Hello,
My daughter is learning the recorder at school and is enjoying it. She's learning on the descant/soprano. Fairly limited notes at the moment - E/G/A/B/C but she's moving around between them fairly happily.

I play the recorder for fun - no training but I can hold a simple tune moving out of the main octave. I also play the guitar and can read not too complex scores.

I'd like to find some simple duets for her to practise with. I am buying her a new recorder for Xmas (a Yamaha YRS 302B) and I'd like to get myself a new recorder too at the same time. To play duets and for variety I'd thought about getting a treble/alto (a Yamaha YRA-302 BIII ALT IN F).

I'd like to get a tenor but can't afford the prices.

So the query is for duets for
1. 2 descants/sopranos
2. 1 descant and 1 treble/alto
3. 1 descant and Guitar.
4. general advice on duets and appropriate combinations.

If anyone reads this then thanks for looking and any advice will be gratefully received.

Many thanks,
Tim

Hello.

I'd check out Penny Gardner's website at ninenotes.com. I've played the alto/alto version of her Christmas duets book (there're soprano/soprano and soprano/alto versions as well) and while they go beyond five notes, they're nine note books, so I'd guess that you could play something in them. She has a nine note method book that has some duets, too. I haven't played from this but I have a friend who likes it.


My guitar knowledge extends to one whole chord (G) so I don't much about that . . . but if you look at those kids' recorder songbooks, the kind that often include cheap recorders, the music will often have guitar chords written in. The music has accidentals and such, but it could be fun in the future.

I don't know if you saw a but a while back someone posted a favorable review of a Woodnote tenor recorder that was 35 USD.

I wish I knew stuff that was more useful to tell you . . . good for you for playing with your daughter. I have good memories of playing with my father and wish that we still did. The big thing is to experiment and have fun.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes. =)

Thanks very much for your advice.
I've seen the Woodnote thanks to your pointing it out!
Certainly looks a good deal and the inference is that it is the same model as the Yamaha 302 which is what I was looking at for nearly double the price!
I'll check the 9 notes and I'll post on a guitar forum for any simple arrangements for guitar and recorder.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks again.
T

Hi,
I bought a woodnote soprano at £2.95 and the tenor for £39.00.
The soprano is really astounding sound - I think as a beginner - for the price.
The tenor is the first one I've ever played but as far as I can tell the tone is really lovely although the mechanism for the lowest hole - what's it called? - feels rather weak. I'm afraid it'll break when I'm storing it away. But I'm really pleased with my purchase.

Those were both for me and for my daughter I got the Yamaha YRS302B which was I am pleased to say - her favourite present.

We're playing duets I found - ~Tom Horn duets for children - perfect for me! We've done the first three so far.

Tim

The mechanism to which you referred is called a key. I remember thinking that it seemed weak when I got my tenor, too, although it was a different brand. I'm glad that you like its tone. Tenor recorder has always been my favorite of all.

Is the duet book pretty good?

I'm excited for both of you. Happy playing! =)

most recorder music books put out by hal leonard (very inexpensive books)have duet style set ups..at least the ones i have..and the ones i had and lost
those can be found at the hal leonard website or ordered in at most book stores even (at least here in canada)and i believe they have them on amazon but im not totally sure...
my boyfriend bought my a guitar sheet music book and transposed them to the right key for my recorder works fine for me..
hope i may have helped in some way