Solving the MOST COMMON RECORDER PROBLEMS | Team Recorder Q&A

[@JulieAiken]

Thank you so much for including us second class plastic citizens! I've learned a lot from you, and eventually will have a wooden recorder, but in the meantime your tips are priceless. (The warm vs. cold air one is a revelation!)

[@KKIcons]

👍👋did you watch the one with cheap recorders and best plastic ones? Hearing her get such a great sound out of the plastic Yamaha and talk about its good points, like nailing pitches easily and having some easier notes which let you play faster, made me a little less ashamed lol. I bought an aulos plastic tenor, and it is fun! But the pink plastic is still my go to, so I want to upgrade to a better plastic. Can't decide between Yamaha and Aulos.

[@robertnoblitt518]

@@KKIcons My favorite plastic recorder is a Yamaha Ecodear soprano. It sounds better and is easier to play.

[@anna.g]

The Time Guru app is handy for practising maintaining a steady pulse. It’s essentially a metronome that plays a click track for the beat. You can set it to ‘drop’ beats, meaning that can’t hear the click track for a bit, so you have to be able to keep tapping your own steady pulse. Then it brings the click track back in, and you get to find out whether you’re still in time with the metronome. Not as good as being able to listen to real live musicians in an ensemble, of course, but still a handy way to practice.

[@austinhackney3906]

Thank you for sharing that, Anna. 😃

[@renateburns8840]

Thankyou. Just bought an alto and condensation happened very soon so now I know what to do!!

[@cathy7382]

Thank you Sarah for your videos I've learned a lot from you and I'm not a beginner to the recorder there are so many possibilities that I wasn't aware of You are a joy too with your chatty cheerful manner I always look forward to learning more about this wonderful instrument

[@idraote]

""angelic angels angeling"" was fun 😄

[@ingle_fusion]

Love your sense of humor!!! Also, had NO IDEA why you'd warm-up a wind instrument, just that you were supposed to do it. Now I know!! You rock!

[@Team_Recorder]

Hoorah!

[@alancantor9437]

About warbles or burbles or wolf notes: It may be a voicing issue. Many (perhaps most) recorders more than about 30 years old had a burbling note, usually low-D (C instruments) and low-G (F instruments). I believe it was Adrian Brown who figured out how to modify the geometry of the bore to minimize or eliminate burbles. His discovery was adapted by other makers. Today's instruments are less likely to have a wolf note. But burbles still happen. One instrument I own was burble-free until the installation of a thumb bushing. Microscopic changes in the shape of the bore can profoundly influence an instrument's responsiveness, tuning, and sound quality. I've had instruments that burbled a little less after a revoicing. Perhaps the most realistic ways to deal with burbles is to embrace them as a characteristic of our quirky instruments, and/or to adapt one's playing style, as Sarah suggested: blow cold or warm, blow harder or softer, hold the instrument straighter or at an angle, find an articulation that best disguises the bothersome burbling note, etc. This approach aligns with what we recorder players do all the time: we contentedly strive to find solutions and work-around to the idiosyncrasies of an instrument that is based on 300-year-old designs.

[@suedetweiler2075]

Hi Sarah! I LOVE your videos. I have a flute performance degree but a torn rotator cuff and surgery has convinced me to become a recorder player. I am loving ALMOST every moment of playing the recorder . Those high notes……. Hmmm. Can’t hit a high G# on my new Mullenhauer soprano recorder to save my life. Can go higher…but can’t hit the G#. What? My real question of the day is: What is the correct water/ dish washing liquid combo that I should use to help with the condensation. Don’t want to damage anything with too much dish soap. Thanks!

[@mantistoboggan2676]

My recorder problem/question would be your advice on how an amateur player can best spend their time to take their playing to the next level? Going from being able to play and sight read easy pieces to being able to play advanced repertoire seems daunting. Especially the faster notes. Thanks, Sarah!

[@GeorgeGeorgalis]

Thanks so much for sharing! I have an 'experimental' transverse flute, it has 6 holes, sold as an American fife, in the range of an Irish whistle. I've connected a PVC tube to the foot, with cork in end. Given the normal dimension, the extension doubles the interior chamber. Great for practicing whistle tones, and with all the holes closed it only whistles. I was playing it today and discovered an interesting note, with only the second hole open, it's like the wolf tone you demonstrated, a tremolo sound, and there is an unmistakable quality of a wave front traveling from end to end of the tube about 4 to 6 times per second...

[@austinhackney3906]

Helpful as ever. I wonder sometimes that folks vastly underestimate the hours, days, weeks, months, and years of practice needed to consistently make clear, tuneful music. And the breaks that let the unconscious do its magic and to consolidate muscle memory. As I'm not "naturally musical" all my baby-step progress is hard won through steady hours of practice. For me, it's the only available route to anything that sounds like a tune! If you read this, Sarah, could you do a video about rhythm at some point (or sign post me to that video if it already exists)? I find I'll get the notated rhythm mechanically right from the sheet music, and then I'll listen to a professional recording and think, "Oh, but that has such bounce, or flow, or subtlety in the rhythm -- why is mine so mechanical sounding?" I don't know if that makes sense or anyone else can relate? 🌈😄

[@Team_Recorder]

Hi Austin! I haven’t done a video solely on rhythm yet, but I did one on practising with a metronome, that addresses a lot of ways to approach rhythm and pulse. Hope that helps!

[@austinhackney3906]

@@Team_Recorder Thank you! The metronome video is incredibly insightful and useful. And for anyone else reading this, it goes way beyond metronomes and explains the difference and relationship between beat/pulse/rhythm/musicality. Fantastic stuff! You can find it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWWuhZyEospjr7Octtps://kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWWuhZyEospjr7M

[@charliefowkes1932]

Brilliant helpful episode 👍🏻🥰

[@TheCatGoesRawrMusik]

Oh god! Thank you so much! I was struggling with making the high notes clean so much! Also yeah condensation is hell currently.... I usually play in a poorly heated Curch... it is hell

[@Team_Recorder]

Ooh yes that's tough!

[@FB-no4lr]

Hi Sarah. Worbles are interesting for sure! I've never studied this, but I did used to be a string player and I have a degree in astrophysics 😆 Educated guess: What it sounds like to me is that possibly there's a conflict between the frequency at which the recorder wants to resonate (some innate harmonic resonance property having to do with material and its density, bore size/shape, etc) and the note you're playing. If the note you're playing is close enough to excite this resonance, but it doesn't exactly match the note you're playing, you'll end up with two standing waves inside the instrument with slightly different frequencies. Think of it like multiphonics with two pitches that are ever so slightly different. I think what I'm saying is inline with what Bardo Flutes is talking about as well. Edit: Now that I think about it, it could be a resonance close to an octave above the note you're playing which is why your "cold air" makes it more prounounced as you excite those higher frequency components... Solid physics: When you add waves together, and they're not exact integer multples of each other, you'll get some points where the waves want to cancel each other out and some points where they add together to make a bigger wave. It's actually the same phenomenon that I think you demonstrated in one of your videos where you can play two recorders on some sort of interval and you'll actually hear a 3rd note sounding. That's the interference between the waves creating a sort of "virtual" third wave. When the waves are very close in pitch, that can give a slow rumbling effect from the cancellations. Having spent 20 years on the viola, I can say that playing the same pitch at the same time on 2 different strings, if not perfectly in tune, sounds exactly like your recorder worble! For orchestral string instruments with a wolftone, it's usually some resonance between the note on the string and a sympathetic resonance on the other side of the bridge where the string goes to the tailpiece. They sell wolftone eliminators which are basically a small mass that you clamp onto the string below the bridge to dampen the sympathetic vibration. As to what you can DO about it... if it is a resonance having to do with the instrument body itself, adding mass to the body might change it. Not sure how that could be done in practice on a recorder though. You'd need to clamp something rigid onto the body (probably toward the bottom where the instrument is more free to vibrate) which sounds like it could hurt the recorder if not done carefully. Anyway, I should stop rambling because most of this depends on a hypothesis I have no way to test 😆

[@luckybarrel7829]

Short and sweet, thx, learned some new things like wolf tone

[@saulzetina766]

Thanks for video!

[@pedrohbrinck]

I love your Q and As!!!

[@Tvianne]

Am I the only one that likes the wolf tone? (lovely as always, Sarah)

[@scathatch]

I liked it! It's another interesting sound that can be extracted from the instrument. Would be great to have control over to wolf or not to wolf....

[@Tvianne]

@@scathatch but wolves are wild 😏

[@mantistoboggan2676]

Playing traverso actually helped me a lot with my airstream and hitting high notes! I think the lack of embouchure on recorder can make the airstream thing more elusive.

[@drekfletch]

For the Wolf Tones, I wonder if the physical characteristics (air temp, resting cylinder deformation) create something like a tubular chladni plate. Oscillating just enough to function as a very fast vibrato that creates super/sub-harmonics.

[@Michajeru]

I used to get wolf notes on my guitar when I played a G note on the open G string. A luthier explained to me that the body resonance of the guitar is around F sharp and because the note G is close to F sharp they can interfere with each other unless the guitar is set up properly. I probably didn't explain this correctly, but that is how I understood the luthier. I have no idea how this information could apply to a recorder. However I suspect it has something to do with competing resonances.

[@ГеоргийКондратов-п8с]

Cool, Sarah

[@bardoflutes]

Hello Sara, About the warble, I build Native American style flutes and the warble was an effect that in certain tribes was very wanted even so that if a flute didn't have a warble it was not regarded as a flute. For building a warbler there are some 'rules' I follow to get one but it also has to do with a bit of 'luck'. In my experience of building flutes it is not related to one thing but depends on many factors. like shape of wind way, soundhole, chimney, ratio between bore and length. The recorder you play has an unstable warble but they can be built so it becomes stable. I'll ad a link to a video where I play one. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYi7fqSHfdembJY Here's a link to the Belo Cozad memory song. Belo Cozad was an American Indian who built and played flutes and composed this song, there is a recording of Belo Cozad saying he got the song from a boy who got it from Spirit and had to share this to benefit all mankind... kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6CYd5aMosuJmJo I have some other recordings and know there are recordings from the 19th century of Natives playing As for the scientific explanation I have searched for it to and to my knowing there are a couple of theories about it but the scientific world doesn't seem to come to a real conclusion... I know a whole lot more about this but I would be typing until tomorrow...

[@KKIcons]

Wouldn't it be nice if she could do a collab or an episode about Native flutes in general? I'd really like to learn more about them and that style too.

[@bardoflutes]

@@KKIcons Maybe that's a possibility... if I'm not mistaken Sara lives somewhere in the Netherlands and I'm a nomad spending allot of my time in the Netherlands... ;) hihi

[@Team_Recorder]

I’m on it! Collabs just tend to take a long time to plan…

[@bardoflutes]

@@Team_Recorder I'd love to share my knowledge if you're interested Sarah. Or are you already planning a collab with someone on this topic?

[@mattdp846]

I am a new follower enjoying your content.

[@dncosta0101]

I love your videos, I practice my English and I still learn a lot about the flute. I bought my first one these days, a baroque soprano and alto and also a tin whistle. Now I just need to practice music theory but I can already play some things by ear.

[@sessility]

Does armpit warming of plastic recorders make a difference?

[@Team_Recorder]

Yes!

[@nekokna]

Its kinda helps with ocarinas too, i notice a difference if its cold vs more warm before playing

[@Clarionetist]

High F (on alto) becomes easy after practicing it 1000s of times, so practicing is the key. Also, I find that the best thumb position always involves the thumbnail touching the side of the hole.

[@massmanute]

How about addressing intonation changes when playing loud/soft?

[@steeverock7672]

do you have any tips for warming up tenor recorder ? It's not as easy as the soprano in the armpit

[@hilkestock6216]

Could you please explain what you mean with blowing warm or cold air?

[@seamusmcquaid1316]

should you do a warm up with a plastic recorder?

[@Team_Recorder]

Yes warm it up too! Plastic recorder can get really stuck with condensation.

[@mantistoboggan2676]

@@michelmaureli cant imagine being this pretentious. All my plastic instruments sound wonderful and warm and are easy to play.

[@mantistoboggan2676]

@@michelmaurel maybe youre just a poor player like you say. I have wood and plastic and love both. Plastic recorders can be very high quality. Ask any pro. I recently bought a plastic low whistle it sounds great you can hear it on my channel.

[@benday8507]

Surely the wobble is some kind of eddy current?

[@anchorskid]

Moist is a weird word, but it's one of my favorites in French. Mouillé. Mooeeyay! In Spanish, I like albóndigas. ahl-BON-dee-gahs meaning "meatballs." Cool. In English, I like lithe. Thanks for the tips. I recently got a Yamaha tenor and am finding it wets out faster that my Aulos tenor. (harder to reach the fingerholes on the Yamaha, too) I don't know why it seems to wet out faster, but I'll take your advice.

[@Jesuswinsbirdofmichigan]

My "Robin"/211 Aulos-Tenor should arrive by New-Years! Let the work begin.

[@KKIcons]

Ok my problem is the little squeak when trilling or changing from b'' c". Hope I got the notation right? With the thumb pressed all the way behind the recorder? It's a plastic Yamaha so maybe it's a plastic Yamaha problem?

[@robertnoblitt518]

It's not a plastic Yamaha problem. When slurring between middle C and B with a soprano or tenor recorder, use the alternate fingering for B: Cover the thumb hole and use your left fingers 2 and 3, not finger 1.

[@carudatta]

I also find that the more I practice, the less condensation troubles I have. I play a longish and rather tricky piece for the first time, I get stuck after six or eight bars because the recorder is full of water; I know the piece well, I can play it twice without condensation getting in the way. 'Tis a mystery.

[@owensmith7530]

How do you blow with warm or cold air? It all comes out of your lungs so it will all be at the same temperature surely?

[@mantistoboggan2676]

Its physics, PV=NRT. Smaller Volume makes smaller Temperature. The smaller the hole is you let air out if the colder the air is. If you open your moth big when blowing the air is warmer.

[@Team_Recorder]

‘warm’ and ‘cold’ is a bit if an easier way to describe what I actually mean: ‘slow’ and ‘fast’ air. Slow/fast is more abstract, so I find asking a students to blow warm/cold air on their palm works well, as you can actually feel the difference.

[@johnroberts262]

I have played the recorder for many years but find practicing is a problem due to the piercing sound of the descant. I have tried everything but nothing seems to really work. I have recently bought an electric Roland Aerophone AE-O1 which you can play using headphones so no sound at all. However, the shape differs from a traditional recorder but to date ,it is the best substitute I can find. Is there any electronic recorder on the market yet with a headphone facility?

[@robertnoblitt518]

John Roberts: You might be interested in the Mollenhauer Elody, but it's rather expensive. In my experience, wooden descant recorders are not as piercing as plastic ones. Try a Mollenhauer Denner in pearwood.

[@WombatSlug]

I’m not sure if I understand how to blow cold vs warm air. Is it a mouth position, or duration of keeping air in your mouth before blowing?

[@Team_Recorder]

Try it on your hand first - blow warm air like misting up a window, then cold air on your palm. Feel it first! Then blow that same way into the recorder.

[@mquietsch6736]

@@Team_RecorderOh, so it would mean a more focused air stream with a narrowed inside of the mouth counts as cold, and a more diffused air stream with a yawning mouth counts as warm?

[@capnspicy5565]

Oh wow... Not sure why I even clicked on this video, But... Surely that can't be a recorder, such a deep warm voice, My god, it's sexy, Until right now, they have all sounded like a screaming child needing attention, I have memories of the headaches mine gave me, I always solved my recorder issues by smashing them and replacing them with a proper flute, However, I may take a closer look at this bass option.

[@victotronics]

In Native American Flutes it is actually called a "warble" an it's considered desirable. People buy a flute because it has a such a great warble....

[@enaphaid5213]

How are you sharing your time between all the recorders and your life ? Because I play the piano,sing, alto,soprano, tenor recorders, violon ...All my time is for music ^^ !

[@jenovarihangszer]

Hi Sarah! I would be delighted to talk to you about wolf tones. I am no expert, but I have some thoughts. Can I get in touch with you somehow? Adam

[@Team_Recorder]

Send me a mail at [e-mail]! ☀️

[@mantistoboggan2676]

Ive just come to terms with sucking up my own spit.

[@rockstarjazzcat]

👍🏼

[@Dparrey]

I didn't know that Recorders had wolf tones! For cello its a very regular problem. It's likely very simplified, but I found Krentz explanation to be very helpful. kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2a8q6F5hc-tkK8

[@Team_Recorder]

Thank you!!

[@MyMy-tv7fd]

I hereby propose that 'wolf tone' be renamed 'digereedooing'

[@anAeijingBuffoon]

Have you heard the recorder on this soundtrack? kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGKQYZynoNxgfMU I never heard the recorder sound so good.

[@lperson8970]

I liked your polished fingernails.

[@Fretfeeler]

First 👽

[@denkeylee]

Brush your teeth and rinse well before playing your Recorder. I didn't and found half a pepperoni slice inside.