Why We Were Forced to Play the Recorder

Most of us don't have fond memories of playing the recorder. Admit it, you never picked it up after your last elementary school music class session. Well, here's the story behind the high-pitched musical instrument.

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[kylbgoose]

*hot cross buns plays*
me: *war flashbacks*

[PippinFinnArt]

There's a girl at my school who kept up the recorder and has a wooden one, you wouldn't believe how beautiful it sounds!

[BillMcHale]

The biggest problem, I think, is that for the instrument to be small enough for kids to play, it needs to be the Soprano recorder, which if not played well can be very squeaky. But in the hands of a master, a recorder can be brilliant.

[skytower]

Its sad. The recorder is a big family of instruments that when played together sound a bit like a pipe organ, its beautiful. When they started teaching it in school, there was protest because it was thought that the recorder would be far too difficult for children (it is, hence the hellsound).

[brendandonovan]

“You have to play the recorder!” - teacher “okay” - me *blows into recorder as hard as I can* “ok you can never touch a recorder in my class” - teacher

[langjones]

"The recorder relies on rhythm rather than memorization" doesn't actually make any kind of sense.

[nutella_wewerehere]

This is literally exactly how it worked out in 4th grade:

Teacher: Everyone put your fingers tightly on these holes and blow!
Students: *INTENSE EARRAPING SOUNDS*
Teacher: That was beautiful!

[deddycandra]

Recorder is the ms paint of the music world

[skd_]

Bruh I remembered I used to fake everything during the big concert and I didn't know how to play so I just moved my fingers randomly lol

[TheMarkofZio]

In my Elementary School we had a "Belt" system to rank your skill level in music class (White Belt - Black Belt), with certain songs as tests to reach the next skill tier. That is one of my earliest memories of working hard to achieve a goal. Not only is it a big introduction to music for kids, but, at least in my school, it was a great introduction into reading sheet music, which is very important for all instruments.

I was super proud to get my black belt, very few kids got it before the end of the year and I was like 3rd or 4th, and was selected to play in front of the school in a duet for a concert. Unfortunately, my irresponsible parents forgot about the performance, and I was an hour late, missing the recorder duet, the "boomwhacker" solo I was to perform, and I didn't get to hold the flag like I was supposed to. I think that may have dampened my childhood charm, for I never picked up a musical instrument again until I was in High School.

[tr_m]

as a professional recorder player, the general opinion about the recorder being easy hurts my soul

[Emperatriz_Valentina]

When the recorder is played well, it sounds beautiful

[musicismypassion]

i came to this video after watching Vivaldi: Recorder Concerto in C, RV.443. when used correctly, It amazes me how beautiful the sound of the recorder can actually be

[kburley]

I was able to play My Heart Will Go On perfectly on recorder in gr. 5 but now I can barely do hot cross buns without flashbacks.

[SharkByteOfficial]

...so that one day we could play Mask Off in our rooms alone at night


thanks Carl Orf

[billyg]

I refused to play the recorder and got sent to the principals office.

[idraote]

This video doesn't actually tell why the recorder is preferred to other instruments and this defies its title beside being insulting to recorder players.
The mere fact that Bach and Vivaldi composed for it should tell you that it is not some device from hell but a real musical instrument.
The reason it is used in school is that it is cheap and children can learn to play very simple tunes without too much effort or practice which is something no other instrument (except the tin whistle, which is kind of the same family) allows.

[-Lovely-Vee-]

You know, they never teach you things like how to manage money, credit cards/interest rates, mental health, etiquette/manners, proper nutrition and how to cook, how to effectively build relationships & the importance of social skills 😂. They just kind of make you wing it when it comes to life (if you aren't motivated to learn on your own)...but to this very day....I still remember how to play Hot Cross Buns.

[devilsadvocate]

Used to think that music and arts class was stupid growing up but now I do understand why they make us do it... Many people found their love for music or arts through those classes.

[morganlemons]

I remember playing it at midnight to annoy my