[@Team_Recorder]

Ah! To be honest I have my Chieftain ones in low D, G and high D, then a few basic ones in C and Bb, and have been happy with them :) I have tried some gorgeous wooden ones, but then they start to approach the recorder sound a bit more and that confuses my ears.. I'd definitely consider it though, could be amazing for medieval music too!

[@sashakindel3600]

I ended up with a German-fingered soprano because at the time when I replaced my original cheap Yamaha with the slightly less cheap Yamaha, I had never heard of German fingering so didn't know to check. I actually find the two fingering systems to be about equally useful, each with its advantages and disadvantages. I don't think baroque fingering needs any additional advocacy, but some of the useful properties of German fingering, as embodied by my soprano in particular, are as follows: the simplified F fingering allows for an E to F trill in the first octave, and of course makes quick passages around those notes easier in general. The fingering for a baroque F produces an E, and can be used as a stable alternate fingering for that note. A second-octave Ab can, inexplicably, be produced by fingering a G and adding the lower three fingers of the left hand. It's a bit sharp, but more resistant to splitting than the fingering based on lowering an A. There happens to be a fingering for high C# that doesn't require closing the bell. I recognize that in practice, German fingering is only very narrowly available, but in theory it would increase one's technical flexibility to have access to both systems. And any other sensible system one might come across, I suppose. It was tough to have to decide between Kung's F# ring and Mollenhauer's Ab key when I chose my greatbass, after all!

[@paulsonap6]

Yet another question (which I think you may have answered in one of your previous videos but I don't remember which one): what brand lipstick do you use? I love the colors you choose, but I'm afraid to get lipstick on the recorder mouthpiece. Thanks so much (and I LOVE your videos)!

[@mermaidjaffa9135]

My pinky fingers always lock up when I try to play the lowest note. How can I stop it or make it more flexible when playing? And, could you do tin whistles videos too?

[@corncobhorse]

Great video full of useful tips! and 13:23 made me LOL

[@everdancing7]

Very interesting! How about a video on articulation? Like when to use dah, ta, ti, etc? I only play soprano,. Alto is a stretch for my right baby finger,. I figure it's best to learn 1well before I move onto another with different fingering! I've been doing lessons Woo about 2 yrs. now! Wow! 🎶🎼🎶 thanks love your videos, it's always a good mail day when they come!

[@johnroberts262]

I have played descant for about 10 years, and now want to move to tenor. I'm finding covering the holes a challenge, and general control of the larger instrument. Would you do a video covering this topic

[@DianneHeijstee]

It is a problem everybody comes across some point! It is a matter of practising. But not too long! Try to play a bit every day for short moments. If you try too long you might end up getting an injury. When I went to the conservatory, I had a very hard time closing all the holes of a tenor. Now I can play F-Bass. :) Just take it slow and easy.

[@5viviana3]

Very clear!

[@MrInitialMan]

Also, a question (perhaps for your next Q&A). Have you ever had your recorders--in particular the larger ones--identified with wild innaccuracy. (for example, "Is that a bassoon?!")

[@philipewan3121]

Just confirming that German fingered recorders of the more extreme pitches do exist, I possess a Czech hand-made sopranino which follows German fingering, though with some quirks of its own in the higher part of the range.

[@Team_Recorder]

Ah, great to know!

[@joannmarii3768]

Could you please, share with us your opinion on Mollenhauer's Elody (electric) recorder? (thnx for your great videos)

[@zarkaylia1735]

Do you play low whistle? I'd love a video on that. Great video!

[@Team_Recorder]

I do! And it's coming :D

[@christophertsiliacos8958]

Hi Sarah - In deference to "Every country in every culture has its own version of an end blown flute..." (9:25) Does your repertoire include the Native American flute? As you probably know, it's an instrument that requires very little embouchure, and a lot of extemporaneous playing.

[@maaritlarinen9056]

You need to get a quality ocarina, these ones you showed off is a big reason the ocarina isn't as recognized as it should be. The Peruvian ones are pretty, but useless for music. The plastic ocarina is just like a plastic school recorder, and yeah... If you ever want to buy a quality English fingering ocarina you should check out Tenrai! :)

[@pabslondon]

I like the Zelda ocarinas

[@strangefreaksDotcom]

ha, both of the same favourite trebles I have, I assume they're a Rottenburgh Rosewood (Moeck) and a Dream Pearwood (Mollenhauer Traumflote)

[@Team_Recorder]

Yes that's a pearwood dream flute! But the other alto is by Yoav Ran, not Moeck :)

[@goldenrule4064]

Please advise on controlling saliva, and achieving max volume F, F# on the alto. Thank you.

[@DianneHeijstee]

Some people produce more saliva than others. And it can also depend on what you eat and drink. To produce maximum volume on the low notes.. It is always difficult. Some instruments handle it better than others. However, you can try to find another soundcolor. For example, when I try to blow into the instrument while my upper lip is more relaxed, for some reason I produce more overtones which gives it a richer color. Therefore it seems like it sounds much louder!

[@spspsp45]

This may seem a silly question but when do you use double tongue

[@elaineselkirk]

Which recorder is best to play folk music? Please.

[@orirune3079]

Play a tin whistle

[@jayaramanthamizhirai9332]

amazing sarah can we use the recorder techniques like tounging in clarinet

[@jennypockets]

Note, Tonguing is used on the clarinet too. :)

[@Chris-zi1oo]

So cute to see a video of you six years ago. You are so, in Germany we call this: "zappelig". 😁

[@iradiakalenz4225]

thank you!

[@darm160381]

Hello, super good your videos. Do you know someone that does the same as your but in spanish? please!

[@Team_Recorder]

I don't! Anyone else?

[@dp2398]

Hi, you're amazing:) have you ever duet with a baroque traversiere?

[@Team_Recorder]

Yes! I played the Telemann and Quantz double concertos, and I also played some duo stuff before (a German composer who's name completely escapes me). It's a great combi, when we learn to understand one another's articulation..!

[@zuditaka]

Σ三❚三三三◕◕◕三◕◕◕三◕三∃.•*¨*•♪♫ I bought a glow-in-the-dark plastic novelty recorder, recently, but the holes were not all tuned properly. (It's exactly the same shape as a quality Yamaha candy coloured recorder, though.) I was also given a pretty purple plastic recorder with metal fleck glitter in it. Again, it was very pretty to look at but the holes were not in tune. And exactly the same shape as a Yamaha. I think a lot of cheap plastic recorders made in China may resemble quality brands like Yamaha but they aren't always properly tuned, so are apt to disappoint. I have three Yamaha recorders in candy pink, blue, and green. Sometimes I rearrange the 'corder pieces in multicoloured combinations for fun and variety. Have you done a video on making a cardboard and elastic band mute for playing recorder more quietly with? Like late at night in bed, so as not to waken others, or for kids in the back seat of the car? ;P

[@Team_Recorder]

Ah, I answered part of the question of silent/quick practice in my very first Q&A video :)

[@zuditaka]

Thanks, Sarah! I'll check it out. ;D

[@pabslondon]

For private recorder playing I bought a child's gilet/body-warmer and sewed up and the gaffa taped the bottom. I then open the zip and put the recorder inside the gilet and do up the zip. Then put my arms in the arm holes so i can finger the recorder inside the gilet. The mouthpiece sticks out of the neck hole of he gilet and most of the (reduced volume) sound also comes out of the neck hole.

[@luckybarrel7829]

Ok imma gonna go name my recorder Ryan Gosling now or maybe Ben Affleck from the 20ties

[@nyuh]

indonsia jumpscare ?!?

[@emilymcinroy8592]

If I send you a message on Instagram will you reply( not to be rode)

[@baumannjorg9998]

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