'Highlights’
Recorder Book
BY
DR. MAUREEN BRETT HOOPER
Emerita, UCLA Music Department
Illustrated by Judith Hunt
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Contents
About Your Recorder........ 4
How to Use This Book ...... 5
How to Hold the Recorder ... 6
How to Position Your Mouth . . 7
How to Make a Good Tone ... 7
How to Stand................8
Treble Clef ............... 9
Rhythm..................... 9
Finger Placement...........10
Your First Three Notes.....12
Three Notes Together.......13
Playing a Five-Note Song .... 14
Going Down to Low D........16
Here Comes E	..... 18
Here You Go to F ..........20
More Practice..............22
Notes You’ve Learned So Far . 24
Playing B-Flat ............26
Playing F Sharp............28
The Lowest Note—C .........30
A New Rhythm...............32
Dynamic Playing ...........34
Rounds ................... 36
More Songs to Play.........39
Rhythm Glossary............46
General Glossary ..........47
Fingering Chart............48
Song List
America.........................................................45
Are You Sleeping?...............................................37
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep...........................................26
Barcarolle, from The. Tales of Hoffman..........................22
Bingo...........................................................28
Down at the Station.............................................36
Down in the Valley..............................................29
Follow the Leader...............................................34
Go, Tell Aunt Rhodie............................................15
Hanukkah ...................................................... 21
Happy Birthday to You...........................................40
Hole in the Bucket, The.........................................18
Hot Cross Buns (Key of F Major).................................20
Hot Cross Buns (Key of G Major).................................13
I’ve Boon Working on the Railroad...............................33
Kum Ba Yah......................................................43
Lightly Row.....................................................35
London Bridge...................................................32
Lone Star Trail.................................................17
Merrily We Roll Along (Key of F Major)..........................24
Merrily We Roll Along (Key of G Major)..........................15
My Hat..........................................................25
Oh, How Lovely Is the Evening...................................38
Old McDonald Had a Farm.........................................19
Recorder Song...................................................16
Row Your Boat ..................................................38
She’ll Be Comm’ Round the Mountain..............................39
Skaters Waltz, The..............................................23
Streets of Laredo...............................................44
Theme from Second Movement, “New World Symphony”................31
This Old Man . . ...............................................27
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star...................................30
We Wish You a Merry Christmas...................................41
When the Saints Go Marching In..................................42
3
Tenor
About Your Recorder
It seems people have always blown through
hollow reeds or wooden pipes to make music. We
know shepherds of long ago played on a wind
instrument. It was a set of pipes of differing
lengths, each making a different pitch This
instrument was often called the Pipes of Pan.
Later it was discovered that different pitches
could be played on one hollow pipe with holes
dr lied down the front.
No one knows for sure when the modern
recorder as we know it was invented. It was first
shown in paintings around the eleventh century.
It was made of wood and came in different sizes to
match the ranges of the singing voice. People
gathered in their homes in small groups, called
consorts, to play on these recorders. It became such
a popular instrument that many famous
composers, such as Handel and Bach, created
music for the recorder.
The instrument’s name may have come from
the Old English word record, or “warble.” Perhaps
it was given this name because the sound of the
recorder reminded people of the songs of birds.
Now it is time for you to begin playing the
recorder. Good luck!
Alto
Sopranino
Soprano
4
I
How to Use This Book
You can have fun learning to play the recorder, but you must
bo patient. Take your time and follow these suggestions:
•	Start now by reading pages 6-11.
•	Then move through the rest of the
book page by page.
•	Don’t try to do too much at one time.
•	Always begin and end your practice
time by reviewing the songs you know.
•	Don’t skip around in the book.
(You will find things you don’t understand and you may get discouraged.)
Watch for me as you play the
songs in this book. I will help you
with the rhythm.
5
How to Hold the Recorder
»
♦
Mouth
Use the pads, or tips, of your fingers.
Keep your fingers bent and rounded.
Left Hand
Right Hand
first finger
second finger
third finger
fourth finger
Use your right thumb
to balance the recorder.
When a finger is not covering a hole,
keep it close to the recorder. Many
people bend their fingers back when
they are not using them. It is harder
to play that way.
first finger
second finger
third finger
Your left thumb covers the hole
on the back of the recorder.
fourth finger
(does not cover
a hole)
।
♦
How to Position Your Mouth
Play position: Put the mouthpiece
about a quarter of an inch into your
mouth. Don’t touch the mouthpiece
with your teeth. Hold the recorder
straight down, with your chin
tucked back.
Practice position: When you are
practicing fingerings for the songs,
but not blowing into the instrument,
hold the mouthpiece against your
chin. Say the names of the notes or
rhythm as you finger them.
How to Make a Good Tone
Blow gently into the recorder.
•	Say the word “too” to start each note.
•	When you play, make it sound musical.
Think how a song sounds when you sing it.
If your recorder squeaks, you are probably
blowing too hard. Blow more gently.
Having trouble making a sound after
you’ve been practicing awhile? Clean
out your recorder. Cover the air hole
below the mouthpiece and blow.
How to Stand
Your posture is just as important as
how you hold the recorder.
Don’t let your
chin drop to
your chest.
Adjust the
music stand to
eye level.
Keep elbows away
from your sides.
Stand up
straight.
Place feet
shoulder
width apart.
*
I
♦
I
♦
t
t
I
I
♦
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
♦
Place the music stand at a
distance that is comfortable
for you. You don’t want to
squint or strain to road the
music, but you also don’t
want the music right in
front of your face.
♦
(
I
I
I
I
♦
I
I
I
t
1
f
I
f
J
I
I
I
I
Treble Clef
Most music is written on a staff with five lines and four spaces. The notes are written on a
staff as well as above and below it.
At the beginning of each staff of recorder music is the treble clef or G clef ( (q )•
•J
The clef tells you what notes to play. Flute and violin music is also written on the
treble clef.
These are the names of the lines and spaces in treble clef.
Rhythm
In addition to telling you what pitch to play, each note also tells you how long to play.
Each piece of music is written in a time signature telling you how many
boats are in each measure. A measure is the space between two bar lines.
If the time signature is 4/4, there
are four beats to a measure.

e)
Quarter notes ( 9 i get one beat.
Half notes (J ) get two beats.
Whole notes ( о ) get four beats.
Count out loud and clap to practice this rhythm.
9
Finger Placement
How to use this chart:
• Find the name of the note.
• Notice which line or space of the staff the note is on.
(For example, В is on the third line from the bottom
of the staff.)
PLAY
о
o’
о
Oo
Oo
• Each circle on the diagram represents one of the seven
holes from the top to the bottom of your recorder.
left thumb
first finger
second finger
third finger
} LEFTHAND
Oo *
Oo
first finger
second finger
third finger
fourth finger
> RIGHTHAND
•	Use the left hand for the holes above the line.
The right hand plays the holes below the line.
•	A black circle means you should cover the hole. •
•	A white circle means the hole is to be left uncovered. О
At the end of this book there is a fingering chart for all the notes you’ll need to play
recorder music. Once you work your way through this book, you might enjoy playing other
pieces of music. The fingering chart will help you.
I
•
I
f
♦
♦
I
♦
♦
♦
♦
!
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
I
♦
i
i
10
4
—
This chart shows all the notes you will learn in this book As you go along,
you will learn to play each note one by one. Don’t try to learn them all now.
This will be a good page to
look back at as you go along.
11
Your First Three Notes
PLAY
В
о
о
о
Oo
Oo
Left hand: Place thumb over hole at the back of recorder.
Place your first finger over the first hole.
Say the word “too” as you blow softly into the recorder.
Try again, softer this time.
Play until you like the way it sounds.
Right hand: Balance the recorder with your thumb.
PLAY
Oo
Oo
Left hand: Place the fingers in the same position as for note В
Add the second finger to cover the second hole.
Play A over and over until you like how it sounds.
Play В and A. (If you are having trouble, check to be sure your
fingers are covering the holes.)
G
PLAY
о
о
Oo
Oo
Left hand: Place the fingers in the same position as for note A.
Add the third finger to cover the third hole. (You are
now using the thumb and first three fingers.)
Play G
Play GAB until it is easy to do.
12
ч>
J
J	Three Notes Together
See how the notes GAB look in the melody below. You can play the notes, but you also have
* to learn the correct rhythm to play music Now name the notes and practice fingering in
i rhythm. When you arc ready, play the melody.
U
When you see (9) take a breath Be careful not to lose the rhythm.
S>
u
S>
si
s>
s>
О
w>
4>
ч>
s>
>>
ч>
4|>
->
.>
4>
13
PlayIng a Five-Note Song
PLAY
•o
о
о
Oo
Oo
Check the fingering shown above and play C. Practice it
Now learn and practice D
PLAY
oo
о
о
о
oo
Oo
Next play back and forth from C to D All you do is take your left
thumb on and off. Play the two notes until you like the way they
sound Be sure your thumb covers the hole each time you
return to C.
At the end of the melody below, there is
a half-note rest (---) or two counts of silence.
Think “rest, rest,” and do not play any
notes on the third and fourth beats
Can you name all the notes in the melody below? Practice the
fingering and then play.
12 3 4
12 3 4
14
At the end of the first line of this song, the first syllable of the word
Rhodie takes up two notes Do not say ‘too” to begin the second note.
The slur marking below the notes ( J ) is there to remind you of that.
*---'
Go, Tell Aunt Rhodie
Play this song to review your first three notes.
Can you do it without looking back for the fingering?
Merrily We Roll Along
15
*
Going Down to Low D
LOW
PLAY
Oo
Here we go down to low D. Place your left hand in the same position as for playing G.
With your right hand, put fingers one, two, and three over the next three holes. Only the
bottom hole is not covered. It may take you a while to get a good tone. Don’t give up
(Blow even softer than you have been blowing and relax your jaw.)
Practice going from low D up to G Now try high D down to low D Balance the recorder
with the thumb and little finger of your right hand. Be sure your fingers are covering all
the holes for low D Practice the fingering and then play this melody.
Recorder Song
Anonymous
Joyfully
16
(
Two eighth notes (. <) equal
one beat, or a quarter note.
Clap the rhythm of this melody.
Now play it.
“Lone Star Trail ’ begins with a pick-up note on beat 2 The last measure also has one beat.
The two added together equal one whole measure.
The song ends with a half note tied to a quarter note (J e ). Hold it for three beats.
--------------------------------------------------------
Lone Star Trail
American Cowboy Song
17

Here Comes E
PLAY
A repeat sign
OO
Oo
Play E until you make a good sound. Now play low D to E
You go from low D to E by lifting the third finger of your
right hand. Go back and forth from low D to E until it
is easy for you. Then try this melody.
at the end of the song
tells you to go back to
the beginning and play
the song again.
The next piece is in 3/4 time. There are three beats to a measure
The Hole in the Bucket
American Folk Song
There’s a	hole	in	the	buck - et,	dear
Mend the	hole,	then,	dear	Geor - gie,	dear
Geor-gie, Mend the hole, then, dear
Geor - gie, dear
This song has quarter rests ( £ ) that
equal one beat, like the quarter note.
Think “rest’ and do not play when you
see the quarter rest. The song ends with
a dotted half note ( J.). It is held for
three beats.
Old McDonald Had a Farm
19
Here You Go to F
PLAY
о
Oo
Oo
Check the fingering for F and play.
Skip back and forth from low D to F
Practice going from A down to G down to F.
Practice the fingering and the rhythm,
then play this melody:
At the end of this melody,
there is one eighth note (0 )
followed by an eighth rest (7 ).
Think “and’ for the rest,
but do not play
1 & 2 & 1 & 2 &
“Hot Cross Buns” should be familiar. (You played it on page 13.)
This time it starts on A instead of В Try playing it both ways.
20
Hanukkah
Folk Tune
Through the night win-dows bright shed a friend-ly beam,
In a row can - dies glow with a spar - kling gleam;
Neigh- bors call, one and all, tops go spin- ning round.
1ЛХ
More Practice
•	When practicing a new song, sing it first. If you don’t know the song,
you might find it helpful to ask someone to teach it to you or sing it
with you. When there are no words, sing “la.”
•	Practice the rhythm by clapping or say the note names in rhythm.
•	As you learn each new song, play it again and again until you like
how it sounds.
Barcarolle
from The Tales of Hoffman
Gracefully	J. Offenbach
22
•	Remember, when the half note is tied to the quarter note, hold it for
three beats.
•	Hold the dotted half note tied to the quarter note for four beats.
•	Also be sure your fingers are firmly covering the holes. Always use
the “balls” of your fingers.
The Skaters Waltz
Moderate	Emile Waldfeufel
23
Notes You’ve
Learned So Far
Here are all the notes you have learned. Can you name the notes and play them without
looking back?
Go back to page 15 and play “Merrily We Roll Along”
the way you learned it. It is in the key of G major
The key signature for G major looks like this:
Now play “Merrily We Roll Along” as it is written below.
It is in the key of F major
The key signature for F major looks like this:
Can you see and hear the difference?
Merrily We Roll Along
24
“My Hat” uses every note you’ve learned except one.
Can you figure out which note that is?
My Hat
I
t
German Folk Song
When there are no sharps or flats,
the song is in the key of C major
Playing В-Flat
When you know how to play В-flat (Bb), you can play most songs in F major.
PLAY
READ
Oo
Oo
Play Bb until you like the sound Now' play from F to Bb Only one finger moves.
Play from A to В к Now from C to В к
These melodies are in F major. The key signature tells you that every time you see
the В written in the music you must play Bb Practice the fingering and then play.
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep
Traditional

26
I
•	This Old Man
I
I	English Children’s Song
He played nick - nack on my shoe, With a
nick - nack pad - dy whack, give a dog a bone,
This old man came roll - mg home.
Playing F-Sharp
Learn F-sharp (F||) and you can play most songs in G major.
PLAY
READ
Check the fingering and play F# Play it until it has a good tone.
Then play back and forth from D to F# Which finger comes off?
The melody below is in G major The key signature tells you that
every time you see the F written on the music, you must play F#.
Practice the fingering and then play.
1 & 2 &
Bingo
American Folk Song
There was a farm-er had a dog, and Bin- go was his name - O.
В - 1 - N - G - О,
В - I - N - G - О,
В - I - N-G-O, and Bin - go was his name - O.
28
Play this song as smoothly and softly as possible.
Down in the Valley
Southern Mountain Folk Song
Down in the val	-	ley
Hear the wind blow,	dear,
У
6^-

Hang your head
Hang your head
о
о
ver,
ver,
Hear	the	wind	blow
Hear	the	wind	blow
Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Lightly
Traditional
Twin - kle, twin - kle, lit - tie star, How I won - der what you are.
Up a - bove the clouds so high, Like a dia - mond
in the sky
30
he dotted quarter note ( j ) gets
one and a half beats
Theme from Second Movement
‘ New World Symphony”
Antonin Dvorak
31
A New Rhythm
Count a dotted eighth note followed by
a sixteenth note this way
2 &
1 & a 2 & a
London Bridge
Moderately bright
Traditional
1.	Lon - don	Bridge is	fall - ing down,	fall - ing down, fall - ing down.
2.	Build it up	with	i - ron bars,	i - ron bars,	i - ron bars.
3.	I - ron bars	will	bend and break,	bend and break, bend and break.
4	Build it up	with	silver and gold,	silver and gold, silver and gold
Lon - don	Bridge is	fall - ing down,	My	fair	la	dy.
Build it up	with	i - ron bars,	My	fair	la	dy.
I - ron bars	will	bend and break,	My	fair	la	dy.
Build it up	with	silver and gold,	My	fair	la	dy.
32
к
There is one F|i in this piece. When a note is changed from the key signature,
it is called an accidental. An accidental changes that note’s pitch for the
entire measure, unless it is marked otherwise.
A natural (t]) means you should play F instead of F$ or В instead of Bb.
In this song, the natural is used to remind you to play Ftj after the measure
with the F|| accidental.
I’ve Been Working on the Railroad
1 vc been work - ing on the rail - road, just to pass the time a - way.
Don’t you hear the whis - tie blow - ing? Rise up so ear - ly in the morn.
Don’t you hear the cap - tain shout- ing? “Di - nah, blow your horn!”
33
Dynamic Playing
Dynamics tell you how loud or soft to play.
p means soft.
f means loud.
mf means moderately loud
jfjjf means very loud
pp means very soft
c, or crescendo, means gradually get louder
or decrescendo, means gradually get softer.
Watch out for dynamic markings in all the pieces you play. They can change at any time.
Follow the Leader
Allegretto
Bela Bartok
34
Lightly Row
Moderate
Traditional
Light-ly row! Light-ly row! О er the glass - у waves we go;
Smooth - ly glide! Smooth - ly glide! On the si - lent tide.
mf	~
Let the winds and wa - ters be
P
mingled with our mel - о - dy;
Sing and float! Sing and float! In our lit - tic boat.
Rounds
A round is a song that can be played by itself or by two or more people. Each
person starts playing at the beginning of the song but at different times.
‘Down at the Station” is a two-part round The Roman numerals tell each player
where to start. When player one reaches II, player two begins playing at I.
Down at the Station
36
If there are three parts, then player three would begin playing at I when player one
reaches III and player two reaches II This pattern continues for however many parts
there are.
Are You Sleeping?
Fre - re Jac - ques, Fre - re	Jac - ques,

Row Your Boat
Merrily
Traditional
Row, row, row your boat. Gen - tly down the stream.
Mer - ri - ly, mer - ri - ly, mer - ri - ly, mer - ri - ly, Life is but a dream.
Oh, How Lovely Is the Evening
Three part Round
Oh, how love - ly is the eve - ning, is the eve - ning,
38
More Songs to Play
She’ll Be Cornin’ Round the Mountain
39
Happy Birthday to You
friend, Hap - py birth - day to	you’
40
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
41
When the Saints Go Marching In
Spiritual
1.	Oh when the	saints	20	march - ing	in,-	
2.	Oh, when the	rain —			be -	gins to	fall,-	—
3.	When we hear	Ga	briel	blow his	horn,——
4.	Oh, when the	an	gels	play their	harps,—
Oh,	when the	saints	go	march	- bg	1П,—				
Oh,	when the	rain	be -	gins	to	fall,—	—
		 When	we hear	Ga	briel	blow	his	horn,—		—
— Oh,	when the	an -	gels	play	their	harps, ——	
Oh, Lord,	1	want	to	be	in	that	num - ber,—		
	 Oh, Lord,	I	want	to	be	in	that	num - ber,———
Oh, Lord,	I	want	to	be	in	that	num - ber,	
Oh, Lord,	I	want	to	be	m	that	num - ber,———
— When	the	saints	g°
— When	the	ram	be
— When	old	Ga	briel
— When	the	an -	gels
march	- ing	in.
gins	to	faH.
blows	his	horn.
play	their	harps.
42
Kum Ba Yah
yah, my Lord, Kum ba yah!
Kum ba yah, my Lord, Kum ba
Streets of Laredo
Cowboy Song
44
America
Samuel Francis Smith	Henry Carey
2 My na - tive coun - try, thee, Land of the
I love thy rocks and rills, Thy woods and tern - pled hills,
From ev - ’ry— moun - tain - side Let— free - dom ring!
My heart with— rap - ture thrills Like— that a - bove.
The information on these three pages will help you remember what you learned in this
book. There is also additional information that will help you if you want to play music
other than what is in this book.
Rhythm Glossary
Quarter note ( , ) gets one beat.
Half note ( o ) gets two beats.
J = • + J
Whole note (o) gets four beats.
° = , + J = . + J + . + .
Eighth note (Z1) gets half a beat
Sixteenth note (»S gets a quarter of a beat.
~=J
Dotted half note (J.) gets three beats.
*-=J + > = J + .+ ,
Dotted quarter note (• ) gets one and
one-half beats.
Time signatures tell you how many beats
are in a measure.
4 has four beats to a measure.
A quarter note gets one beat.
has three beats to a measure.
A quarter note gets one beat.
о
у has two beats to a measure.
A quarter note gets one beat.
Ь has six beats to a measure. An eighth
® note gets one beat. Some people count
6/8 time in two beats. Then a dotted
quarter note gets one beat.
Dotted eighth note (^) gets three-
Remember that a rest is a measured
amount of silence.
Quarter rest (£) gets one beat of silence.
Half rest (—) gets two beats of silence.
Whole rest (—) gets four beats of silence.
Eighth rest (7 ) gets half a beat of silence.
Sixteenth rest (•/) gets a quarter of a beat
of silence.
Dotted half rest ( —• ) gets three beats of
silence.
Dotted quarter rest (f ) gets one and one-
half beats of silence.
Dotted eighth rest (7') gets three-quarters
of a beat of silence.
46
General Glossary
Accidental Changes a note to something
other than what the key signature indicates.
For example, Fl in the key of F major.
Repeat Tells you to go back to
the beginning or nearest repeat
sign and play the music again.
Breath mark ( $ ) Indicates a place in the
music to take a quick breath.
Dynamics Indicates how loud or soft to
play the music.
Enharmonic Two notes that sound
the same but are written on the staff
differently. For example, Gl and Fll sound
the same but are written like this
F# G1
= |v l>o z
Flat ( b ) Lowers the pitch of a note.
Key Signature Tells you what sharps or
flats to play. Each key signature has a
name. In this book, we learned the keys of
G major (one sharp), F major (one flat), and
C major (no sharps or flats).
Measure The space between two bar lines.
bar lines '
Natural ( C ) Cancels a sharp or flat.
Pick up One or more notes that begin a
piece of music, but not on the first beat of a
measure. The pick-up measure is incomplete.
When it is added to the last measure, the
two equal a whole measure.
Play position The way you hold the
recorder when you are going to play music.
Practice position A way to practice by
holding the mouthpiece of the recorder
against your chin.
Round A piece of music that can be played
by more than one person. One person
begins playing. A second person starts at
the beginning once the first person reaches
a certain point, and so on. The places to
begin playing are often marked by roman
numerals.
Sharp (0) Raises the pitch of a note.
Slur (J « ) Ttells you to play two or more
notes in a row smoothly and without saying
“too” on the second note.
Staff The five lines and four spaces that
music is written on.
Tempo Tells you how fast or slow to play a
piece. Sometimes indicates the mood of the
piece. Happily, slowly, moderately, lively,
and sadly can be tempo markings.
Tie ( J_,J ) Connects two or more notes for
a longer length of time. Do not say “too ’
after the first note, but remember to count.
Treble clef (	) Also known as G clef.
Indicates the names of the notes on the
staff.
47
I
Fingering Chart
If you decide to learn more notes to play on your
recorder, you wdl find this chart helpful. These are the
recorder fingerings for the notes you might want to play.
Violin, flute, and piano music can often be played on
recorder. You can also make up new melodies.
left thumb
Oo *
Oo +
first finger
second finger
third finger
first finger
second finger
third finger
fourth finger
LEFT HAND
RIGHT HAND
fourth finger
You might notice that on this chart there arc two holes
for the third and fourth fingers on your right hand.
Some notes require that you only cover one of the
two holes. Practice uncovering the smaller of the two
holes while playing. With a little time and patience,
you’ll find it quite easy to do!
Oo
Oo
Some notes also require you to cover half of the hole
on the back of the recorder. With your fingers on the
correct holes for the note, roll or rock your left thumb
slightly down while blowing through the recorder.
With practice, you will be able to play notes with
halt-holes quite easily.
Q
Half-hole

••о
о
О»О|оОоо
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• QO|oogo
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$14.95 u.o.
$22.99 Canada
Recorder Book
Develop beginner to intermediate
recorder skills and learn to
read music with
• Simple step-by-step instructions
• Easy-to-understand diagrams
Helpful explanations of rhythm
Boyds Mills Press
815 Church Street
Honesdale, PA 18431
Print id In China
• More than 30 familiar
and classical songs
• A two-octave chromatic
fingering chart
This book is compatible
with any soprano recorder
Visit our Web site at
www.boydsmillspress.com
Cover photography © 2000
by Danielle Martini
Martin-Pratt Photography
and Charlie Cary