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.