I bought my daughters recorders today

[NickInMesa]

They are 9 going on 10 and it's time they start learning an instrument.

I got them a Yamaha recorder for $7.50 each, got mine one as well, and today I showed them how to put the fingers on the hole, and already how to play a G and an A

But right now they are just being idiots with them, whistle randomly around the house... Oh well.

I played Yankee Doodle to show them how it's done.

[Lazylion]

When I was in school, we had to play the recorder. Nothing like a roomful of kids honking away on "Hot Cross Buns" with all their might. That music teacher has my sympathies, retroactively!

I'll never forget going home on the bus on the last day of school, and several kids bashing their recorders to splinters on the backs of the seats in front of them. This was 100 years ago, when recorders were made of wood.
Mom: "Honey, where's your recorder?"
Kid: "Mumble mumble".
Mom: "What?"
Kid: "Lost it".

Yeah, lost it out the bus window!

[NickInMesa]

Hohner still makes theirs out of wood, but the whistle part is made of plastic.

I learned music with a recorder, playing simple tunes, learning to sight read, learning how to write/read notes and rhythm.

At least it's a cheap instrument, if they are into it I will upgrade to whatever instrument that THEY pick.

[SelenaBassGirl]

my daughter's music class has started the children on them (my daughter is in the 4th grade). I remember when I took band, they started us on that. That is great cause it teaches them basic music skills to move on to a bigger instrument!

[sound of bass]

When I was in grade school they were called Flute-a-fones, but I still played them. My daughter who is 8 has one, along with the triangle, tambourine, a small play accordian, bongos', tom-toms, hand cymbals, keyboards, even those two round sticks of wood that you bang and slide together. The point is, turning them (kids) onto music is more important than what instrument they choose. I applaud you. SAVE THE MUSIC!!!

[Mr wiggl3s]

Why not start them out on guitars or keyboard man?

http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=78458

[NickInMesa]

Originally Posted by Mr wiggl3s

Why not start them out on guitars or keyboard man?

http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=78458

We have a keyboard already (a Lowrey organ, $5000 when it was released, $25 from someone but free if we picked it up ourselves), as well as guitars, basses (obviously) and now recorders.

The recorder is simple and teaches hand coordination. Unlike the keyboard, where you need to only push one key to get a sound, you need to do a bit more with the recorder.

Once they will be able to play more complex tunes, we'll more to something else and at that time I will ask them what THEY want to play.

[Jon_West]

Only a matter of time...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcp164LBWfQ

[jumbosilverette]

Recorders are cool. A good first step towards a musical education.

[madbassplaya]

very cool man. i bought my niece a recorder when she was 5. she loved playing it. i bought her a bass this past year, and she goes in there and plucks it from time to time.

if she doesn't ever want to play an instrument, that's fine. i just want it to be an option for her. my dad didn't understand the importance of me buying a bass. my dad played piano as a kid and was pretty good at it, but it was never "important" to him.

[J. Crawford]

First song I ever learned in music was Hot Cross Buns.. Awh, memories!

[distortedbass93]

Recorders are awesome for begginer instruments, but there just too annoying, especially when you have 20 kids in a classroom playing them badly.

[NickInMesa]

Originally Posted by distortedbass93

Recorders are awesome for begginer instruments, but there just too annoying, especially when you have 20 kids in a classroom playing them badly.

Yup that's why my music class was in prefabs outside the main HS building.

[Spinal Tapper]

Hot crossed buns! I used to chew on the end of mine