Hi Kevin,
It sounds like recorder is the perfect instrument to learn/play in older age – and during lockdown! I was playing Native American style flutes before I had a serious shoulder injury that also affected my hands, so gave up on the larger flutes, as I could not comfortably reach the bottom three holes. Similar situation with the alto recorders, I’m afraid.
I’m glad to hear you like the Denner pearwood….I’ll think about getting one in a soprano version. I thought about trying a Dream, but I see the lowest hole is a bit further in distance than other recorder models, and I’d prefer having an adjustable foot. My pinky is crooked and tilts in the wrong direction!
I’m not quite ready to closet the ecodears, but I can see the time will come!