Recorder Fun! Teach Yourself the Easy Way!

I always wanted to learn how to play an instrument, so on a whim I ordered a Yahmaha soprano recorder and this book. Before ordering these, I couldn't read a note of music - I am so amazed at how quickly I was playing songs! The way the book teaches you is idiot proof. It shows you the note on the staff; then it shows you where to put your fingers on the recorder to make that note. With each new note you learn, the book gives you a song or two to practice those notes. Some of the songs are really catchy, and the CD that comes with it is fun to play along with. I can't recommend this highly enough. My ONLY complaint is that the format used for the music is what I would call "dummy notes" - the body of the note is very BIG, with the name of the note (c, e, f) printed inside it. So that's awesome when you're zipping along in this book; but it makes it harder when you try to play something else that is printed like normal music and doesn't have the dummy notes.

This book got me hooked on playing recorder as an adult. I initially bought it for a child (age 7), but it moved much too quickly for her. It's a great book for an adult or older child to get started with though. No prior musical experience is assumed and technique and musical notation is explained clearly. There is a nice selection of familiar songs which are really enjoyable to play right away. The companion CD is a good addition - it's so helpful at the beginning to be able to hear a model of how to play, and to practice along with some accompaniment. All of the songs in the book are on the CD, not just a limited selection. Songs include nursery rhymes, well-known folk songs, some Celtic tunes, and Christmas Carols. There are no boring technical exercises, or awful "tunes" written expressly for pedagogical purposes.My one complaint about the book is that in the second half it really starts to move too fast. The book introduces the lower octave of notes plus a couple notes into the higher octave and a small collection of sharps and flats. A variety of complicated rhythms are also introduced. But there are only 40 songs. There is often only one song to practice a new note or musical concept. At some point I felt as if I was being whipped through the material much too fast, and really wanted to slow down and practice what I had learned more. Still, you can start with this book, and then transition to a more thorough course if you decide to stick with it.

I am teaching a 9 1/2 year old beginner from this book, and it is working out very well. The lessons are presented clearly, there is a good variety of songs, and the feature of listening to the songs online is a real plus. I am a lot older than 9 and I am having a lot of fun with it, too!

My 10-year-old grandson had a cheap soprano recorder that he was given for a music introduction class a couple of years ago. He no longer uses it, so I thought that I would learn to play it. I do a lot of camping and I love the sound of the flute when I'm in a forested area. I ordered "Recorder Fun" via mail, and I downloaded "It's Recorder Time" to my Kindle. The latter has an online website so that I can hear what the melodies are supposed to sound like. I haven't used it yet - but I will, and I'll post a review.With "Recorder Fun," I already knew the tunes. Within a day I was playing "Mary Had A Little Lamb," which believe it or not consists of six notes and quite a bit of fingering. Now I'm 66 years old. I've never played an instrument. "Recorder Fun" builds skill level from one basic lesson to the next, one note, one concept at a time. I go at my own pace, practice more difficult notes a little longer and zoom past less difficult ones.I have a little bit of arthritis in my thumbs and carpal tunnel in my wrists. So, the difficulty for me is mostly about positioning my fingers regardless of the rigidity that has set in. Of course, when I feel a little pain from all of the flexing, it helps that I'm motivated to learn.Hope you have as much fun as I am learning to make music!!

When I purchased this book, I also purchased the book titled, "It's Recorder Time!". I like both books for different reasons. That book shows music exactly as it would appear in other actual sheet music that one would use to perform with. This book shows the name of the notes on each individual note, which helps one to memorize them. That book shows the picture of the recorder from the top to the bottom, and this book shows the picture of the recorder from bottom to top. Each book contains different songs from the other (which is nice), and each book contains songs with only the notes that have been learned up to that point (which again, is great). Both books also contain lyrics, where appropriate, which are nice for those who want to do duets, trios, etc. That book also gives a 1 page illustration and descriptions of the entire family of recorders, which this book does not offer. This book does also come with a CD that properly demonstrates how all of the songs in the book should be played, which is a wonderful bonus for those who plan to play the recorder as more than a hobby. Overall I am happy that I decided to purchase both books together. It seems that what one book leaves out, the other one includes - which is why I recommend purchasing both books together.

I found a school recorder that I may have used about 40 years ago. I just got this book today and already I can play a bunch of tunes that I like. The online music files show what it should sound like. Great value for the price!!

The book arrived promptly as I knew it would. The instructions are a little more difficult to follow than I imagined. I need to sit and have a proper go, rather than glance through the instructions. I used to play the recorder quite well many years ago and thought it would be a lot easier to just to pick it up again - wrong!

Good way to learn .......recorders have beautiful sounds.....and anyone can learn to play one of several recorder models/types available. Recorder bands and ensembles are fun as well as playing solo...!!!!

This was my first experience with Amazon.ca - I was so thoroughly impressed, with the expediency of delivery and the product. I am so enjoying teaching myself with the recorder and the self-teaching book - it is so easy and so helps me to pass away the blah days of winter.

Very user friendly. Great beginner book. Excellent quality paper; easy to read font size and font style. Starts off simple and progresses with an easy step-by-step format. Very easy and fun to learn the recorder with this book.