RECORDER

COURSE
for beginners
New Apostolic Church Southern Africa
 Foreword
The Recorder Course for beginners has been designed to provide a starting point for those
who show a keen interest in learning to play the descant recorder.

This course enables the learner to play the recorder with the left hand only, and covers the
notes G, A, B, C and D. The course also addresses the fundamentals of music such as rhythm
and pitch in the most simplistic manner.

The five rhythms are taa, taa-tay, taa-aa, taa-aa-aa and saa. At the conclusion of this course,
learners should be able to clap any rhythmic pattern consisting of the aforementioned rhythms
with great ease.

The five pitches are doh, ray, me, fah and soh. The pitch exercises will enable the learner to
sing any melody based on these pitches.

All music notation of this course is available on the audio disc to provide the learner with ac-
companiments as support material.

At the conclusion of this course, the learner should be able to play the prescribed hymns with
confidence. The follow-up to this course is the Recorder Tutor. This course will empower the
learner with an in-depth knowledge of the entire range of the recorder, as well as the required
theoretical knowledge.
 CONTENTS

Lesson 1 - The recorder ..................................................................................................p.6-7

Lesson 2 - Taa ....................................................................................................................p.8
Lesson 3 - Music alphabet and Note B ...............................................................................p.9
Lesson 4 - Note B on the stave ........................................................................................p.10
Lesson 5 - Taa-tay ............................................................................................................p.11
Lesson 6 - Saa ..................................................................................................................p.12
Lesson 7 - Note A .............................................................................................................p.13
Lesson 8 - Taa-aa .............................................................................................................p.14
Lesson 9 - My first hymn ...................................................................................................p.15
Lesson 10 - More hymns on A and B ..............................................................................p.16
Lesson 11 - Note G ..........................................................................................................p.17
Lesson 12 - Doh and Ray .................................................................................................p.18
Lesson 13 - Me .................................................................................................................p.19
Lesson 14 - Hymns on G, A and B ...................................................................................p.20
Lesson 15 - Note C ...........................................................................................................p.21
Lesson 16 - Hymns on G, A, B and C ...............................................................................p.22
Lesson 17 - Fah ................................................................................................................p.23
Lesson 18 - Taa-aa-aa .....................................................................................................p.24
Lesson 19 - More hymns on G, A, B and C ......................................................................p.25
Lesson 20 - Note D ...........................................................................................................p.26
Lesson 21 - Hymns on G, A, B, C and D ..........................................................................p.27
Lesson 22 - Soh ................................................................................................................p.28
Fingering chart...................................................................................................................p.29
Glossary.............................................................................................................................p.30
 THE RECORDER

Mouthpiece (beak)

Window

Head joint

Thumb hole (on the back)

Left hand
holes

Middle joint

Right hand
holes

Foot joint

5
 LESSON 1
THE RECORDER
Did you know
that the recorder is a
blowing instrument?
When you blow air through the
mouthpiece of the recorder
Recorder it will make a sound.

Track 1

Listen to the sound

of the recorder.

Let me introduce you to

RECORDER FAMILY the recorder family.

RECORDER PARTS

The recorder can be

divided into three different parts.

Head joint

Middle joint
Descant

Treble
Sopranino

Bass
Tenor

Foot joint

6
 ASSEMBLING CARE
Line up the holes then push the parts together
Wash the recorder parts in lukewarm soapy water.
with a gentle rotating movement.
Clean the dirt with an ear bud or a clean feather.
Dry all parts thoroughly with a towel or cloth.
The inner wall of the recorder should
Assem
bling t be free of dust or fluff.
he rec
is so e order Wipe the exterior with a lint-free
asy!
cloth after use.
Remove all moisture inside the
recorder after playing.
Never bite the recorder with your teeth.
Do not expose the recorder to the sun.
Keep the recorder in its bag when it’s not being used.

HOLDING THE RECORDER

1st finger
2nd finger Left
Left
hand
thumb
3rd finger

1st finger

2nd finger
Right
3rd finger hand

4th finger
P
exa ositio The left hand should be higher than the right hand.
ctly n yo
as u Use the pads of your fingers to cover the holes.
sho r han
wn ds Close the thumb hole at the back of the recorder with your left
her thumb. Close the first three holes on top of the recorder with the
e.
left hand first, second and third fingers. Place the right thumb
under the recorder and close the remaining holes with
the right hand 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th fingers.

end o Our t
f each ongue cont
r
a sou sound. Wh ols the beg
nd, th
e tech en using ou inning and
nique r
is kno tongue to
wn as pr
tongu oduce
ing.

FIRST SOUND Track 1

Remove the head joint of the recorder.

Place the mouthpiece of the head joint between your lips.
Do not bite the mouthpiece or allow it to touch your teeth.
Your tongue should be behind your teeth.
Breathe in and blow the air gently and evenly with the
“tooh” sound through the mouthpiece.

7
 LESSON 2
Stem
TAA
The first rhythm is called Taa.
Taa looks like the letter d.
Head Taa has a head and a stem.
Taa’s head is shaded.
TAA

ach note
Shade e Taa below
d write
head an h note.
eac

aa
a n d say T
Walk ach step.
with e

Cla
rhythm p the follow
while in
saying g
each T
note. aa for

Taa Taa Taa Taa

.While
ythm again
Clap the rh ir bubbles
on
in g , b lo w a
clapp
“tooh”.

Tooh Tooh Tooh Tooh

Track 2

Ta
head ke the reco Practise Taa on the recorder
joint a rder
Taa’s nd head joint by blowing air gently
to the blow the fo
“tooh” ur and evenly through the
sound
. mouthpiece with the “tooh”
sound.

8
 LESSON 3
MUSIC ALPHABET
A
G B The music alphabet has seven letters.
A B C D E F G.
We use different finger combinations on

F C
the recorder to produce sound on each
letter of the music alphabet.

E D

Write the 7
letters of th
e music

NOTE B
alphabet in
these circle
s.

Cover the hole at the back of the

recorder with the left thumb and
the first hole on top of the recorder
with the left 1st finger.
Position the other fingers above
the remaining holes in one line.

The l
be po eft hand m
sitione u
d abo st
right h v e the
and.

breathe
Always
laying. Track 3
before p
Practise to blow the note B as
Taa on the recorder using the left
thumb and left first finger.

9
 LESSON 4
THE STAVE 5
4
3
These 5 lines are called the stave. 2
We write music on the stave and play 1
the written music on our recorder. The 1st
line is at the bottom and the 5th line
is at the top.

TREBLE CLEF
This sign is called a treble clef. We place
the treble clef on the stave in order to
name each line and space according to
the music alphabet.

B ON THE STAVE
The note B that we play with the left
thumb and left 1st finger, sits on the 3rd
line of the treble stave.

b b b b
Track 4

p
e m s m ay go u .
t
The s
t h e n o te B only
r
or down fo

Practise to blow the note B as Taa

on the recorder by reading each
note on the stave.

b b b b
10
 LESSON 5
TAA-TAY
y
This rhythm is called Taa-tay. aa-ta
The Taa-tay is also known as Say T nning.
ru
running notes. when
TAA - TAY
Stems up Stems down
Track 5

Taa - tay Taa - tay Taa - tay Taa - tay

Clap the following rhythm
while saying Taa-tay for each
Taa-tay should be clapped in
group. Clap each note. the same time as Taa.
Track 6 Taa equals one pulse. Taa-tay
should also be clapped in one
Clap the following rhythm while naming each note rhythmically: pulse.

Taa Taa Taa - tay Taa - tay Taa Taa - tay Taa Taa

Complete
the following steps for each
exercise. Track 7
Exercise 1

Say and clap each rhythm.

Tongue each rhythm while rest-
ing the recorder mouthpiece on Exercise 2 Track 8
your chin using the B fingering.
Play the exercise on the B
fingering on the recorder.
Exercise 3 Track 9

Exercise 4 Track 10

Practise these 5 exercises until

you know them very well. As soon
as you know an exercise well, you
Exercise 5 Track 11 may give the star a colour of your
choice.

11
 LESSON 6
SAA
This symbol is called Saa. k
’ t y o u thin ke?
Saa means there should be Don sna
silence for one beat. o k s like a want to
o
Saa l ou do not !
!! Y ake
Shuu ke the sn
SAA wa

Clap the following rhythm while naming each note rhythmically:

Mov Track 12
apar e your h
acro t when y ands
ss ou
the r the Saa come
hyth
mic symbol i Taa Saa Taa Saa
exer n
cise.

Exercise 1 Track 13

Complete the fol-

lowing steps for each
exercise.

Say and clap each rhythm.

Tongue each rhythm while rest- Exercise 2 Track 14
ing the recorder mouthpiece on
your chin.
Play the exercise on the B
fingering on the recorder.

Exercise 3 Track 15

Exercise 4 Track 16

Practise these 5 exercises until

you know them very well. As soon
as you know an exercise well, you
may give the star a colour of your
Exercise 5 Track 17
choice.

12
 LESSON 7
NOTE A
The note A is positioned in the space between
the 2nd and 3rd line on the stave.
A is in the 2nd space.
The fingering for the note A on the A
recorder is the left thumb, the left
1st and 2nd fingers.

Track 18

m
Clap the following rhyth
Complete the following before playing it.
steps for each exercise.
Exercise 1 Track 19

Say and clap each rhythm using

Taa, Taa-tay and Saa.
Clap the rhythm again and recite
the letter names e.g. A or B while
clapping.
Tongue each rhythm and show the Exercise 2 Track 20
fingering while resting the recorder
mouthpiece on your chin.
Play the exercise on the B & A fin-
gering on the recorder.

Exercise 3 Track 21

Exercise 4 Track 22

Clap each rhythm and recite the

letter names for your parents.
Play the exercises for them and
ask them to colour your star when
Exercise 5 Track 23 you have performed it well.

13
 LESSON 8
TAA-AA
This note is called Taa-aa.
Taa-aa has a head and a stem.
p
e ste while
TAA-AA Taa-aa looks like the letter d. o n
Take d bend
The head of Taa-aa should n .
ard a a-aa
not be shaded. forw aying Ta
s

Play each Taa-aa below with a clear “tooh”

sound and ensure that there is continuous
Track 24 sound for two beats on each note.
Clap once, hold your hands to-
gether and make a forward circular
movement while saying Taa-aa.
Taa-aa Taa-aa Taa-aa Taa-aa
Complete the following
steps for each exercise. Track 25
Exercise 1

Clap each note while saying Taa,

Taa-tay, Taa-aa or Saa.
Clap the rhythm again and recite
the letter names e.g. A or B while
clapping. Exercise 2 Track 26
Tongue each rhythm and show the
fingering while resting the recorder
mouthpiece on your chin.
Play the exercise on the B & A fin-
gering on the recorder.

Exercise 3 Track 27

Exercise 4 Track 28

Practise all these exercises until

you know them well. Thereafter, try
singing each one. Only colour your
star when you are able to sing each
one correctly and in tune. Ask your
Exercise 5 Track 29 parents to help you.

14
 LESSON 9
Follo
w the
se in
MY FIRST HYMN
caref struction
ully! s Clap each note while saying
Taa, Saa and Taa-aa.
Clap the rhythm again and recite the
p
letter names e.g. A or B while clapping. a dee you
e
Tak ery time s.
Tongue each rhythm and show the
v e
fingering while resting the recorder th e e lin
brea ch thes
mouthpiece on your chin. rea
Play the hymn on the B & A fingering
on the recorder.

Track 30

ROW 1

ROW 2
Practise this hymn slowly and
carefully until you get it right. As
ROW 3 soon as you can play one row
well, you may colour a star. Here
are four stars; one for each row.
ROW 4

15
 LESSON 10
MORE HYMNS ON A and B
Track 31

Track 32

16
 LESSON 11
NOTE G
The note G is positioned on the 2nd line.
The 2nd line runs through the head of the note.
The fingering for the note G on the
recorder is the left thumb, the left 1st, G
2nd and 3rd fingers.

Track 33

m
Clap the following rhyth
before playing it.
Complete the following
steps for each exercise. Exercise 1 Track 34

Say and clap each rhythm using

Taa, Taa-tay and Saa.
Clap the rhythm again and recite
the letter names e.g. G, A or B while
clapping. Exercise 2 Track 35
Tongue each rhythm and show the
fingering while resting the recorder
mouthpiece on your chin.
Play the exercise on the B, A and G
fingering on the recorder.

Exercise 3 Track 36

Exercise 4 Track 37

Clap each rhythm and recite the

letter names for your parents.
Play the exercises for them and
ask them to colour your star when
Exercise 5 Track 38
you have performed it well.

17
 LESSON 12
DOH and RAY
Doh - the strong or firm tone. Ray - the rousing or hopeful tone.

Clap the following rhythm before singing it: Track 39

The note G
is
sung to the
Doh
pitch.
doh doh doh doh doh doh doh doh doh

Clap the following rhythm before singing it: Track 40

The note A is
sung to the Ray ray ray ray ray ray ray ray ray
pitch.

Exercise 1 Track 41 Complete th

e following
steps for ea
ch exercise
.

Exercise 2 Track 42 Say and clap each rhythm using

Taa, Taa-tay, Saa and Taa-aa.
Clap the rhythm again and recite
the letter names e.g. G or A while
clapping.
G is sung as doh and A is sung as
ray.
Exercise 3 Track 43
Sing the exercise on doh and ray
using the hand signals given.

Exercise 4 Track 44

Practise each exercise well. Once

you can sing it confidently to doh
and ray with the correct rhythms,
Exercise 5 Track 45 then you may colour your star.

18
 LESSON 13
ME
Me - the steady or calm tone.

Note that M
e is position
on the 3rd li ed
ne.
Track 46
Clap the fo
llow-
ing rhythm
before
singing it.
doh ray me me me ray doh

Complete th
e following
steps for ea
ch exercise
Exercise 1 Track 47 .

Say and clap each rhythm using

Taa, Taa-tay, Saa and Taa-aa.
Clap the rhythm again and recite
Exercise 2 Track 48 the letter names e.g. G, A or B
while clapping.
G is sung as doh, A is sung
as ray and B is sung as me.
Sing the exercise on doh, ray and
me.
Exercise 3 Use the hand signals for each note.
Track 49

Exercise 4 Track 50

Practise each exercise well. Once

you can sing it confidently to doh, ray
and me with the correct rhythms, then
Exercise 5 Track 51 you may colour your star.

19
 LESSON 14
HYMNS ON G, A and B
Track 52

Track 53

Track 54

20
 LESSON 15
NOTE C
The note C is positioned in the 3rd space.
The 3rd and 4th line borders
the head of the note. C
The fingering for the note C on the recorder
is the left thumb and the left 2nd finger.

Track 55

Complete th
e following
steps for ea
ch exercise
. Clap the fo
llowing
rhythm befo
re playing
it.
Exercise 1 Track 56
Say and clap each rhythm using
Taa, Taa-tay, Taa-aa and Saa.
Clap the rhythm again and recite
the letter names e.g. G, A B or C
while clapping.
Tongue each rhythm and show the
fingering while resting the recorder Exercise 2 Track 57
mouthpiece on your chin.
Play the exercises on the G, A, B &
C fingering on the recorder.

Exercise 3 Track 58

Exercise 4 Track 59

Clap each rhythm and recite the

letter names for your parents.
Play the exercises for them and
ask them to colour your star when
Exercise 5 Track 60 you have performed it well.

21
 LESSON 16
HYMNS ON G, A, B and C
Track 61

Track 62

Track 63

22
 LESSON 17
FAH
Fah - the awe-inspiring tone. Note that F
ah is positio
in the 3rd s ned
pace.
Track 64
Clap the fo
llow-
ing rhythm
before
singing it.
doh ray me fah me ray doh

Exercise 1 Track 65
Complete th
e following
steps for ea
ch exercise
.

Exercise 2 Track 66 Say and clap each rhythm using

Taa, Taa-tay, Saa and Taa-aa.
Clap the rhythm again and recite
the letter names e.g. G, A, B or C
while clapping.
G is sung as doh, A as ray, B as me
and C as fah.
Exercise 3 Track 67 Sing the exercise on doh, ray, me
and fah. Use hand signals.

Exercise 4 Track 68

Practise each exercise well. Once you

can sing it confidently to doh, ray, me
and fah with the correct rhythms, then
you may colour your star.
Exercise 5 Track 69

23
 LESSON 18
TAA-AA-AA
. This note is called Taa-aa-aa.
Taa-aa-aa has a head and a stem.
TAA-AA-AA Taa-aa-aa looks like the letter d
Take t
forwar
wo ste
p
with a dot next to it. d then s
while s bend
The head of Taa-aa-aa must not aying
Taa-
be shaded. aa-aa.

Play each Taa-aa-aa below with a clear “tooh”

Track 70
Clap once, hold your hands together sound and ensure that there is a continuous
and make two forward circular move- sound for three beats on each note.
ments while saying Taa-aa-aa.

Complete the following

steps for each exercise.

Exercise 1 Track 71

Clap each note while saying Taa,

Taa-tay, Taa-aa, Taa-aa-aa or Saa.
Clap the rhythm again and recite
the letter names e.g. G, A, B or
C while clapping. Tongue each
rhythm and show the fingering while Exercise 2 Track 72
resting the recorder mouthpiece on
your chin.
Play the exercise on the G, A, B &
C fingering on the recorder.

Exercise 3 Track 73

Exercise 4 Track 74

Practise all these exercises until

you know them well. Thereafter, try
singing each one. Only colour your
star when you are able to sing each
Exercise 5 Track 75 one correctly and in tune. Ask your
parents to help you.

24
 LESSON 19
MORE HYMNS ON G, A, B, and C

Track 76

Track 77

Track 78

25
 LESSON 20
NOTE D
The note D is positioned on the 4th line.
The 4th line runs through the head of the note.
The fingering for the note D on the recorder is D
the left 2nd finger only.

Track 79
Complete th
e following
steps for ea
ch exercise
.

Clap the fo
llowing
rhythm befo
Say and clap each rhythm using re playing
Taa, Taa-tay, Taa-aa, Taa-aa-aa and it.
Exercise 1 Track 80
Saa.
Clap the rhythm again and recite
the letter names e.g. G, A, B, C or
D while clapping.
Tongue each rhythm and show the
fingering while resting the recorder
mouthpiece on your chin. Exercise 2 Track 81
Play the exercises on the G, A, B, C
& D fingering on the recorder.

Exercise 3 Track 82

Exercise 4 Track 83

Clap each rhythm and recite the

letter names for your parents.
Play the exercises for them and
ask them to colour your star when
you have performed it well.
Exercise 5 Track 84

26
 LESSON 21
HYMNS ON G, A, B, C and D
Track 85

Track 86

Track 87

27
 LESSON 22
SOH
Soh - the bright tone. ned
oh is positio
Note that S h line.
on the fourt

Track 88
Clap the fo
llow-
ing rhythm
before
singing it.

doh ray me fah soh doh

Exercise 1 Track 89

Complete th
e following
steps for ea
ch exercise
.

Exercise 2 Track 90
Say and clap each rhythm using
Taa, Taa-tay, Saa, Taa-aa and Taa-
aa-aa.
Clap the rhythm again and recite
the letter names e.g. G, A, B, C or
D while clapping.
Exercise 3 Track 91 G is sung as doh, A is sung
as ray, B as me, C as fah and D as
soh.
Sing the exercise on doh, ray, me,
fah and soh using the hand signals.

Exercise 4 Track 92

Practise each exercise well. Once

you can sing it confidently to doh,
ray, me, fah and soh with the cor-
rect rhythms, then you may colour
Exercise 5 Track 93
your star.

28
FINGERING CHART

G A

C D

29
 GLOSSARY
Bass recorder - the bass recorder’s lowet note is the F below middle C. This recorder usually covers the
bass voice parts.

Breathing mark (//) - Take a deep breath only at these points.

Descant - the most commonly used recorder with a two octave range starting on C above middle C up-
wards. The soprano voice is usually played with this recorder.

Duration - refers to how long a note sounds. The length is measured in beats.

LT - left thumb

Note - a single sound with a given pitch and duration.

Pitch - refers to how high or low a note sounds.

Pulse - the rhythmic recurrence of strokes or beats.

Recorder family - a group of recorders that differs in shape, size and sound.

Rhythm - duration of musical sound on a timeline.

RT - right thumb

Sopranino - one of the smallest recorders and about 20 cm in height. It’s lowest note is F on the fifth line
in the treble clef.

Tenor recorder - the tenor recorder’s lowest note is middle C. The tenor recorder is generally used to play
the tenor voice parts.

Tonguing - this is a technique used when making a sound on a musical instrument, whereby you activate
your tongue to the “tooh” or “dooh” sound before playing the note.

Treble recorder - the treble recorder’s lowest note is the F in the first space of the treble clef. The treble
recorder is generally used to play the alto voice parts.

Treble clef - also known as G-clef. A sign positioned at the beginning of each stave to determine the letter
names of each line and space. It curls around the second line, hence the second line is called G.

30