The Recorder Wind | Woodwind | Aerophone I was about eight years old when I first picked up a recorder. I had all the recorders from the little garklein to the big bass. I had a really enthusiastic music teacher at my school, and we played recorder ensembles most lunch times, swapping between parts. I loved it because I could play together with my friends and play theme tunes that I heard from the TV. ​ The humble recorder is the oldest member of the woodwind family; from the middle ages to the 21st century it is simple, makes a lovely, timeless sound, a great instrument to start with or play all the way to Grade 8 and beyond. Listen to the Recorder Notable pieces that feature the Recorder: ​ Antonio Vivaldi - Recorder Concerto in C Major, RV 443 Paul Hindemith - Recorder Trio from Plöner Musiktag Steven Stucky - Etudes: No. 1, “Scales” Luciano Berio - Gesti for Alto Recorder Chen Yi - The Dancing Ink from The Ancient Chinese Beauty Richard Harvey - "Sortilegio” from Concerto Incantato Roberto Sierra - Perpetual Motion from Prelude, Habanera, and Perpetual Motion. If you are thinking about learning to play an instrument, or you’ve decided, but aren’t sure which one, let me help you choose. We can chat, and you can have a go at different instruments, to see which one would suit you best. If you leave your email, or ask your mum and dad to, I will get back to you, or your parents, with more information. Back to Woodwind Section

The Clarinet Wind | Woodwind | Single Reed Aerophone I moved on to the Clarinet from the Recorder. It was a new challenge, a single reed to deal with and different fingerings. Based on its predecessor the Chalumeau, the Clarinet is generally accepted to have been invented by Johann Christoph Denner in the early 1700s. ​ The Clarinet has a mellow, woody sound, very different to the recorder. Learning to play the Clarinet gave me the opportunity to play in the beginner band at school. I made new friends and had a great experience. ​ A favourite of classical composers, with many concertos to choose from. The Clarinet is also a key player in Big Band and of course Jazz. A single reed aerophone, the B♭ soprano clarinet and A soprano clarinet are the most popular. Listen to the Clarinet Notable pieces that feature the Clarinet: ​ Aaron Copland - Clarinet Concerto Carl Maria von Weber - Clarinet Concerto No. 2 Johannes Brahms - Clarinet Sonata No. 2 in E flat Leonard Bernstein - Sonata for Clarinet & Piano George Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue Claude Debussy - Premiere Rhapsodie Malcolm Arnold - Sonatina for Clarinet and Piano Gerald Finzi - Clarinet Concerto Dmitri Shostakovich - Symphony No. 5 Francis Poulenc - Sonata for Clarinet &Piano ​ Back to Woodwind Section If you are thinking about learning to play an instrument, or you’ve decided, but aren’t sure which one, let me help you choose. We can chat, and you can have a go at different instruments, to see which one would suit you best. If you leave your email, or ask your mum and dad to, I will get back to you, or your parents, with more information.