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It’s the time of year to be thinking about when and how you will be teaching soprano recorders to your students. Some teachers use recorders all year long, interspersed with their lessons every day or week. Other teachers use the unit approach, teaching how to play soprano recorders for a certain length of time every year. Choose which way fits your curriculum and teaching style and go for it!

Soprano recorders may be the very first and only real musical instrument your elementary-aged students may ever own. This is mainly because the finger reach to cover the holes on the recorder are small enough for a child’s hand and the price is right for tight budgets. Recorders are a wonderful means to teach music literacy, as the reading of music relates directly to reading of the written word. Reading of musical notation while performing on an instrument or singing is a cross-brain activity which builds brain connections and strengthens neural pathways.

Recorder Sizes

Once the fingering of the soprano recorder is understood, this knowledge may be easily transferred to the different sizes of recorders. Here are the five of them in order from smallest to largest, (click for more information):

They all use the same fingering but are set in two different keys as mentioned above. The lowest note on the soprano recorders and tenor recorders is C and therefore they are in the key of C. This same fingered lowest note in the sopranino, alto, and bass is an F so they are in the key of F.

Generally, for the young beginners, plastic soprano recorders are best as said before, the finger reach isn’t too long and the price is right. Ease of play and consistent tonal quality are two key factors when choosing instruments for your students.

West Music is here to help!

If you need assistance in choosing the right recorders for your classroom or ensemble, give us a call at 800-397-9378 or email us at service@westmusic.com. We’re here to help provide you and your students high-quality instruments at an affordable price.