THE FAMILY OF RECORDERS: Scott Reiss
back to Educational Programs

Goals: To introduce the recorder, explain how it works, and place it in historic and modern context

Length: 35 minutes (K-3, 4-6); 45 minutes (6-8, 9-12)

Structure:

I. Introduction

Play a medieval dance; the recorder is a flute, but a special kind.

II. How does the recorder work?

Our normal flute these days works like blowing across a bottle (play the bottle). The recorder is a fipple flute, a whistle; it’s voice works like this (blow a whistle).

III. The family of recorders

We all live in families; the recorder has a family too. Different members of our families are different sizes. Play each recorder in turn, from smallest to largest, comparing to members of the family. Note how the bigger the recorder, the lower the sound.

IV. Recorders and acoustics

Explain why the bigger recorders are lower: longer sound waves make lower sounds.

V. Questions