Recorder Grade 3 vlog: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Hi, I'm Lauren, I started teaching myself to play the recorder (with no prior musical knowledge!) in September 2020. Since then, i've been working my way through Trinity College London's digital grade exams for classical recorder, filming it for this vlog series along the way.
I'm currently working on grade 3. Tchaikovsky's 'Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy' from The Nutcracker suite, is the second of three pieces i'll be playing for the exam. If I've remembered to add them (and there's every chance I haven't) then the full Grades Vlog series so far should be in a playlist linked at the end of this video... ta for watching :)
The recorder is a Mollenhauer Denner soprano in pear wood.
The book I'm playing from is here: (this book has an array of short pieces, from tv themes to classical, perfect for practice! It is on Trinity College London's syllabus for grade 3 classical recorder digital exam for the Tchaikovsky piece).
amzn.to/3KtCBmd
(This is an Amazon Affiliate link. I may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase the book. It all helps to support the channel!)
Find me on Instagram: @claythorpemusic

[@gaynorandrews1684]

You are 1 recorder. Simple version of an orchestral piece. The notes are stipple. I would say yes. Play it. It is part of the journey. Possibly a little faster? But that's not to be critical. I saw nothing wrong. You played it lovely. You are working really hard to learn these and have inspired me to get my new recorder and start learning again. Thank you for your posts I really appreciate hearing and seeing your progress.

[@ClaythorpeMusic]

Thank you for the encouragement! I think it would sound better a little faster too, but I try to stick to the pace dictated by the CD backing track. Hope your recorder-ing is going well 🙂

[@gaynorandrews1684]

@@ClaythorpeMusic 3 weeks in to recorder playing. I'm enjoying learning the scales. But there's no hope of reaching my top A. But omg I am sight reading basic music and songs and know most of my fingerings now. Making sure I learn to walk before I learn to run. Had another question though if that's ok. Why did you choose Trinity College? I'm thinking it might be fun to aim for grades to help me improve. Not sure what's out there and how much it all costs at mo. Looking forward to your next vlog. (Wonder how that wooden one would sound in a cave?)

[@anthonyh3117]

I enjoyed your playing. All the criticisms you mentioned afterwards hadn't occurred to me during the piece! I think the frowning portrait on the wall got to you! I hope your examiner doesn't look the same!! Good luck with the exam!

[@ClaythorpeMusic]

Haha, yup, I blame it all on the ghost of Tchaikovsky looking over my shoulder! And thank you 🙂

[@loztheviolinist]

Hi Lauren. I get taught the flute using the method of ‘building blocks’. Work on the notes and the finger placements first, once they are more or less there then you can start to to work on the dynamics and articulation. My flute teacher loves teaching by this method, as it breaks it down into smaller chunks which makes it easier for the brain to process. Also, I like to practice in smaller chunks for the reason, especially with any tricky that won’t flow straight away. It’s all part of the learning process, and I’m pretty sure that you’ll ace your Grade 3 Trinity Recorder exam xx

[@ClaythorpeMusic]

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it! It makes sense to think of it in this way. I think I always aim to start out with just notes and finger placement… and then rush into everything else too soon! I’ll try to bear it in mind 🙂

[@davidm1922]

I laughed out loud when you said "you wouldn't listen to it for fun, would you?" I feel that way anytime I play a part without the backing track.

[@lucindayu2541]

Thanks

[@flumpaustin1994]

I like it!!! I bet I'd like it even more with the backing track.

[@ClaythorpeMusic]

It is better with the backing track, I must admit!

[@03Venture]

That’s awesome, period!

[@ClaythorpeMusic]

Thanks 😊

[@victoryinhim9689]

Well done 👍🏼🌼💐🌹🍂🍁🌺🌷🌸💮🏵️🌻

[@ClaythorpeMusic]

Thanks 😊 🙏

[@535Salomon]

A pretty cool piece:-)

[@ClaythorpeMusic]

Good old Tchaikovsky!!!

[@Grosvdywywa]

Sounds great to me

[@ClaythorpeMusic]

🙂 thank you!

[@joehowden7885]

I often play different ways or my variation on piano some work some don’t but you live and learn so do not beat your self up to much keep experimenting dad.

[@ClaythorpeMusic]

All part of the fun!

[@moonloversheila8238]

I’m no musician (though I did learn the recorder in another life - ha!) but as you were playing I was saying to myself “that’s very staccato!” I agree the piece doesn’t seem a very good fit for the recorder. Maybe it sounds better with the backing track? When is your exam? Good luck with your practising!

[@ClaythorpeMusic]

It is helped out a bit by the backing track, and it is, weirdly, nice to physically play, but I don’t think it will ever be my favourite to listen to on recorder! I do the digital grade exam entries, so I can just book it and send the video off whenever I feel ready… no deadlines! 😅

[@thomasnguyen6144]

It’s actually good. I think it would sound good with the tenor recorder doing the harmony.

[@ClaythorpeMusic]

I have been having a little think about harmonies for it… whether I’ll ever get round to doing anything with them is another matter!

[@sarja_myrsky]

I think it does sound pretty basic with the staccato only, but yet it made me feel like I'd like to play it at some point in my life, not sure yet on which instrument. So at least your playing managed to convey the beauty of it, even if in adapted form? It's probably not possible for the exam, but I like mixing all my beginner-learned techniques in the pieces I memorized. I've been having a lot of fun adding various degrees of legato to La Volta by W. Byrd (and a few other pieces from The Method by Mario Duschenes). The first time I learned it, it sounded very beginnery because I just played it note by note, but I feel the sound is getting better as I experiment with new techniques... or at least I enjoy it more now. 🤷‍♀

[@sarja_myrsky]

How did you choose between Trinity and ABRSM exams? I'm learning the recorder as an adult too, and now at the stage of choosing the exam system to follow. 😅

[@Grosvdywywa]

maybe you have some nice websites or apps with flute lessons. I used to have a nice application where the lessons were organized in a great coherence from the easiest ones, but I don't have it anymore and without the lessons arranged right, I don't know what to do, you will advise something