The Beginners Method for Soprano and Alto Recorder, Book 1: Recorder Book

Clear and purposeful. Each lesson builds deliberately on what came before, with exercises designed to establish independence on your chosen instrument rather than treating one as a default and the other as an afterthought.

Beginning recorder students ages 8 and up who are just starting on soprano (C) or alto (F) recorder, whether in group or private lessons. This method works equally well for students who choose to specialize in one instrument or who are learning both.

• Assign the C and F recorder parts as actual duets once students reach similar levels; this reinforces listening skills and rhythmic togetherness without requiring transposition drills.
• Use the preparatory exercises as daily warm-ups to establish consistent fingering patterns before moving into new lessons.
• Encourage students to alternate between the C and F recorder books if learning both instruments, so they recognize which fingerings transfer and which require adjustment.

Use this as your foundational text for beginning recorder instruction, whether in elementary general music, after-school recorder ensemble, or private lesson studios. The duet capability makes it valuable for mixed-level group lessons where some students are ready to play together while others are still building fundamentals.

• Fingering accuracy on soprano (C) or alto (F) recorder
• Breath control and steady tone production
• Reading simple melodies and rhythms in treble clef
• Playing major scale passages
• Duet playing and part independence
• Understanding the relationship between fingerings across recorder registers