Recorders: for many, they are the very first musical instrument that we play. But that could be changing for kids in the classroom.
Yes, the recorder might have been the undisputed beginner instrument of choice for generations, but a change in trends, the popularity of other instruments, and the coronavirus pandemic are seeing fewer and fewer children learning to play the recorder.
According to a prestigious UK music school, they have witnessed an 80% decline in young children playing the recorder. Chetham's School of Music in Manchester has seen numbers drop from 15 students to just three in the space of a decade.
These numbers are concerning, but not all hope is lost. A number of organisations, including the European Recorder Teachers Association, are fighting their corner.
At pBone Music, we understand that beginner instruments like the recorder can have a life-changing impact. We have seen how our starter instruments like pBuzz and pBugle have given children the tools to start music smarter.
We may even have our own solution to those concerns about playing the recorder...
So is the recorder on the brink of extinction? Or is the future still bright for these woodwind instruments? Let's look at why the recorder became so popular, the reasons for recent setbacks, and the ways that we can get children to enjoy music in the classroom once again.
What made recorders so popular in schools?
Key to the popularity of recorders was that these instruments are accessible and affordable. As early as the 1930s, recorders began to be mass-manufactured from plastic. By the 1970s, millions of children across the globe were learning to play recorders in the UK, USA, Germany and more.
This is not to say that the recorders were invented in the 1960s: these instruments have been popular since the Renaissance and Baroque periods. But mass-producing recorders made them a good fit for playing in large ensembles, giving more children the opportunity to learn and play together.
Recorders are also simple to teach, and easier to play than many other musical instruments. But in some ways, the recorder has become a victim of its own success: with cheaper models flooding the market, some have seen the recorder as less of a serious instrument...sometimes with rather interesting results:
How has the coronavirus pandemic affected recorder playing?
The worldwide restrictions and guidance on musical instruments have had a major effect on the way recorders have been taught in schools. Even when schools reopened after a period of remote learning, large gatherings were discouraged. During this time, a focus on instruments played alone, such as the piano, left ensemble instruments like the recorder out in the cold.
Another consideration with instruments in a school setting is the spread of germs and diseases. This is not a unique problem to the recorder, although ensemble instruments that can project aerosols were affected by the health guidelines.
Luckily, there are solutions to preventing the build-up of bacteria on musical instruments. The new pCorder is the world's first fully antimicrobial recorder. Using the latest technology from Polygiene Biomaster, these antimicrobial additives are added to pCorder during the manufacturing process. This gives children permanent protection for the entire lifespan of the instrument.
Will the recorder go extinct?
Although the pandemic has had a negative effect on ensemble music classes, there is still a healthy interest in the recorder and learning to play musical instruments.
A bass recorder recently featured on the theme tune to Disney's hit show The Mandalorian, played by its composer Ludwig Göransson.
When heard at its full potential, the recorder is a beautiful instrument with the ability to move an audience and produce a sweet and soothing sound.
Chetham's Symphony Orchestra put the recorder centre stage for their performance at Bridgewater Hall, Manchester on July the 6th 2023. Anna Williams, an eighteen-year-old recorder prodigy, performed Richard Harvey's Concerto Incantato for Recorder & Piano. This highlights that young people are still taking the humble beginner instrument to the highest heights and showcasing just how far learning to play the recorder can go.
As champions, creators, and innovators of beginner instruments, we see the potential that the recorder still offers young players across the globe. By creating a quality, carbon-neutral, fantastic-sounding recorder with built-in protection from condensation and nasty microbes, we feel that we can help spearhead a recorder revolution!
Looking for more information on pCorder?
- Learn how to keep your recorder clean in our how-to article.
- Want to save the recorder? Find out the best beginner recorder for you!
