Recorder Forum Home Page › Forum › Teaching and Learning › Problems with Tenor Recorder
- This topic has 13 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated March 5, 2023 at 4:30 pm by
Stephen Collier.
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August 19, 2021 at 4:01 pm #1473
Alan Beckham
ParticipantHi. Im new to the Tenor Recorder and Im having difficulties sounding the lower notes (below G). Am I not covering the holes properly or blowing too hard/ too softly? Any guidance would be much appreciated.
Thank you
Alan
August 31, 2021 at 4:22 pm #1475Dick Mattson
ParticipantCover the RH holes with tape and then try blowing. If the problem goes away, then you aren’t covering the holes properly. If the problem doesn’t go away, try blowing differently. If the problem does go away, then you have learned how to blow the lower notes. If the problem never goes away, then the problem might be with the instrument and you should get it professionally checked out. BTW, what kind of recorder is it?
September 2, 2021 at 10:26 am #1476Alan Beckham
ParticipantHi. Thanks for your comments.
Its a Yamaha 304BII
September 3, 2021 at 4:42 pm #1477Dick Mattson
ParticipantWere you able to figure it out?
September 3, 2021 at 6:04 pm #1478Alan Beckham
ParticipantIm sure it is my right hand fingering that is the problem. I will just have to keep working at it!
October 13, 2021 at 7:01 am #1482Ken In Dallas
ParticipantHey There… I’ve resolved Tenor issues for myself and students by sitting forward on the chair, using a chair that has no arm rests so that the arms can find their neutral hanging position, and by placing a thumb rest so that the right-hand pinky approaches its holes perfectly perpendicular to the instrument. For most, this means the rest will often place the right thumb exactly opposite the right middle-finger when holding the instrument. The resulting sharper bend now in the wrist hasn’t caused anyone any pain here to date.
Once the problem is considered resolved with a plastic rest, a wood or cork rest can be glued there to create that same hand position. I mention gluing the rest as you may find the plastic one will slide upward from pressure on the thumb rest to get that hand low enough down the instrument to position the pinky. — k —
October 13, 2021 at 3:49 pm #1483Alan Beckham
ParticipantThanks Ken. I have moved the plastic rest as you suggested and my right hand fingering is much better!
Cheers
March 1, 2023 at 11:44 pm #1869Stephen Collier
ParticipantMay I add a related question? I have problem with these lower notes on a tenor, too. I will try the above suggestion. I wondered if it is acceptable to use a piper’s grip for the right hand?
I have a childhood injury that means I can’t bend the top joint of my right index finger. It is OK for soprano, but it is almost impossible for the tenor. If I use a RH piper’s grip (tin whistle style) I can get to D quite well, though I have to be very accurate. Is it acceptable to play this way? If I start taking grades, will I be penalized or fail for bad style? Will I have to unlearn this later, when things get more chromatic? Thanks for any thoughts. First post.
March 2, 2023 at 4:40 pm #1870Ken In Dallas
ParticipantPurely opinion: If you have a finger issue, any work-around that still permits a clean note and fluid note changing is “Kosher.” Trumping that might be an in-person evaluation by an Occupational Therapist. Make sense?
March 2, 2023 at 5:11 pm #1871Stephen Collier
ParticipantThank you for the answer. I will try the piper’s grip for a while and see how it goes. As a plan B I have ordered a low D tin whistle – similar in size to a tenor recorder 🙂 – so at least it will be the same grip in both, for now.
March 3, 2023 at 12:46 pm #1872Jacqui
ParticipantBy “piper’s grip” do you mean covering the tone holes with part of the finger closer to the hand than the pad? You can definitely do this. Here’s an example.
And if “start taking grades” refers to the UK grade exams, it’s fine. They don’t mark on specific points of technique, only musical outcome.
March 4, 2023 at 12:44 am #1873Stephen Collier
ParticipantThanks, Jacqui. Yes, I did mean that. Thanks for the example video. He’s playing with a piper’s grip in both hands. I have memories of being told off as a child for playing a piano like that 🙂 so I thought I had better ask. I’m glad to hear that UK exams would be OK with this.
March 5, 2023 at 1:10 pm #1874Jacqui
ParticipantIt is possible to buy recorders with keys for one-handed use and also recorders where you can twist all the holes around individually (the way you can twist the foot joint on any three-piece recorder) to get all of the holes in good places for you. It is also possible for instrument makers/repairers to add custom keys to any existing instrument. For example you could add a key so that you could use your left little finger to do the work of your right index finger. (Although I have no idea how hard it might be to play that way.)
If you want links I can search some out.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by
Jacqui.
March 5, 2023 at 4:30 pm #1876Stephen Collier
ParticipantThanks for the info! So far, I’m making progress allowing myself the piper’s grip in the right hand, but it’s good to know of these options.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by
Stephen Collier.
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This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by
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