the recorder doesn`t deserve to be called an instrument its terrible they aren`t in any bands omg everyone hre please do us all a favor...learn to play trom bone it`s so much better

I totally agree(except for the trombone, play flute instead)I play the recorder and have passed all my exams in it and no matter what peice you play it still sounds like crap!

Well, first of all, that is stupid going on a recorder discussion site and saying its an instrument, but not deserved to be called one. Second, a recorder is an instrument because it CAN play music, but not like other instruments. If you don`t like a recorder, go complain somewhere else.

Tut tut. If is sounds crap, your playing it crap.

I play the violin, and quite frankly i still love my recorder, even if it is diminished by the violin and isn`t as `important` as other instruments.

And the number of times I`ve thrown my violing against the wall in frustration. I`ve never gotten annoyed at the recorder.
so there.

Your totally right. I play the clarinet and i nearly die of frustration. I know more notes on the recorder than what i do on any other instrument i play. Plus it may not sound as good as the other instruments but it is still music and if u can play it well it don`t sound so bad

u lot who say its crap are crap urself
im 12 turning 13 next month and think its great so do most opf my mates so u need to get ur facts straight u recorder haters and go be a baby somewhere else.

YOU STUPID RECORDER HATERS

Yes it is...if it isn`t why is there a forum about it???it makes music so its an instrument!!!!if you don`t like it don`t play it....jeez people

You guys need to get a life and learn a proper instrument!! Have any of you ever heard a famous recorder player?Well?It makes me laugh at the thought of it.The recoreder is just an instrument to learn if you cant learn anything else.
Leprachaun

"proper"? What do you mean by "proper"? It`s an instrument like any other instrument. If I don`t like the way the piano sounds (not that I don`t) do i say that it`s not a "proper" instrument? What requirements does an instrument need to be "proper"? Why is a guiter "proper", but not a recorder? Why the hell are people arguing and complaining about a recorder not being an instrument anyways?????

In reply to "SKYDANCER" by proper i mean that it is NOT a real instrument.And the reason we are arguing about it, is because it is not a real instrument and it totally sucks.
I f you go out and ask someone to name an instrument, they`re not going to say recorder are they?! JUST GET OVER IT, the recorder is not an instrument, it never has been and never will be! So get up off your asses and learn something real!!

Leprachaun

If an instrument sounds crap, it`s your fault for not knowing how to play it well. Some fools blame their instrument when it`s they themselves who are unable to carry a tune to save their life. As for saying it`s not a proper instrument, what`s the definition of `proper`? A recorder is an instrument for making music, therefore it is a musical instrument!! There is no such thing as proper or improper!! Following the logic of some people, who claim that since the recorder can be so easily played, it is not a real instrument, it`s like saying `since the recorder can easily produce music, it is not a real musical instrument`. Some instruments will be easier than others, and the reality of the instrument does not depend on that!!

It is an ancient instrument, dating over half a millenium back. And in the baroque era, there were plenty of professional recorder players and composers who wrote for it. The only reason it`s not found in an orchestra nowadays is that it is too quiet. It can only be played at a certain volume, and blowing harder just makes it screech.

Just because it is one of the easier and cheaper instruments to play and manufacture, it has been chosen to be a starter instrument for schoolchildren (who mostly, unfortunately, can`t play an instrument to save their life) and has been cursed with that deplorable reputation as a toy. It is sad that the recorder was chosen, because, had it been a violin or a trumpet, I can safely say that the outcome would have been lamentably correlative.

As for professional recorder players, haven`t you heard of Machala Petri? Frans Bruggen? Walter van Hauwe? Michael Copley? Keith Jarret? Hans-Martin Linde?

No? Then maybe you should brush up on a little general knowledge before you attempt to argue on something you don`t have a clue about.

Reponse to "Leprachaun." You`ve still haven`t answered my question. What requirements does a instrument need to be "proper?" You can`t just say "it sucks. That`s why it`s not proper." That`s too broad and generalized. Do I say "The recorder sounds good so I`ll just say that it`s proper?"

Exactly If you Play it PROPER then it wont squeak or sound rubbish. Tu Tu everytime you blow!!! Its nt rubbish!

I think the recorder is a great started instrument for young children. I learnt in in 4th grade. Then 1/2 way through 4th grade I learned violin. In 6th grade I learned clarinet. And in the summer between the summer between 7th and 8th grade I learned saxophone.

i think the recorder is ok its not on mi #1s list but i still play it because it helps u learn music notes + mi teacher makes me play it at scool