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I took a group of kids to the Kansas City Renaissance Fare this past Saturday
and Moly went with us too. She fell in love with some women playing recorders
and these things called an Ocarina, (she recognized that a character in one
of the Zelda games plays one) so I bought her an Ocarina and wanted to get her
a Recorder too, but couldn't find one. So today I got her one of those
standard plastic ones that schools use. The Ocarinas come in four different sizes,
soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone. I got her a soprano one and if she gets good
and wants more I will order others for her. I was wondering if there is
somewhere I could get her a better recorder if she decides she wants one. Are they
all plastic or are some wood? Do they come in different sizes? I hope someone
knows. Sandra? She also liked the dulcimer (?) music. I'm thinking, getting
hints, that maybe she might want one of those too. Are the recorder and dulcimer
instruments that she can teach herself or would she need to find a teacher?
The Ocarinas are very cool! Made from clay, but apparently archeologists have
found them made from animal horns and gourds. They look like little globs, and
come from the instrument family called vessel flutes. I learned that from one
of the people playing them. Jack is having fun with it and so am I!

~Nancy

Everyone has talent. What is rare is the courage to follow the talent to the
dark place where it leads.
Erica Jong


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Tia Leschke

>I took a group of kids to the Kansas City Renaissance Fare this past Saturday
>and Moly went with us too. She fell in love with some women playing recorders
>and these things called an Ocarina, (she recognized that a character in one
>of the Zelda games plays one) so I bought her an Ocarina and wanted to get
>her
>a Recorder too, but couldn't find one. So today I got her one of those
>standard plastic ones that schools use. The Ocarinas come in four
>different sizes,
>soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone. I got her a soprano one and if she
>gets good
>and wants more I will order others for her. I was wondering if there is
>somewhere I could get her a better recorder if she decides she wants one.
>Are they
>all plastic or are some wood? Do they come in different sizes?

Try any store that sells musical instruments. Recorders come in sopranino
(like a piccolo), soprano, alto, tenor and bass. They come in wood and
plastic. I *think* that some of the better plastic ones might be better
than the cheapest wood ones, but I'm not sure about that.

> I hope someone
>knows. Sandra? She also liked the dulcimer (?) music. I'm thinking, getting
>hints, that maybe she might want one of those too.


What kind of dulcimer? There's the strummed kind and the hammered
dulcimer. I've also seen something in better toy stores that's a trapezoid
shape. You pluck the strings with a pick. They come with papers you can
slide between the strings and the body of the instrument that show you what
string to pluck when to play tunes. I haven't tried one, but I know
parents who think they're wonderful.

>Are the recorder and dulcimer
>instruments that she can teach herself or would she need to find a teacher?

She could teach herself from a book, but sometimes it helps to have someone
available who can answer questions.
Tia

Heidi

My Abbie got an Irish flute for ??? something. Shakespeare Festival
souvenir??? anyway...I used to play the Irish flute (tin whistle,
penny whistle) and tootled a tune I figured out, to show her how to
hold her fingers.

She pretty much disappeared with it. A couple of months later, an
accomplished violinist was at church, and we were planning an anthem,
and Abbie brought her Irish flute. The violinist laid down some sheet
music, and...Abbie started playing it! Like, reading the music, and
playing the notes! *jawdrop*

so, yes, it's self-teachable.

:) HeidiC


> >Are the recorder and dulcimer
> >instruments that she can teach herself or would she need to find a
teacher?
>

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In the legends of my family's Southern heritage, they were made from
sweet potatoes. <g> JJ

Dnowens@... writes:


> The Ocarinas are very cool! Made from clay, but apparently archeologists
> have
> found them made from animal horns and gourds.



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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In a message dated 10/7/03 7:13:00 AM, bunsofaluminum60@... writes:

<< > >Are the recorder and dulcimer

> >instruments that she can teach herself or would she need to find a

teacher? >>

Recorder is harder than tin whistle, because of all the cross-fingerings and
because the sound is easier to mess up.

If she's having recorder problems it would help to find another recorder
player and have one session of assistance on how to hold the recorder when you
have all open holes on the right (lower) hand, and how to hold it in her mouth
and how hard to blow.

Basically, it helps to have someone for her to watch, and then someone to
watch her to just help her adjust the angle at which she's holding it and advise
her on little problems.

When doing the lowest notes, it helps a lot to have someone (not necessarily
another recorder player) just look to see which hole isn't completely covered
if you're not getting the low note you're trying for.

Dulcimer doesn't have those problems.

There are also videos out and you might even be able to rent them.

Sandra