UK Recorder Tutor Books 1930-2015

Alison E. Cannon

author	date	title	place of publication	publisher	illustrations / presentation	intended audience	order of first ten notes	size of staves at start in mm	no. of 3-note tunes / exercises	music notation (pitch)	approach to rhythm	tonguing and articulation	type of music at start	supplementary material	additional notes
da Silva, Lisete	2015	How to Play the Recorder	London	Dorling Kindersley	Lots of colour in backgrounds and highlighting new notes. Photographs of boys and girls playing Mollenhauer recorders!	from 7 to 10 years	B A G C' D' E D F# C F	11	17	New note's letter name written above, and note in a different colour. Extensive introduction includes overview of stave.	Practise clapping the beat - including quaver beats for 3/8 time from the start.	do (start by saying the word teddy). Slurs and staccato after D'	very varied		Lots of good ideas clearly explained, obviously gleaned from the author's 20 years teaching experience, e.g. step-by-step guide to how to hold the recorder, involving starting with right hand fingers, then taking them all off except little finger (which remains for support). US and UK editions published in parallel; also e-book edition.
Ward, Heather	2015	Blown Away	Bath	Brown Dog Books	colour pictures on every page	Primary school children - whole classes, small groups and individuals. Written to appeal to boys as well as girls	B A G E D F C' D' (Book 2:) C F#	10	8	New notes introduced with words based around that letter.	All words have words - read the words of the rhyme, as they will help you to play the notes at the right time.	tu, gently.	original compositions, but generally longer than in many books - e.g. the third piece is 24 bars long	book 2. CD accompaniments	Suggests if your right hand little finger is too short to reach the lowest hole, just use fingers 1 and 3 of your right hand. Fingering diagrams are upside-down which is the way a recorder looks to someone who is playing it.
Gregory, Thomas	2014	Vamoosh Recorder Book 1		Vamoosh Music	A5R size book. Black and white, lots of funky fonts for titles. Pictures with fingerings only.	Individuals and groups	B A G C' D' E D F#	10	10		Chart in inside cover with American time values and English in brackets. Syncopation in tune 5!	doo. Staccato after D'	mainly original compositions in funky styles	Piano accompt book and CD accompts. Teachers' CD-Rom now superceded by an App: videos of fingering and music with dot indicating which note to play. Subsequent books.	Includes movements like tapping foot or taking side steps in the rests.
Watts, Sarah	2013	Ready, Steady, Recorder	Stowmarket	Kevin Mayhew	full colour (with red curtains down the side of every page)	Children aged 6+	B A G E D C' D' F# C' F	8	22	The words of the piece often allude to the letter names, espcially when a new note is introduced.	Most tunes have words (which often describe the teaching point of that tune)	du. Staccato after C' and slurs with F#	original compositions	website; accompanying CD (with a fanfare every time a new note is learnt); classroom pack with charts, stickers, etc.
Parker, Ben	2013	My First Recorder	London	Kyle Craig Publishing	black and white illustrations	kids of all ages	B A G E D C' D'	10	11	Notes on full stave presented in introduction	American time names used, with English as this is also known as	ter. Slurs with D, staccato after C'	original compositions	pull-out wall chart to help with practice	A shame that the picture of the girl on the cover has been printed in mirror image on the title page so her hands are the wrong way round.
Adams, Sally	2012	I Love Recorder	Buckingham	Queen's Temple Publications	No pictures; fairly muddly layout	Classroom or individual use	B A G C' D' E D F#	8	40		Count the pulse; lots of practice with crotchets, semibreves and semibreve rests at the start.	Doo. Staccato De after C'; slurs after E.	Mainly original compositions	CD with pdf of piano accompaniments as well as sound tracks. Book 2 also available. Downloadable teaching notes.	Based on simultaneous learning techniques developed by Paul Harris - encourages explorations of musical skills and practice of key points before playing pieces.
Lines, Emma	2010	Recorder Roundabout	Manchester	Forsyth Brothers Ltd.	A few small black and white pictures	school classes	B A G E F# D Bb F C' D'	8	11		crotchets, minims and semibreves taught off stave the start	tu; slurs before C', staccato before C	original compositions		Aims to get complete beginners up to about Grade 3 standard in a year. Includes regular theory tests.
Cox, Heather & Rickard, Garth	2009	Sing Clap and Play the Recorder (New Colour Edition)	London	Macmillan Education	Full colour	7 - 11 years	B A G E D C' D' F#	9	22	middle line of stave darker until lesson 6 (BAG)	Words to the tunes initially. Walking rhythms (4/4) and Skipping rhythms (6/8)	doo. Slurs introduced after first three notes.	Mostly original compositions with popular tunes for concert pieces	Supplementary books including duets and carols
Cawkwell, Roger	2009	My First Recorder Music	London	Flame Tree Publishing	All music printed on a pale yellow background. Photos of posture at start. Lots of text.	young players and other beginners	B A G C' D' F# E D Bb F	7	9		count crotchet beats. Lots of new rhythms introduced while still on five notes.	too or taa - start with your tongue pulling back from just behind your upper teeth, staccato after D', slurs after D	Very big range of styles from a range of sources.	The second half of the books (titled Songbook) has a lot of repertoire pieces all with guitar chords.	384 pages! Very thorough but clearly explained.
Waterhouse, Celia	2008	My Solfa Recorder Book	Cambridge	Waterhouse Music Publications	small coloured pictures	6-7 years	C' A D' G B E D	n/a	32	solfa with hand signals - different keys are called different positions. Although stave notation is introduced, the notes are never given letter names.	words, with heart beats for the pulse; french rhythm syllables as per the Kodály approach	whisper DOO DOO DOO gently	nursery rhytmes and jingles		For use within Kodaly methodolgy
Sebba, Jane & Moses, David	2008	Recorder Magic Interactive	London	A&C Black	This is a CD-Rom. It is beautifullly presented with colour pictures that don't detract from the music.	whole class, group or individual teaching	B A G E C' (book 2:) D' D F# (book 3:) C#' E'	n/a	23	first two notes off stave and in different colours. CD-Rom has option to have letter names under the notes.	initially crotchets and pairs of quavers in separate boxes. CD-Rom has metronome beat, moving highlighter and variable playback speed.	doo. Staccato after D' and slurs after D in book two	mostly original compositions	CD-Rom contains excellent games and starters for improvisation based on each piece, as well as extensive teachers' notes.	This is an outstanding resource which deserves to be more widely known. While the cost includes the site licence for unlimited use at any one school I suspect at just under £50 this has detered many potential users, not least private teachers for whom this does contain many useful features and could add a whole new dimension to their teaching.
Evry, Philip	2007	Aulos Descant Recorder Tutor	London	Faber music	no pictures, limited text; los of music	pupils in Key Stages 1,2 and 3 (i.e. aged 4-14)	B A G C' D' D E F#	8	36		count the beats	t ; slurs before E	traditional melodies	Despite calling itself Book 1, there is no book 2.
Phillips, Sarah	2005	Play it: recorder	Herts	Make Believe Ideas	brightly coloured pages	5+	B A G C' D' C D E F F#	8	1	letter names of all notes of treble clef shown at start	time values explained in one page at the start	do	nursery rhytmes and folk songs: 20 fun tunes		Sold with a multi-coloured recorder. The note F natural is shown on the stave with a sharp in the key signature!
Watts, Sarah	2004	Red Hot Recorder Tutor	Stowmarket	Kevin Mayhew	Coloured titles; no pictures; lots of music per page		B A G E D F# C' D' C#' F	7	32		Count the beats.	d or do; slurs after C'	original compositions	Teacher's book' accompanying CD; Recorder song book; heavily linked to Razzamajazz books
Pitts, John	2004	Recorder from the Beginning (New Full Colour Edition)		EJA Publications	coloured pictures on each opening	7-11 years	B A G E D C' (book 2:) D' F# E' C#'	15	14		most early tunes have words	tu; slurs and staccato ('tut') after D.	Mostly original compositions	3 levels of pupil book plus treble book; teacher's books for all levels; whole range of supplementary material eg books of music in a specific style.	Designed to be repertoire books with minimal instruction.
Coulthard, Emma	2004	Recorder Wizard	London	Chester music	Brightly coloured strip cartoons throughout	Ideal for beginners with no previous musical experience; school classes	B A G E D (book 2:)	8	11		Count the beats; also many tunes have words	doo; slurs and staccato (tut) after E.	mainly original compositions	Teacher's book; accompanying CD; Christmas book; Recital Book.	Based around continuous story (about Johnny and Sophie) presented in comic strip. Teachers' books have ideas for class percussion / performances, and also links to KS2 National curriculum.
Wedgwood, Pam	2003	Recorder World	London	Faber Music	small line drawings; each book comes with reward stickers		B A G C' D' E (book 2:) F# D Bb F	9	26		Some clapping exercises with beats written in.	doo. Slurs after C', staccato ('tut') with D'.	original compositions with some popular tunes	Teacher's book; accompanying CD; Christmas book.	The first tune using B flats also uses F - which is only taught in the following lesson!
Henry, Simon	2003	Play recorder! A first book for beginners of all ages	London	Brown Reference Group	Lots of very clear instruction in tiny blue writing. No pictures but blue and orange headings.	ages 5 - 65!	B A G C' D' F E D F# E'	7	7	All notes on stave presented at the start	Emphasis on a regular pulse; clap rhythm before starting, counting beats out loud. Then count beats in your head or tap your foot.	too, but with the t half way to a d. Staccato tut with low E. Slurs (whole phrases) at end of book described as legato playing.	Original compositions and well-known tunes		Very clear introduction to music reading, but more accessible to the upper age group than 5 year olds. Very small blue text.
no author given	2002	Fun Kit, Learn to Play the Recorder	Woodbridge	Top That! Publishing (Also published by Sainsbury's with different cover)	coloured pages and illustrations with white boxes for the music	Ages 5 - 7	B A G E D F F# C E' D'	14	2		Always clap, and count, through the tunes before you play - although this advice is only given a few pages before the end of the book!	to. Slurs in the second tune.	folk songs and nursery rhymes	Part of a kit - supplied with a recorder. Reprinted with a different cover for Sainsbury's in 2004.	Some bizarre features. E.g.: C' is the last (11th) note in the book. The only dynamics are pp play very softly and ff play very loudly, which are given as top tips - but no dynamic markings occur in any of the pieces. Breath marks are shown with a comma in the second piece, but in the third and subsequent piece with ticks - both have top tip boxes drawing attention to them. Although C' is taught as the 8th note, there are no pieces containing C' in the entire book.
Lowe, Peter	2002	How to play the Recorder - a fun guide to learning and playing	Bath	Parragon	coloured cartoons and photos (always of the same two young girls - perhaps the author's children?)	complete beginners - adults as well as children B A G E D C' D' F# 5 12 ALL the tunes have ALL the letter names of the notes written above them. Crotchet beats written in words under many of the tunes (eg one-two three & four)	ta or tu. Staccato = tut after C'. 4-quaver slur introduced for one tune after D.	Nursery rhymes and a few folk songs.	none	Unfortunately all the cartoons show sharacters playing the recorders with puffed cheeks.
Breeze, Nick & Edwards, Mary & Mainard, Nigel	2002	Recorders in Class	Milton Keynes	Yamaha-Kemble	a few photocopiable (therefore balck and white) sheets for pupils	whole classes of lower Key Stage 2	A G E D B C'	8	7	some repetitive exercises to aid note learning	Mainly aural approach, copying from CD	doo	original compositions in a range of styles	CD plus photocopiable flashcards and ideas for class percussion. Website (no longer extant)	Contains six units of work each lasting half a term for classroom teachers to deliver as class music lessons, covering the National Curriculum 2000 syllabus. This is essentially an aural method with the CD playing a prominent role.
Watts, Sarah	2001	Razzamajazz Recorder	Stowmarket	Kevin Mayhew	just music, with fingering for each note introduced with a diagram		B A G C' D' (book 2:) E D F Bb F#	7	10		The recorder part rhythms do start very simply, with the jazziness provided in the accompaniment.		original compositions	accompaniment books and CDs; 2 further books	Explicitly not intended as a tutor book although many teachers used it as such, and the fingering for each new note is included at the top of the page so I have included it here.
Sebba, Jane & Moses, David	2001	Recorder Magic	London	A&C Black	full colour (duets differentiated with different coloured words)	suitable for group or individual lessons	B A G E C' (book 2:) D' D F# (book 3:) C#' E'	14	23	first two notes off stave and in different colours	initially crotchets and pairs of quavers in separate boxes. Most tunes have words initially.	doo. Staccato after D' and slurs after D in book two	mostly original compositions	four pupil books; accompanying CDs; website with LOTS of supporting material including extensive teachers' notes.	www.recordermagic.co.uk - this website appears to have recently been taken down. First editions of the book suggested the little finger was optional for F.
Scott, Andrew & Turner, Gary	2000	10 Easy Lessons Teach Yourself: Recorder for Young Beginners	Manchester	Music Exchange	colour pictures on every page		B A G C' D' F# E D	19	16		beats of each bar written in for first 16 tunes. American time names used alongside English ones.	too. Staccato after D': To play a note short, make a 't' sound with your tongue instead of the 'too' sound (p. 28) slurs before E.	original compositions and nursery rhymes	accompanying CD; all tunes have guitar chords written on.
Keetman, G. & Ronnefeld, M., tr. Shamrock, Mary	1999	Elemental Recorder Playing	London	Schott	Close-packed music with parts for teacher and percussion written in score.	6-9 years	C' A D' G E D B C F	7	23	Tonic Sol-fa hand symbols recommended	Lots of ideas in teacher book based basen on Orff-Schulwerk pedagogy.	düt	mainly European folk songs	teacher's book explaining how to integrate the recorder into Orff-Schulwerk lessons; students workbook	Translated from the German by Mary Shamrock http://www.vosa.org/paul/sales_folder/keetman_rec.htm; German edition 1980 had little text, just the music.
Bryant, Ann	1999	Play straight away!		International Music Publications	black and white pictures on every page	young beginners	B A C' D' G E D F#	n/a	6	no music notation at all - everything done by letter names	no rhythmic notation: each tune takes the same rhythm as a well known song specified at the top of the page. All tunes have their own words too.	t	original compositions and nursery rhymes	Book 2, which introduces stave notation. Stickers at the back of the book.	The tunes are written in the context of a continuous story about Cute King Dodge and Nobby Gnome. It is recommended that pupils hold the bottom of their recorder with their right hand until they need to play E.
Engel, G., Heyens, G, Hünteler, K, Linde, H-M, tr. Bowman, Peter	1999	Fun and Games with the Recorder	London	Schott	colour pictures on every page	aged 6+	B A G E C' D' (book 2:) D C' F E'	9	33	Treble clefs are only introduced with the note G.	crotchets and minims at start with marching to the beat	do (introduced by the character Dotty -do-a-lot),	Own compositions, a few with words.	3 tutor books and 3 tune books; teacher's commentary; treble books	Bb fingerings suggested as alternative which doesn't work on many recorders. Translated from the German. Includes lots of games and activities and an emphasis on exploring sounds.
Wastell, Peter	1998	Old MacDonald's Recorder Book	London	Boosey & Hawkes	small colour pictures	Primary school class music lessons	B A G C' D' F# E D	9	4		count the beats. Some tunes have words.	tu. Staccato tut after C', slurs after D'	mixture of classical tunes, folk tunes and modern compositions	keyboard accompaniment book; two pupil's books plus Barn Dance book and Christmas book.	integrating recorders into class music lessons
Swift, Christine	1997	My Fun-to-Learn recorder book	London	Grandreams Ltd	Coloured pictures; thick card pages		B A G C' D' F#' E D E' F	12	18			Blow gently and at the same time say 'te'. slurs in tunes after E	Very short exercises and nursery rhymes		Recorder attached - poor tone quality but at least in tune! This book has some good features (tips on technique) and one or two howlers, notably saying: There are four types of recorder: Descant, Treble, Tenor, Bass. Nowadays the most commonly used recorder is the Treble, which you will learn to play in this book.
Ward, Heather	1996	Franzo Frog and his Friends: a beginner's course for descant recorder	London	Heinemann	coloured pictures on every page	ages 6 - 8+	B A G C' D' E F D (book 2:) F# E'	10		Each note has an animal character beginning with that letter - the tunes are songs about the animals.	all have words - say the words, clap and say the words together, then play. Also beats written in above music all the way through.	t - slurs in book 2, also staccato with F#	original compositions	Book 2	Linked to new National Curriculum in Music, helping to fulfill the targets of Performing, Composing, Listening and Appraising. The songs in book 1 form a continuous story, designed to appealto both girls and boys. The fingering for F is shown as 012346, with the explanation that the use of the forth finger is difficult for children to achieve.. the differencein pitch is barely audible (p.32)
Davey, Brian	1996	Recorder Playing in Colour	London	Davey Music Publications	Small line drawings	Children in Key Stage 1 or 2	B A G C' D' D E F# (book 2:) E' C	10	26	uses different colours for each pitch name in book 1	crotchets and minims - count crotchet beats	too ; double tonguing introduced in book 2. Slurs after F#	Familiar tunes	five books: book 4 for treble, book 5 for bass	Links to the new National Curriculum for Music at the front; new pictures and expanded section at the end of book one to practice reading black notes.
Duckett, Richard	1992	Team Recorder	London	International Music Publications	no illustrations; fairly spacious layout with little text	young recorder players, especially in a classroom setting	B A G C' D' D E F# E' F	8	15	Shows position of each note on a glochenspiel as well as the stave.	Variety of approaches used at different points.	do or too. Breathe not blow; don't stop between notes. Slurs after E.	wide range: from the Classical and Romantic eras to folk, jazz and 'pop'. as well as original compositions	Integrated with Team books for other instruments, so ensembles can easily be formed.	Wrong F fingering in first edition. Contains many duets and suggestions for percussion accompaniments as well as piano parts.
Winter, Geoffrey	1991	Rainbow Recorder Course	Harlow	Longman Group	coloured pictures on most pages.		B A G E D (book 2:)	17	12	middle line of each stave a different colour	none; words for all tunes. Reference page for rhythm notation inside back cover.	too	Original compositions and traditional tunes	audio tape; teacher's book; four levels each with Starter Book and Theme Books.
Cox, Heather & Rickard, Garth	1991	Yamaha Play and Learn Recorder	Amersham	Allans Publishing	coloured pictures on every page	age 5+	B A G E D F#	9	16		A tape was provided for home practice with echo phrases to help learn rhythm.	doo	Range of popular tunes, BUT the tape has the tune and the recorder part is accompaniment at least at start.	audio tape	Published simultaneously in Australia with very different presentation (e.g. no pictures) as Listen and Play Recorder: a revoluntionary approach to playing music
Hobsbawn, Marlene	1989	Me and My Recorder	London	Faber	blocks of a single colour and line drawings throughout.	children	A G E B D (book 2:) C' D' F# E' C	13	13 / 25		Starts with words for rhythm, then introduces crotchets, minims and quavers to a beat like a ticking clock.	doo; staccato before d' (tut), slurs at end of book one.	Mainly orginal compositions and folk songs (often from N. America)		This book really starts with four notes at once - after 13 short exercises introducing A G and E, there are 25 tunes using A G E and B.
Coombes, Douglas	1989	Beginning the Recorder	London	Dorsey Brothers Limited	Some large coloured pictures.		B A G C' D'	10	25		Count the beats; clap rhythms before playing - clap, swing for minims. (Much of book is only crotchets and minims).	doo	Mainly original compositions
Bunting, Janet	1989	My First Recorder Book	London	Simon & Schuster	Coloured pictures of a cat and recorders; quite a lot of text	young beginners and children of all ages	B A G E D C' D' F#	13	13		Beats of the bar written above the tunes when a new rhythm features	du; slurs after D', staccato after F# (dut)	Original compositions, some with words
Kerr, Janet & Lumsden, Caroline	1987	Musicland Recorder Book	Gloucester	Musicland	Line drawings on every page.	young children	B A G E C' D' D F# (book 2:) E' C#'	17	8	Every note is named after an alliterating insect, and the songs are about these characters	Suggests own system of words for different note lengths.	doo	original compositions		The book is one continuous narrative with songs, games and quizzes to illustrate the story. Each note is named after an insect. Advocates pressing hard so no air can escape.
McCafferty, James & Hatchard, Mike	1986	Live recorder: a beginner's course in music	London	Edward Arnold	some black and white pictures	Junior school children, taught by a non-specialist class teacher	B A G C' D' (book 2:) F# E D (book 3:) E' F	10	88	All notes on stave presented at once to start with	count the beats	d - quietly	original compositions (mainly due to limited notes used)	tape with listening exercises and accompaniments. Several years later, books 2 and 3	This course was, I believe, not only the first to supply an audio tape, but also the first to have an online presence in 2000 (website: www.earlymusic. co.uk !!)
Hawthorne, Philip & Hooper, Caroline	1986	The Usborne First Book of the Recorder	London	Usborne	Brightly coloured pages; boxes and speech bubbles with fun facts and jokes as well as musical information	absolute beginners	B A G E D C' F# C#' D' E'	12	10	scales and semitones introduced by means of ladders	count the beats (crotchet = 1 beat)	too ; slurs and staccato (tut) after E	folk songs and nursery rhymes and familiar tunes with some original compositions		States that the four main sizes of recorder are sporanino, descant, treble, and tenor. The completely revised version of 1997 changed only layout and pictures, not music.
Fagan, Margo	1985	Playing the Recorder at Home	Harlow	Longman	Small two-tone pictures	parents teaching their children at home	B A G E D C' D' F# C#' F	17	12		let the words do the work. Rhythm chart in introduction.	duh or tuh; staccato bouncy (later, tuk) with A and double tonguing ticker-tacker before E. Slurs after D.	Mainly own compositions and folk songs		Uses the same tunes as Playtime, with notes at the side for parents.
Cox, Heather & Rickard, Garth	1981	Sing Clap and Play the Recorder	London	Macmillan Education	Some line drawings	7 - 9 years	B A G E D C' D' F#	9	22	middle line of stave darker until lesson 6 (BAG)	Words to the tunes initially. Walking rhythms (4/4) and Skipping rhythms (6/8)	doo. Slurs introduced after first three notes.	Nursery rhymes and original compositions with popular tunes for concert pieces
Bonsor, Brian	1981	Enjoy the Recorder	London	Schott & Co.	very occasional line drawings	groups, individuals, self-tuition	B A G C' D' E D F# E' C#'	7	29		all rhythm in relation to crotchet = 1 beat, and counting the beats encouraged sporadically	doo. Staccato introduced before D': tongue normally and simply shorten the end of the note (p. 24). Slurs before E.	Mostly folk tunes from round the world; some early music and some original compositions		E is taught after G in the introduction, but not used in the music until after F#
Pitts, John	1980	Recorder from the Beginning	Exeter	Arnold-Wheaton	Small line drawings	7 - 11 years	B A G E D C' (book 2:) D' F# E' C#'	15	14		Most tunes have words; students explicitely told to match the rhythm of the music to the spoken words.	tu. Slurs and staccato after note D.	Mainly original compositions.		Initially two books, followed by a treble book in 1983.
Pease, John	1980	Recorder for all	London	Middle Eight Music	Large black and white pictures	for children, parents, the non-specialist teacher learn as you teach	B A G C' D'	12	11	All tunes have tablature and letter names. Stave lines (with letter names in the appropriate place) introduced half way through.	Initially following words, then stave notation introduced.	No mention of tonguing at all - just an instruction to blow!	Nursery Rhymes		The preface begins: Anyone witing a book introducing children to the recorder should call it How to Lose Friends and Infuriate People. !!! Much emphasis is put on children learning by rote, copying an adult phrase by phrase.
MacNicol, Richard John & Binney, Malcolm	1980	Classroom recorder method	Croydon	Belwin Mills Music	Short introduction followed by performable pieces	class lessons	G A B C' D' F# E E' D G'	6	9		graded but not described	tu	mainly nursery rhymes and folk songs, mainly in three parts.	Piano accompaniment book, pitched + non-pitched percussion book, and book 2 of same.	Option to play treble as transposing instrumenty (music printed in two keys throughout), with long justification for this in the introduction.
Winters, Leslie	1979	Recorder playing for the beginner	London	Chappell	Music with some text	Primary and Middle School, ages 6 - 11	A B G E D C'	8	16			t- - but make the t- very gentle	Folk songs	Claims to be Book 1 of 3 recorder tutors in the 'Ways with Music' series, but it is not clear whether books 2 and 3 ever came to fruition.	Recommends practising with the recorder resting on one's chin.
Rowland-Jones, Anthony	1978	Introduction to the recorder: a tutor for adults	London	Oxford University Press	A lot of text	Adult beginners; self tuition	B A G E D C' D' Bb F# C'#	6	5		Prefers whole notes, etc, to semibreves as it is more logical	dhoo, whispered. Slurs introduced as soon as two notes are available		Recommends additional repertoire	Suggests that his methodology would be useful for teachers in Primary Schools, with additional material. Runs descant /tenor and treble instructions in parallel.
Galloway, Malcolm	1978	Recorder Tutor. For Descant Recorders	Leeds	Regina Publishing Co.	Clearly spaced music with occasional woodcuts	Photo of a girl aged maybe 11 in the introduction	B A G C' D' F# D E C E'	9	9		Count crotchet beats. All tunes have words: This is a great help in following the music.	none mentioned	nursery rhymes and folk songs		When playing the first five notes in this tutor you may find it necessary to support your recorder with your right hand.
Drewar, Della	1978	Let's Play: A first Descant recorder book	Gnosall	Viking Publications	large print music; small line drawings; minimal text		B A G C' D' (Book 2: E D)	19	18	Simple number tablature (no. of fingers down, mainly) written above most of the notes, even into Book 2.	First few exercises have words, mainly well-known sayings.	not mentioned	Own compositions mainly	Book 2; accompaniment books
Trapp Family Singers, ed. Hunt	1976	The Trapp Family Recorder Method		Schott	No pictures		A B G C' D' B* C#' E F# D	7	10		Beats of the bar written under early tunes, with an instruction to Count silently. Reference page at beginning.	du. End each note with an unvoiced D. Slurs with C' (Lesson 2), staccato (as in dot) and tenuto in Lesson 4.	Multi-national folk tunes and Baroque music.	First published in 1954 in USA	Anglicised edition (via Edgar Hunt) from the 1954 Enjoy your Recorder by the Trapp Family Singers (USA).
Tobin, Candida & Fenton, R.	1976	Wizard's Way Recorder colouring Book	Bishop's Stortford	Helicon Press	Black and white pictures to be coloured in	parents teaching their children at home (dedicated to two boys aged 6 and 9)	B A G C' D' D E F#	15	9	Each note is assigned a colour linked to stickers on the recorder. The child has to colour inthe notes before playing a tune.	French rhythm syllables, initially in proportionally sized boxes.	whisper french rhythm names into recorder	original compositions with some nursery rhymes	simple guitar chords to some tunes (just G and D7)	colouring book; stickers for recorder to help with note learning. Written in simple language addressed to the child.
Simpson, Kenneth	1976	Music through the recorder: a course in musicianship	Sunbury-on-the-Thames	Nelson	Just music with lots of words of explanation	secondary school children	A B G E D C' D' F# C#' E'	7	41	starts off stave with letter names for first three notes; details of how to introduce stave notation in teacher book	fitting words to a steady pulse - details in teacher book.	too; slurs and staccato before E	varied; lots of hymns and carols	Books 2 and 3; teacher books	When all three books have been completed, pupils will be prepared to tackle CSE or O Level music. Includes musicianship through, for example, group playing of chords.
Rosenberg, Steve	1976	Recorder Playing	London	Boosey & Hawkes	music with minimal text	school classes (photo of children perhaps 7 years old on front cover)	B A G C' D' F# E D F Bb	7	23		count the beats	du breathe into the recorder, don't blow	Rennaisance and Baroque		This classic resource concentrates on classroom work and is designed for the absolute beginner, with music from the renaissance and baroque eras presented in a lively and enjoyable way.
Davey, Brian	1975	Recorder Playing in Colour	London	Chappell	line drawings with each new notes (5-bar gate becomes a stave)	Junior school children	B A G C' D' D E F# (book 2:) E' C	11	26	uses different colours for each pitch name in book 1	crotchets and minims - count crotchet beats	t ; double tonguing introduced in book 2	Familiar tunes	3 books. Wall charts blackboard size available of first 11 pages - notes to be coloured - so large groups can be taught together	Unfortunately the colours are not the same as those used by Candia Tobin.
Lambert, Cecily & Knechtel, Ried	1974	Forsyth Descant Recorder Tutor	London, Manchester	Forsyth Bros.	no pictures, minimal words		B A G C' D' F# E D E'	6	18		Count crotchet beats	tu	original exercises and well-known tunes		Essentially an American book published simultaneously in UK.
Fagan, Margo	1973	Play Time	London	Longman	Small two-tone pictures on most pages		B A G E D (book 2:) C' D' (book 3:) F# C#' C	24	12		none; most tunes have words	no instructions in pupil book except staccato markings; teacher book says duh for basic tonguing and introduces double tonguing ticker tacker on piece 9.	original compostitions	Series of several books including for Treble recorder
Bergmann, Walter	1973	Descant recorder lessons	London	Faber Music	Brief introduction to each piece; diagrams for fingering; no pictures		B A G E D C C' D' E G'	8	21		knowledge assumed	d; slurs after A	traditional and 17th/18th century melodies, with some original compositions	Accompaniments book with notes for teachers, and two articles on teaching the recorder	Covers all chromatic notes in one book and ends with fingerings for trills.
Blackburn, Marie	1971	Let's play recorders: a simple recorder tutor for very young children	London	B. Feldman & Co	no illustrations; spaced out text and music	ages 5 - 7	B A G C' D' only	7	12	advocates flash cards and matching games	Assumes french rhythm syllables and counting beats have been taught through use of percussion	t in a whisper	mainly nursery rhymes	Book Five Novice Notes contains many of the same tunes, with suggests for tuned percussion parts.	Recommends that pupils are taught in groups of no more than six, for five minutes every day instead of half an hour once a week. Quite how teachers were supposed to orchestrate this is not stated!
Martin, Nancy	1970	Learning the Recorder	London	Frederick Warne	diagrams for fingering, otherwise just music and some instructions (plus wordy introduction for teachers)	Primarily for schools; also adult beginners	B A G C' D' D E F# E' G'	7	17	Emphasises that notes should be learnt as part of musical phrases, not in isolation (as in learning to read words)	French rhythm syllables	d, softly; slurs in second half (after 12 notes)	Folk, hymn and dance tunes still sung in schools		Originally published in New Zealand in 1956. Includes instructions for making a table-top music stand. Right hand to be kept at end of recorder until needed. Advocates practising silently but listening to the sound of fingers landing on holes.
Anderton, Malcolm Hey	1970	Musical Experience through the use of the recorder	London	Longman, in association with Boosey & Hawkes	Musical exerpts with little text	secondary school children	G A B B* C' D' F# E C F	7	24		french rhythm syllables; rhythms to be practised before each piece is played	TA for bright attack and DA for smoother attack Also mentions TAKA=TAKA for semiquavers.	orchestral and choral excerpts		Hopes to lay good foundations for GCE / CSE music. Uses themes form orchestral and choral works to promote music education / appreciation. Both treble and descant in parallel.
Addison, Richard	1970	Play and Sing	Edinburgh	Holmes McDougall	Green and black; no pictures		B A G E D F#	34	12	Stave lines in use are a different colour	none; all tunes have words (first tune is in 6/8 rhythm!)	none; a few staccato markings	original compositions		middle line of stave different colour. Says can be used with Orff instruments as well.
Tobin, Candida	1969	Colour Piping	London	Ginn & Co	Notes all colour-coded; no pictures		G A B C' D' D E F# F C	8	13	Each note is a different colour, corresponding to stickers on the recorder	French rhythm syllables, explained in detail	taa. Staccato and slurs introduced with E	original compositions	Coloured stickers to put on the recorder to help with fingering	http://www.tobinmusic.co.uk Unfortunately no little finger for low F
Priestly, Edmund & Fowler, F.	1969	The School Recorder Book (revised edition)	Leeds	EJArnold & Son	Close-packed music and words		B A G C' D' F# E D E' F	7	29		all rhythm in relation to crotchet = 1 beat.	te. Staccato and slurs before F#. Staccato articulated tut. Very young players may omit the 'slurring' but should master it as soon as possible. (p.19) mainly folk songs and hymn tunes Accompaniment books, second book. Foreward: revision simplifies the early stages of playing in order to suit the much younger players of today i.e. six-seven-year olds in the Infants' schools
Hunter, Hilda	1968	Descants in training	London	Faber Music	single line of music for each new note; no pictures or diagrams	adult beginners - trainee teachers	B A G E D C F C' B* D'	8	3		assumed	too; slurs with second note	exercises		very short publication consisting only of 26 one-line tunes to practise. Recommends starting every time with all fingers down, then raising the ones that aren't needed.
Sadleir, Richard	1967	Class Recorder tutor	London	B. Feldman & Co.	Close-packed music and words		B A G C' D' E D F# E'	7	7		Advocates foot tap on first beat of every bar! American rhythm names with English in brackets.	too. Slurs after D' on page 8; double tonguing (tu-ku) on p.23.	popular tunes from a range of sources	Guitar chords on most pieces.	Includes chordal playing for three groups of recorders, and a number of duets.
Dinn, Freda	1967	My Recorder Tune Book : a method for the descant recorder	London	Schott and Co.	Two-tone pictures on most openings	reference to small hands	A G B C' D' F# E D B* E'	6	5			none; occasional slurs throughout	folk songs and nursery rhymes	Piano accompaniments, and parts for treble recorder, violin and pitched percussion.	Music remains the same; presentation improved apart from smaller stave size. Despite reference to small hands in the introduction, the fingering illustrations show adult-sized hands holding the recorder.
Salkeld, Robert	1966	Play the Recorder	London	Chappell	Close-packed music and words	for schools and colleges	B A G C' D' E D F# C F	7	18		not explained, but new features highlighted for a teacher to explain	te as in 'tea-pot' (p.4) Staccato with note D': tu as in touch (p.12). Low notes: do as in 'do not cry'(p.17)	mainly folk songs and hymn tunes	A book of accompaniments for piano and percussion instruments followed a few years later.
Krainis, Bernard	1962	The Bernard Krainis recorder method for beginners of all ages	London	Galliard	music interspersed with text	all ages, at home or in the classroom	B A G C' D' E D F# C F	8	17		Recommends tapping foot to the beat, and playing the rhythm on percussion along with someone else.		folk songs, mainly from USA	percussion parts and guitar chords included	This was simultaneously published in America under the title The Recorder Song Book; Bernard Krainis was in an influential American recorder player.
Dolmetsch, Carl	1962	Start my way	London	Universal Edition	Long introduction and instructions, followed by music	the complete beginner and also those who can play other members of the recorder family.	C' A B G E D C F then chromatic notes in the first octave all at once	6	2		all rhythm in relation to crotchet = 1 beat.	articulation and accent are as vital to music as to the spoken word (p.5) te (possibly de for low notes); the tongue should end as well as begin the notes. Slurs and staccato after all first octave notes learnt.	After initial exercises, mainly 16th century music	treble book, identical except for the notes
Holst, Imogen	1959	Dolmetsch Descant Recorder	London	Hawkes & Son			B A G C' D' E D F C E'	7	15	detailed instructions on reading music in square brackets for those who need to know	note lengths described initially in relation to a semibreve, then to each other.	te. Staccato and slurs introduced before C', then used frequently.	original compositions, 16th / 17th century melodies, excerpts from The Beggar's Opera (1728).
Andreoni, C.	1959	Rapid Method (Flauto Dolce series)	London	Ricordi	mainly music; short introdiction then minimal text		G A B C' F E D C D' E'	5	0			silently pronouncing too; slurs near the end after C. Staccato in part 2 but not explained.	exercises and studies		Includes a fingering chart for a six hole recorder as well as a standard one at the start, but not referred to subsequently. The treble recorder is presented as a transposing instrument.
Goodyear, Stephen	1956	The New Recorder Tutor	London	Mills Music Ltd	Close-packed music and words		B A G D' C' F# D E C F	6	18		time values in relation to crotchet beats. Som eearly tunes have lines under the notes of different lengths.	t at beginning and end of each note. Slurs before f#	lots of original exercises; folk songs and nursery rhymes, some explicitly simplified.
Fiske, Roger & Dobbs, J.P.B.	1954	The Oxford School Music Books (Junior Bks 2 & 3)	Oxford	Oxford University Press	words and music	junior school children	B A G B* C' D' F# E D F	6	6	sol-fa used in the book for songs to be sung	time values compared to monetary values / coins!	not mentioned	folk songs		General music book for use in the classroom; includes recorder in Junior books 2 and 3.
Sadleir, Richard	1950	How to play the recorder - Paxton's progressive tutor	London	W. Paxton	music and brief instructions. A few photographs of poisture at the start, then not even fingering diagrams	photo in introduction of a young woman	G A B C' D' E D E' F# C	7	7		Initially french rhythm syllables, then counting the beats	tu; slurs with E, staccato after C' - aim for a sharp, explosive tu	Folk songs and popular tunes from all eras.
Bennett, Irene	1949	The Descant Recorder Tutor for schools (Revised Edition)	London	Boosey & Hawkes	no illustrations; text and music interspersed		C' B A G F E D C D' E'	7	3	assumes pupils can already read music.	assumes pupils can already read music.	t-ew; slurs and staccato from second note	17th + 18th century melodies		Minor revisions to 1940 edition, but with more part music at the end.
Dinn, Freda	1947	A Method for the Descant recorder: My Recorder Tune Book	London	Schott & Co	no illustrations; compact layout	reference to small hands	A G B C' D' F# E D B* E'	7	5	none	none	none; occasional slurs throughout	folk songs and nursery rhymes	Piano accompaniments, treble recorder and violin parts	Second printing; layout and content identical except that the fingering for B is taught before B*.
Dinn, Freda	1947	My Recorder Tune Book : a method for young children	London	Schott & Co	no illustrations; compact layout	young children under the guidance of a teacher	A G B* C' D' F# E D B(?) E'	7	5	none	none	none; occasional slurs throughout	folk songs and nursery rhymes	Piano accompaniments and violin parts	Intro mentions small hands find use of little finger almost impossible. The first printing had B* as standard, and the note in the front cover: The fingering used for the left hand notes B A and G is similar to the left-plus-right hand notes F# E and D thus forming a logical pattern
Bennett, Irene	1940	The Descant Recorder Tutor: a simple method	London	Boosey & Hawkes	no illustrations; text and music interspersed	school children	C' B A G F E D C D' E'	6	3	assumes pupils can already read music.	assumes pupils can already read music.	t-ew; slurs and staccato from second note	17th + 18th century melodies		Some of the fingering diagrams are inaccurate. Recommends dumb practice, resting the recorder on one's chin.
Priestley, Edmund & Fowler, Fred	1939	The School Recorder Book	London	E.J.Arnold & Sons Ltd	Close-packed music and words	Upper classes of Junior and Preparatory Schools and in all forms of Modern, Secondary and Grammar Schools as well as adults	C' D' B A G F E D C E'	7	8		French rhythm syllables	te; slurs introduced right at the end of the book	mainly folk songs and hymn tunes	Book 2. Also The School Recorder Handbook for teachers and adult learners, consisting of books 1 and 2 with more detailed introduction and teaching notes.	Includes a list of books which provide piano accompaniments to some of the tunes. For use In Elementary, Secondary and Grammar Schools, Evening Institutes, Adult Societies, among Scouts and Guides, and in the Home Circle
Hunt, Edgar	1939	Method for Group Instruction for Recorders : all types with the English fingering	London	Schott	mainly text, with just a few musical examples	teachers of groups of pupils	B A G F# C' D' E D C F	5	0	Assumes pupils can already read music.	Assumes pupils can already read music.	t or d; slurs introduced at the start	exercises, a few folk songs		Has recommendations for further repertoire at each stage. Suggests teaching trebles and descants together, alternating each group playing with the same fingering.
Haywood, Ernest	1939	The School Recorder Tutor	London	Joseph Williams Limited	Music with some instructions		B A G C' E D C F B* D'	7	14	Reading music assumed, but each new note shown in its position in C major scale.	Reading music assumed	gentle too. slurs with first two notes.	Exercises, then popular melodies		German fingering chart given at the back for recorders of foreign origin
Bennett, Irene	1938	Craft and Music	Leicester	The Dryad Press	Pages 21-33 are mainly instructions for recorder teachers, with examples of exercises to use with pupils	teachers of school children	C' B A G F E D C E' F' G'	6	2	Reading music assumed, but suggests printing fingerings (tablature) under each note to begin with	reading music assumed	t-ew - a gently explosive t The lips are drawn tautly and firmly, and on no account must be slack or loose	Exercises, then suggests simple rounds, then simple part music. a class must begin to play music in parts as soon as [possible]		Primarily a book about the bamboo pipe, but recorders are seen as a natural progression after pipes, or for talented children to begin on straight away. The recorder must be a means to an end, and should be replaced eventually by an orchestral instrument.
Bradford, Margaret & Parker, Elizabeth	1938	How to Play the Recorder	London	Chappell & Co.	Clear layout - new concepts at top of each page. Only picture is photo of ?11-yr-old boy showing posture.		A B G C' D' C#' E D F C	7	12		Introduced progressively with rhythmic exercises to clap before the pieces.	tu; du for lower notes, tut for staccato (after D') - tenuto also here. Legato tonguing explained after C'. Slurs after C#'.	Folk songs; most are duets with teacher part which may be played on the recorder or any other instrument.	Book 2, and two Alto / Treble books.	Published at same time in USA by G. Schirmer, Inc., with American terminology. Has complicated number tablature for describing fingerings, but a standard fingering chart at the front renders this almost useless. In UK edition, fingerings for C and C# are reversed in the chart. Includes German fingerings as alternatives.
Hunt, Edgar	1936	How to learn the fingering of the recorders	London	E.H.Hunt	mainly text, with just a few musical examples		B A G F C' E D C D' E'	5	3	Assumes pupils can already read music.	Assumes pupils can already read music.	none	n/a - just a very few short exercises		The full title is: How to learn the fingering of the recorders: descant, treble and tenor English system of fingering
Giesbert, F.J.	1936	Method for the Recorder (Blockflute) 100 dance tunes and melodies, 30 progressive exercises	London	Schott	small print and music; close-packed pages.		C' B* A B G D' G' A' F E	6	3		none	dü. Slurs and staccato introduced with first two notes. Tü for high notes, dhü for low notes. Low note after a high note: hü. Double tonguing near the end: dü-gü (low) or tü-kü (high)	Folk songs (mainly German) and Renaissance / Baroque music. Some original exercises.	none	Has treble and descant in parrallel throughout.
Dolmetsch, Carl	1936	Tablature and Tunes for the Recorders in C	London	The Dolmetsch Foundation	hand written in beautiful calligraphy and manuscript		fingering chart given for all notes up to D''	9	0	Assumes pupils can already read music.	Assumes pupils can already read music.	make softly the sound of 'Ta' with the tongue against the teeth	16th century English melodies	An equivalent booklet for Treble was published a year earlier. Also mentions Tunes for the Recorder in C which includes part music.	Enlarged version of the 1930 booklet, with a longer introduction and a few more tunes, this time attributed to Carol not Alrnold Dolmetsch but clearly written in the same hand. Buttress fingering no longer included.
Hunt, Edgar	1935	A Concise Tutor for Descant, Treble and Tenor Recorders for use in schools	London	Boosey & Hawkes	lengthy introduction, then lots of music.	school children	all at once: C to G' (all naturals)	7	0	Assumes pupils can already read music.	Assumes pupils can already read music.	tu - keep blowing and separate notes with the tongue. Double tonguing: tu-ku or tootle, triple tonguing: tu-ke-te. Slurs and staccato mentioned.	Mainly rounds for descant / tenor, the duets for treble in second half, followed by trios.
Hunt, Edgar & Donnington, Robert	1935	A Practical Method for the Recorder	London	Oxford University Press	lengthy introduction, then lots of music.	Those who feel the desire to play music, but lack the money and the time required by any of the more usual instruments.	fingering chart given for all notes up to D''	7	0	Assumes pupils can already read music.	Assumes pupils can already read music.	tu; double tonguing uses the front and back of the tongue: tu-ku, tootle, du-gu also mentioned, as is slurring and staccato.	16th - 18th century music of considerable complexity mainly in 2 parts	Volume II has trios, quartets and quintets including a bass recorder part.	Contains 4 melodies for treble recorder written with the fingering below - i.e. in tablature notation.
Dolmetsch, Arnold	1930	Tablature and Tunes for the Descant Recorder in C	London	The Dolmetsch Foundation	hand written in beautiful calligraphy and manuscript		fingering chart given for all notes up to D''	9	0	Assumes pupils can already read music.	Assumes pupils can already read music.	not mentioned	16th century English melodies	equivalent booklet for Treble was published a year earlier, with the same melodies	The first piece has tablature below the notes - this includes butress fingering which is strangely not included in the fingering chart.
author	date	title	place of publication	publisher	illustrations / presentation	intended audience	order of first ten notes	size of staves at start in mm	no. of 3-note tunes / exercises	music notation (pitch)	approach to rhythm	tonguing and articulation	type of music at start	supplementary material	additional notes

Cite this page as: Cannon, Alison 2022–2024. Recorder Home Page: UK Recorder Tutor Books 1930-2015. Last accessed 26 April 2024. https://www.recorderhomepage.net/uk-recorder-tutor-books/