I'm loving learning the clarinet but I do miss being able to pick up a descant recorder and just play a tune without having to think about it. (My old Aulos recorder is cracked.)

I've searched the threads and found Saunders Recorders which is a great website but there is so much choice that I found it confusing. I wondered if anyone here could give some pointers.

I want a recorder that's easy to maintain, so probably plastic. I'd like one that I can play reasonably quietly so I don't disturb the rest of the family and I'd like a sweet tone because I'll be listening to it! I was thinking around £30, although if I need to pay more to get a decent one I can ask for it for Christmas.

I'm going to be playing and learning on my own and I'm not planning on taking exams or playing for other people. This is a private pleasure (and healthier than eating chocolate!)

Oh, and is this likely to clash with my clarinet lessons? I know the fingering is the same as the clarion register on the clarinet and I'm hoping I won't lose such embouchure as I've achieved if I continue to practice clarinet regularly.

The Saunders site is a wonderful resource, and full of John Everingham's wise advice, but it can take some wading through...

I would recommend a Yamaha 302B or a Dolmetsch Nova plastic recorder. The Nova has a sweeter sound, the Yamaha a bit more piping. High notes on both of them are very easy to get, and certainly easier than a cheap wooden recorder.

If you can afford more for an inexpensive wooden instrument you will get more character but high notes may not speak as easily as on the plastic ones.

Some very fine clarinet players have made a decent living as recorder players (Christopher Ball, David Pugsley) and the two instruments complement each other nicely.

Let us know how you get on.

You could do a lot worse than Yamaha 300 series though Saunders don't stock these anymore. For a bit extra you get the fake rosewood versions. I would recommend Aulos for sopranino and perhaps descant, but Yamaha for anything bigger. Just DON'T get a Dolmetsch treble. The tuning is woeful, though the other Novas are fine.

Some input from a recorder specialist is well worth it too, even for private playing.

Thanks, earlymusicconnect and neil.clarinet.

The Yamaha has two votes now, which suggests that it's popular. I like the idea of the Dolmetsch being less piping but I'm surprised at its low price. (It's the descant I'm looking at, not the treble.) Can you really get something that sounds good for £5.99? I can probably afford one of the cheaper wooden ones, like the Dolmetsch school model in pearwood, or would I need to pay around £50 for a decent wooden one? And like I say, I think the upkeep is a bit of a drawback.

I'm glad it doesn't clash with clarinet. I doubt if I can afford any recorder lessons as well as clarinet ones although the idea is a good one.

I play clari and recorder, and have no embouchure woes.

Be slightly careful fingering wise though : the fingering isn't quite the same comparing clarion register on clari and recorder.

I have a yamaha 302 as my preferred plastic descant, but am also quite keen on the Dolmetsch Nova descant.

I also have a Dolmetsch School wooden treble, which I find very good indeed. I haven't tried the descant in that range, but the treble is a very good value instrument.

I'd forgotten that the fingering is slightly different. I'll need to watch out for that.

It will be nice to play something where embouchure isn't an issue!



Another vote for the Yamaha. I really can't decide between it and the Dolmetsch.

I may go on to the treble again sometime but I was never very secure reading music with it.

Edited to add:
I've plumped for the Yamaha rosewood effect and I've ordered it online.

Thanks to everyone for your help and advice.