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About Descant Recorders

Recorders are part of the family of woodwind musical instruments and more specifically in the group referred to as internal duct flutes. These are flutes with a whistle mouthpiece. Recorders usually differ from other duct flutes by the thumb-hole for the upper hand and the seven finger holes.

The recorder made its first appearance during the Middle ages in Europe. After that it continued gaining popularity throughout the Renaissance and Baroque periods. After being widely used for a while, the musical instrument lost its popularity but got revived in the 20th century. Some of the most famous composers who have written for the recorder include Vivaldi, Bach and Monteverdi. The descant recorder, also known as the soprano recorder is one of the smaller ones and usually the one played at the highest voice.

Who should play the Descant Recorder?

As with every instrument, the descant recorder can be played by anyone as long as they have the desire and motivation to learn it. However, due to its relatively small finger spacing it is most often used by children. It is the most common recorder used by teachers to teach music to children in schools.

Although adults can also play the descant recorder, grown ups are usually advised to pick up the alto recorder instead. This is because if you’re an adult your hand span will be able to stretch easily to a treble. Furthermore, the soprano recorder has a very high pitch that can be quite piercing to the ear, especially for a beginner who’s just starting their musical journey.

Should I get a wooden or plastic Descant Recorder?

One of the main decisions every beginner has to make is what type of recorder to buy, a plastic or wooden one. Although buying a wooden one might seem like the obvious choice, it’s still heavily dependent on the quality of both. A high quality plastic instrument will sound much better when compared to a cheap wooden one. Furthermore, you can find good plastic soprano recorders for 3 to 4 times less than what you would pay for a high end wooden one. This is why most teachers would recommend a plastic recorder for most beginners at least until they gain a bit more experience and practise.

Having said all of that, wooden recorders are made from a living breathing material, which makes the sound more vivid and interesting. If money is of no concern, then wood is usually the material of choice for most professionals.

Should I sign up for Descant Recorder lessons?

As with any other instrument, the decision to sign up for private lessons is entirely up to you. Learning alongside an experienced professional is usually the best way to quickly improve, however it’s different for every person.

If you’re looking for private tutoring lessons, then TutorExtra is the place for you. Browse through our website, choose the right tutor for you and contact them instantly.