HOW TO HIT THE HIGH NOTES

[@jallenecs]

My dog leaves the room when I go for the high notes. Bless his little heart.

[@Taichientaoyin]

My cat hates it

[@rickmccloy4201]

Bless his big heart.❤ Given a dogs' capacity to hear, it's a wonder that they don't bite us. .

[@StarLight-gm5ct]

Mine, as soon as I pick up the soprano 😂

[@buttergirl5368]

Mine starts to howl at any note and I play a tenor recorder.

[@sarahspector5294]

Not only do I owe you a debt of gratitude for “repairing” my high notes - I’ve been struggling with them since I got my tenor recorder (only 4 1/2 days, but constant) - I’m quite sure that I wouldn’t be playing the recorder, if not for you. ❤ You’re the best.

[@Team_Recorder]

Ah that’s great! ❤️

[@tomekd789]

12:07 "Last week we had 800 subscribers" - wow, congrats! I think the 205 K nowadays is very well deserved. Thank you for your channel!

[@Thringorthedeathlord]

The quality of your instructional videos is always outstanding, I'm sure I'm not the only one who you have inspired to pick up their old school recorder - and then of course buy many newer and better ones :o) Thank You.

[@Team_Recorder]

Thank you!

[@howardmcewen]

Ah, I was holding my thumb wrong. So many thanks for fixing in 2 minutes a problem I've been struggling with for a week.

[@Team_Recorder]

Ahh great!

[@cathy7382]

The arpeggio exercises are an excellent practice

[@SamSung-tr9lw]

I've been playing a Yamaha 402B soprano recorder for 11 months now but not new to playing instruments as also play the alto sax and clarinet, as well as, the piano many years ago. Few weeks ago I was asked to play an accompaniment peice for the piano and soloist in a kids Christmas play. I took up the challenge. I worked hard on it-twenty-four hours of practice conservatively. It was simple. Clean. My only challenge was playing the high B's and C's. But on my own and with videos like this I was able to master them and had the entire song down pitch perfect. In practice with the rest of the group, however, it was an entirely different story. I am naturally an extremely introvert person and I lothe even being in a large gathering much less being up front. In practice everytime I cracked or flubbed my high B's and C's at random. Very embarrassing. I only had six practices with everyone together. It was a 2.5 minute song and so collectively I only had 15 minutes of practice with the group. That was hardly enough time for me to figure out what it was that I was doing wrong. So last night after another practice I made the call to scrap my recorder peice entirely. Tonight was the play and it was nice. Even though it disappointed some people, at least I won't be up all night huanted by my trainwreck.

[@pierfrancogangemi9004]

the first CLEAR explanation I've found about this matter. Thank you so much

[@resofactor]

Makes so much more sense than when I was a kid and had a Soprano Recorder. I went from a Saxophone to Recorder, and my Recorder playing in my youth paled in comparison. Saxophone was much easier. I never understood why I could never get a decent tone out of a Recorder. Over the past month since getting my Tenor Recorder, this has been by far one of my favorite Channels. Thanks Sarah!

[@ljdiaz-garcia5630]

Oof

[@esmeegloria]

Just descovered your channel..playing the recorder is sooo relaxing it’s insane. Groetjes uit Brabant❤

[@McTheTortoise]

Clarinet background here lol! This has been soooo helpful, especially the tips on thumb position. It's not something I every really think of when playing clarinet because the thumb hole is either just completely covered or off. Thank you very much!

[@thearm95]

I'm an ex clarinet player too, we did have it easy didn't we! (with our register key)

[@mihaelamack1770]

Sarah, you are absolutely amazing. This is the clearest explanation I have seen on how to play those pesky high notes. Your videos are like gold to me. Your message gets across because you are so expressive and entertaining as well. Would you consider recording a video on how to play two recorders simultaneously? You would be the perfect person to do that. Thank you so much!

[@mattkowalski5164]

You have such enthusiasm. It was time we all learned the explanation of four registers, which don't follow the octaves at all. Thank you for your many videos of good clear instruction, which you can create because you know what you are doing. Also, thank you for your book suggestions.

[@TheMtnmamma]

Trying to play the heidi almost made me want to give up playing the alto recorder. but watching this video again I have hope that maybe I can get it. You’re a very fun entertaining teacher. Thank you so much.

[@pri3106]

I picked up the recorder after some 15 years and I've learnt to appreciate it so much more! thank you for these incredibly useful videos!

[@argonwheatbelly637]

My daughter is still learning how to control her air stream and articulation -- she's 6 -- however, I will frequently adjust my intonation to match hers so she understands the notes as a "duet". Then she copies me, and tries to match my intonation, and poof! She's starting to understand the amount of control needed. It's by no means second-nature to her, but she loves it, and she likes to play tunes for her little brother -- my son is 2 -- and I'll play harmony or a variation on the piece, while the toddler either taps out a beat, or tries to strum his ukulele. I tuned it to G, and all our tunes are in G, so it's a cute wee jam session. I'm finally playing the second register clean. Having played piano for 45 years, anything out of tune is painful. :-) But with my daughter, I just want her to be able to enjoy it, although both instinctively feel when a note is off. She's also learning keyboard hand position the way I did, so she'll be able to play for hours without getting CTS/RSI.

[@Gichanasa]

Sarah... I just wanted to take a moment to let you know that I think you're a great musician and a fantastic teacher. Since I have discovered you, I started playing not only the recorder, but also the tin whistle and the ocarina! My repertoire is quite small at the moment limited to nursery rhymes and simple folk tunes, but hope to learn some longer classical pieces soon. Thank you for sharing your knowledge, please keep up the awesome work!

[@alicialexists]

This is exactly what I needed. Thank you!

[@twitchster77]

omgosh! You helped me SO much! I was trying to use the center of my thumb to cover the hole...as soon as I tried using the part of my thumb you suggested in this video...I nailed the high note I was looking for on my first attempt! :D Thanks a lot!! :D

[@ordinarytree4678]

Fantastic clear instructions with a great friendly teaching attitude, thank you so much! This was a joy to watch.

[@vampiricconure]

I SOoooooooo needed this lesson. Hitting the higher registers is the bane of my existence right now (Been playing a total of 3 days, LOL). I'll get it, but right now it's a struggle :P

[@mackenlyparmelee5440]

I'm in the same boat, my friend. The high C, D and up on my alto is really tricky

[@therapeuticstorywriting6837]

Sarah, just discovered your videos and find it so helpful the way you break down the technique. I'm going to focus on my airflow for the low and high notes in my next practise sessions. Thank you so much.

[@Team_Recorder]

You're welcome!

[@scathatch]

Thankyou. Thumb position important!

[@hendrikvanoordt]

You're a generous teacher, Sarah Jeffery, and it's a pleasure to learn from you.

[@antonioio9053]

Thank you so much for your excellent work😉

[@autumnrain7342]

Haven’t played in 20 years, just deafened neighbours trying to remember the notes. Got to upper B eventually on soprano. You just reminded me of the rest.

[@jacquiobrien9948]

I had no idea that the amount of thumb hole coverage mattered, thank you that has made such a difference to getting the high notes. I have learnt so much from your videos - and so many things I was taught wrong!

[@nateschultz8973]

Same. Geez...

[@EditorialJoe]

Super helpful! Could not consistently hit anything in back half of the second octave at all until I watched this.

[@nateschultz8973]

Must say: The tip about not needing the thumb pad and covering more or less of the hole helped a bunch. Thanks, Sarah.

[@marcorubenabuyuanllanes71]

Haha "rule of thumb" was that intentional?

[@noelt.3498]

Hi Sarah, this is excellent. In my own case I feel that the position of the recorder has an impact on hitting high notes or not: if I blow in the recorder when it is too close my body that do not work ; if I raise my arms (the recorder in a more horizontally position) that's fine!

[@tolkienfan2]

Thanks for all the helpful tips Sarah. You're truly a wonderful teacher!

[@hakneyj]

Hi Sarah, I have recently discovered your videos and really enjoy them. Thank you for sharing your tips and passion for the recorder.

[@Team_Recorder]

You're welcome, welcome to Team Recorder!

[@rickmccloy4201]

@@Team_Recorder Ms. Jeffery, I must say that you, and whatever people might comprise Team Recorder, do a superb job both of instruction and creating enthusiasm for the recorder; your obvious enthusiasm is quite contagious. I can't recall the specific video, but I was particularly impressed with your mention of just how much the performing of music, and I believe the recorder in particular as it presents such a challenge, engages the brain and sharpens one up. This will come in quite handy when I a) explain to my wife why we are now a 5 recorder family (Yamaha 300 series) and b) just why my transverse flute and my oboe are currently suffering from significant, but not total,, neglect. I must add that after about 55 years of playing the concert flute and innumerable lessons, I have been humbled by how difficult it is to play the recorder well, or semi well at this point (semi demi hemi quaver well might be more accurate), but I'll get there. Well, get closer.. On the off chance that reading this has not yet induced coma, I offer you my most sincere thanks.

[@Team_Recorder]

@@rickmccloy4201 You’re very welcome, Rick! You caught me at my laptop so you get a fast reply 😊

[@moonspaceblue]

Thank you Sarah for this in-depth information. Now I know that it's me and not my recorder. I cannot thank you enough and I will get onto my practise.

[@uinsinoriabhaigh7758]

It works!!!!!! High A in J.S.Bach Solo Partita (BMW 1013) Cm for Alto Recorder.

[@orionexploding1112]

What a fantastic video. I can actually reach some of those high notes at last. Will definitely be watching your other videos.

[@hectoraguilar770]

Hi Sarah! Thank you for this video...I have found with my brother David 36 sounds considering the natural sounds, sharp sounds and flat sounds or pitches. A total of 3 registers in the Tenor recorder in C, the Alto recorder in F, the Soprano recorder in C and Sopranino in F. However, I play most of the time with the 1st and 2nd registers...in each recorder I play them with different clef as well. In the Tenor recorder I use the D clef and the 1st register I use the Treble clef. In the Alto recorder I use the A clef and in the 1st register I use the D clef. In the Soprano recorder I use the E clef and to play the 1st register I use the A clef. And in the sopranino recorder I use the B clef and in the 1st register I use the E clef. Greetings from Tijuana, Mexico!

[@nicholaspalmer7323]

To play the recorder, you must have to be a sweet person! I am starting a recorder group and your videos will be required watching. Wonderful! Thank you for explaining how to get those high notes I thought were impossible.

I can finally play two full octaves! This was very helpful, thank you 😊❤

[@peterhughson4653]

On the Yamaha (plastic) the thumb hole only needs to open a 'crack'. I've been unsucesdful with high notes for ages as I was bending my thumb and doing a half open. Doing the thumb role and only a crack open was a good tip. Wow I am so happy I have so many more notes to play!

[@astrotsiga]

It feels like those high notes hurt not only my ears, but my recorder too.

[@VerborgenImSchatten]

I've picked up my recorder again after years of not playing and on my alto everything higher than d3 just didn't work. Your video has been really helpful! My teacher back then never truly showed me how to breathe (maybe because I was a child? I don't know, but that school was weird, they kinda wanted all of us to later switch to the flute...)

[@Sopalida]

Now this is the info I need. 🎉. A few years ago I purchased the full line of recorders from a widower of a pro recorder player 😢. Which one would be easiest to learn and practice upper registers on. Or are they all the same. Thank you for your excellent explanation!!

[@susi8887]

Thanks a lot! I follow you since lockdown and I do really like your videos. Greatly helpful and very motivating.

[@avariceseven9443]

I'm glad I found this channel. I've stopped playing recorder for a while now, only touching it once or twice a month. I think I'm ready to give this another chance. I'm always scared to play those high notes cause of how cheap plastic recorders sound. If you break a note it will sound 10x more horrible. What a time to be alive. When I started self learning music 9-10 years ago, there's no such channel on youtube, most are for flute. I'm subscribing!

[@megalopolis2015]

You are teaching me so much. I was so entertained I didn't even notice.

[@danielagolonka3833]

omg!!! i shortened my thumb nail and it fixed my high e 🤯

[@Team_Recorder]

Hurrah!

[@thepianoplayer416]

Informative... When it comes to finger nails, some instruments like piano, violin, cello, it is recommended that you keep it short because they get in the way.

[@frannbug]

Yes, short fingernails work for most instruments - until you start learning classical guitar and then you are socked with being required to grow plectrums on your right hand fingers and thumb!

[@terrystanislow4554]

Oh wow - I just put up a post about this, then discovered the video when I was watching another one! My next practice tomorrow - trying all of this! Thank you SO MUCH for all of these wonderfully informative lessons!

[@georgiabritton1637]

Oh golly yes, that’s so true: the fear of of a looming high F. Thank you for your encouraging and informative tips and exercises! Armed with these I hope to get on top of that fear 🎶

[@KKIcons]

Yasss I didnt even realize I was doing that either😅 but it is so me lol

[@ГеоргийКондратов-п8с]

I try, Sarah))) With love from Moscow Russia

[@samanthahardy9903]

Thanks for this Sarah. My thumb position has been wrong for a ages and I never realised it until I watched this video.

[@TheCatGoesRawrMusik]

would love how to get those "gluk" sound away. SO how... a video on how to do difficult trills. Struggling with the high e two high d for example on tenor in Badinerie for example ..... Ignore everything I said. Found the video. IT is great. Thanks.

[@michaelsmithsonian466]

cold vs warm blowing made the difference (my instrument is similar to a recorder, a csakan, so no thumb hole!) Thank you!

[@chathugamage7842]

I really love your videos because you're teaching it soooo clearly . Thank you very much ❤

[@mccypr]

I can’t get the high “B” to sound (properly) on my plastic Yamaha Recorder. Great info! Thanks! Happy holidays! 🌞🎅🏻🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@oferzilberman5049]

That was so hard for me to hit the high notes in the video of all the notes and how to play them! Thank you!

[@vahagnvardanyan]

I have noticed that shading the left ring finger's hole during the attack on the high C on Yamaha tenor provides a steadier and softer note. I always do that for that sixth jump in BWV 1031 second movement.

[@Ratwoman5000]

Omg so not just me then!! 😆 I find this helps for all the sizes of Yamaha (I have the treble and descant) and even on my Mollenhauer Denner alto. Seems to be specifically top C... Or F on the treble.

[@philippecmartin]

Hi Sarah, This was very useful ... and funny :) thanks - Philippe

[@rbacosta6226]

Thanks. I was looking for a tutorial of the recorder and yours is pretty complete and instructive. Cheers from Mexico.

[@philipbengtson7066]

Good advice about making friends with the high notes. I am a beginner that has stayed in the first register and am very shy about tackling the next level.

[@resofactor]

This has been one of my biggest mind effs since picking up the Tenor Recorder. Wrapping the mind around this. Since watching your videos, it's starting to make more sense, even if some of this I started intuitively getting on some other level. On a synthesizer or keyboard workstation... it's much easier to find that "exact" note. In this case, it depends on what you're actually feeding into the instrument. So understanding articulation, breath pressure, and understanding how the Registers work are really some of biggest "secrets" of Recorder playing, yes?

[@TheMtnmamma]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us, you make me really want to play.

[@katecan3832]

Hey Sarah! LOVE your videos, am learning the recorder for a show right now, and you may have just solved my register issues!!! thanks for being awesome

[@Team_Recorder]

Ah great, you're welcome!

[@everdancing7]

Thanks Sarah, so great, you are....I just play descant and happen to like high notes when I get them right! Your videos help a lot!

[@ziomatthewmusic4205]

Ahhh thus would explain why I have to blow with an open mouth for the D and C and also why I can play the lower range if pachelbel’s canon fine but go up an octave the same notes are all wrong. Great tips.

[@ruthadamson4035]

I've been playing the recorder for 40 years and yet I've learnt so much in the last few months since finding your channel. Thank you Quick question, i recently purchased a, not very expensive, maple wood descant recorder but was having a nightmare playing top b and c (strangely the d and e are ok) but today I accidently discovered covering the end hole works to give a clear strong b and c! Have you ever come across this before?

[@Team_Recorder]

Oh! Yes! Sometimes weird and wonderful fingering combi’s like that do work... If it works for you and isn’t too awkward with the leg coordination, then go for it!

[@boshirley6615]

Thanks for the help! Now I can master high notes like high A or high G#!

[@anneharrison1849]

I don't know why I waited so long to watch this video. My high notes were getting better with practice so I figured I was doing the right kind of thing to get there in the end. Turns out I knew nothing about registers! I was pretty much ok in the second register and haven't played many pieces needing the third register, just one that needed an E flat. I confess I'd literally never managed to hit a note in the 4th register until I watched this. Doing a two octave scale or arpeggio wasn't happening I'd always miss the top F/C, I'm not going to worry about beyond that just yet but having finally managed to hit a note in the 4th register feels good.

[@xiachen1388]

Hey Sarah, YOUR CHANNEL HELP ME LOTS!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Team_Recorder]

😘

[@lpignotti]

Hi Sarah thanks so much. I've been playing the alto for many years. I wonder if there's a way you could film your thumb's movement when you switch from a low register to a high F on the alto. Like having a camera film from below the recorder? What I need to understand is the thumb's movement, apart from its position. Thanks so much for listening.

[@dhamthisara2001]

Great! Thanks for the help given to know the real technique to play high notes.

[@rooktod]

this is so incredibly helpful!!! I recently on a whim bought almost 20 vintage recorders(I was unsupervised with job money and goin' thru it) and now I'm trying to become at least moderately proficient with them! Do you have a preferred recorder to practice with? I find I tend to go for the tenor(my lowest right now) more often than not because it's just so dang pleasant sounding (Vintage wooden Gill) but it doesn't have the baroque double hole as it has a key instead on the bottom, but I also have been experimenting with a couple of alto recorders and many many sopranos.(I lot my train of thought as I was typing this but I hope it makes sense!)

[@davidfplace]

Very good stuff! Thank you, Sarah!

[@oscarcastillo28]

Dumb question. Is there a way where can you attach a slide thingy that could cover the thumb hole so you can precisely control the opening? Like on some coffee mugs with slide lids..Or any way that could control the size of the opening mechanically. Would it make it easier?

[@shaundresmith1656]

Omg that airatream part helped me hit my highnote better thank you so much

[@pineapplepizza8639]

I had no idea there were that many high notes! When we learned recorder, we only learned up to high D.... and didn't learn any sharp or flat notes

[@pineapplepizza8639]

Because we were 8-9 year olds.

[@pineapplepizza8639]

USA. Recorder in 3rd grade, in 4th grade you can start orchestra, band, and choir.

[@samanthahardy9903]

Same when I was at school as well!

[@DNYL_]

Thanks so much!! Honestly that tip on changing up just how much thumb to use saved my life~~ I just could not figure out why I couldn't go beyond G😂

[@bernatmartinez1516]

Very useful and helpful information 🎶 Thank you very much!!!!

[@honeychurchgipsy6]

the exercises you suggest are excellent - thank you!

[@steveparker9361]

Subscriber number 30,000! That's a pretty big stadium full of fans... Great work Sarah, keep it up!

[@Team_Recorder]

Thanks Steve! 😊

[@SharmaYelverton]

Awesome. Thanks for the solid advice.

[@TaibaTamara]

this video helped so much! Thank you!!!

[@eplumer]

Great video as always, Sarah. On my Yamaha YRA-312 alto, I find that at certain head joint extensions, it is impossible for D6 or F6 to speak clearly, no matter what I do with breath or thumb hole adjustment. However, if I push-in or pull-out the head joint by 0.5mm or so, they suddenly come back to life.

[@ingemossel8274]

Wat een goede tips! Bedankt!

[@RudiSchmitt]

Fantastic video again! Thanks a lot!

[@meredith18352]

I struggle with low F more than the higher notes. Not sure if it is a blowing issue or the fact that I find it difficult to reach with my small hands and especially tiny little fingers on my alto. Although I'm not far enough into my recorder journey to venture much higher than F. I have a standard alto (rosewood denner) as well as a modern alto with F foot (pearwood) and am having more issues with F on the modern because the fingering is a bit funkier with a bunch of half-open holes. Still, it has such a warm open sound, I just love playing it. Thanks for the video, I don't think I would have even thought about learning recorder if I didn't find your videos.

[@dorisheart2629]

Thank you very much. this realy healped me.

[@rannie-metalxxx1003]

I really find this useful. Thanks to this. What I need now is a massive long tone practice XD

[@atucker3321]

hi Sarah. I'm a flutist who would like to try playing Handel and Bach sonatas on Alto recorder. Are there any publications that transpose the key, so that I don't have to learn all new fingerings!? (4th down?)

[@pjhirsch]

Excellent! Thank you.

[@BevMattocks]

I'm having real trouble with the high F and G on my Moeck Palisander despite your tips and other tips on the Net. Is thumb nail length to blame? I have a pretty short thumb nail. I'm getting along OK with Bach's Partitia in C minor apart from those 2 confounded notes! They're not too bad on the plastic altos. Aaarrgghhh!

[@andrewcranmer9653]

Great vid. On the exercises you mention between registers, I find doing the same slurred adds a further level of interest (?). The Bousquet Etudes have some good pieces for this.

[@Team_Recorder]

Yes!

[@grandma.p]

Good tips about the thumb position.

[@scalarsailor3769]

Thank you Sarah. Just what I needed to get me over the hurdle on Soprano. BTW I was just thinking the other day, "I wish I could have Sarah Jeffery as my own teacher." And then I realized, "hey, wait a minute, there she is right there in front of me on my computer!" Isn't that awesome?

[@Hert42]

Hi Sarah, please make a video about the advanced recorder range !

[@MisterDavidBell]

Hi Sarah, I went to an early music summer school exactly 2 years ago and that's when I witnessed the true potential of recorders... I have spent the past 2 years since then casually teaching my self to play the descant and treble. I've gotten to a point that I would like to transition to a wooden instrument. However, I am worried as I was encouraged by one of the students at the summer school to use my thumb nail to create a groove in the thumb hole. Is this bad for wooden recorders? And if so is there a way to get out the habit of using my thumb nail? I would hate to invest in a wooden instrument and damage it. Thank you in advance for any advice you may have :)

[@jeo-meso-whasian9565]

I started the recroder a few years ago and stopped and now I want to pcik it up again but Im sturggling to hit the lower notes like low d and c do you have nay tips?

[@Listenerandlearner870]

Hi Sarah your vids are fab and so helpful.

[@emiliakucharska6922]

Hello Sara, I'm your absolute fan 😊. I'd like to ask what do you think about recorder muters, especially one available comercially called sordinella. I enjoy my new recorder hobby very much, but excercising at home IS a problem. Many thanks, Emilia

[@averyhappywoman]

Oh, I SO NEEDED THIS ADVICE!!!!! :) on my descant, I cringe every time the high A and B come up O.o hahahaha