Learning the recorder is a fantastic opportunity for all children to participate in group music making and to gain an greater understanding of pitch and rhythm.  It is a great way to lay foundations for all sorts of orchestral instruments, particularly those in the woodwind family.  Those children who have started by learning the recorder when they are very young, often progress on the larger instruments much more quickly.

In DASP, we encourage all first schools to provide opportunities for learning the recorder.  Several schools have a policy of teaching whole-class recorder sessions to everyone in year 3.  Schools which wish to follow this route, can access support and training from the DASP Music Coordinator if they so wish.  Most first schools offer a recorder club at lunchtime or after school in which they can learn the instrument.  For those that wish, there is always the chance to take part in the DASP Recorder Ensemble and perform in the DASP Christmas and Summer concerts.  Find out what recorder opportunities are on offer at your school!

Piers Adams - Recorder Virtuoso

Piers Adams is a British recorder virtuoso.  Here are two videos of him playing two different pieces - Vivaldi's Summer from the Four Seasons (played on descant recorder), and Vivaldi's The Nightmare (played on alto recorder).