Currently, I am trying to master O Canada on the recorder, and did not realize that it would be as challenging as it is for me! That being said, I am really trying to focus on the consistent practice instead of mastery. That way, I can begin to see my small improvements and keep up to pace with my Musical Growth Plan.

One of the difficult parts of the recorder if maintaining proper fingering, pressure, and breath, to avoid the squeaks! I wanted to look into tips and tricks to help get a smooth and pleasant sound when playing, and was surprised just how helpful they were! So of the tips that helped me most were as follows:

  • Avoid “overblowing” – too much breath and pressure can make the recorder sound squeaky. You have to practice being gentle enough to avoid this, but still, have enough breath to produce a clear sound. A trick that was advised is to act as though you are blowing a bubble but don’t want to pop it! This was a really great visual for myself, and also solidified the importance of using language like this in my future classrooms.
  • Proper hand placement – I have learned that this is extremely important to the sound you will get out of the recorder. You need to make sure that your hands are properly placed (right hand on the bottom) in order to get a clear sound. This is because your fingers need to be completely covering the holes. In order to do so, you must make sure you are applying light and gentle pressure to play the notes properly, but aren’t applying to much pressure to hurt your fingers and make transitions difficult.
  • Positive energy! – this for me was a must when playing. As I have listed in my blogs previously, this journey has been difficult for me! Once I started to look at it as a fun activity rather than homework, I found that I could pick up the recorder for a few minutes here and there without as much anxiety. My work and school schedule make me a very busy person and it is easy for me to get overwhelmed. When I allow myself to relax and focus on the positives, I am grounded back to the commitment I have made to school to better my future no matter how difficult it may be at times. It often helps to envision myself as a teacher using these tools and I know that have basic skills on the recorder will help me. Not only could I bring songs into the classroom, but it will also allow for another platform to bond with students on as they are practicing an instrument that I am familiar with.

Thank you Anita for your patience and the opportunities you have given me in class!