Intro to Recorder Karate
Recorder Care• Label your recorder & case with a permanent
marker
• After playing wipe the inside of your recorder with a pipe cleaner. This will keep disgusting things from growing inside
• You can wash your recorder in the dishwasher or warm soapy water, once in a while. Make sure you take your belts off first!
• Keep your recorder in your case when you are not playing it.
Holding the Recorder• Left Hand (LH) on top
– Thumb covers hole on back– Fingers cover top 3 holes– Never use pinkie
• Right Hand (RH) on bottom– Thumb on back to balance– Fingers cover bottom four holes
• Cover holes completely with pads of fingers
• Fingers slightly curved• Hold recorder at 45o angle
(toward knees)
Placing in Mouth• Mouthpiece on
bottom lip in front of bottom teeth
– don’t bite on it!
• Only tip in mouth• Press down gently
with upper lip– (“mmmm”)
• Breathe through nose– Do not open & close
mouth as you play
Blowing into the Mouthpiece
• Softly, steady air stream, not too hard
• Blow like steaming up a car window, with no sound
• Direct air straight out, not down
Tonguing or “Articulation”
• Tongue is valve that stops and releases air
– Tongue touches roof of mouth to stop air
– Tongue releases down to let air out
• Like saying the word “tu”• Play notes with and without
tonguing to discover difference
Squeaks
• Squeaks are caused by 2 things– Blowing too hard (steamy
window trick)– Leaks (check for circles on
pads of fingers)
B
A
G
Repeat What I Play
Phrase 1
Phrase 2
Phrase 3
Phrase 4
The Whole Song
Links for Help
• Recorder Karate Dojo– http://www.musick8.com/rkdojo/rkdojo.php
• Fingering Chart– http://www.musick8.com/rkdojo/rkchart.php
• Streaming Audio– http://www.musick8.com/rkdojo/rksounds.php– Username is “karate.” See Mrs. White for the
password.