Musical ADD

[telerib]

If I had infinite time and money, I'd learn to play:

* Spanish guitar
* Harpsichord
* Bassoon
* 'Cello? Probably 'cello.

And my latest "ooh, shiny!" moment came during "Improv for Melody Instruments," which I taught at Atlantian University last Saturday. One gentle brought his wooden alto recorder. It sounded so rich and sweet!

I may make a deal with myself that, if I can reach some level of proficiency on the soprano Yahama that I already have, I will be permitted to spend money on an alto or tenor. If my fingers can even cover a tenor!

Plastic or wood? They say really good things about the Yamaha 300 series... hey, giddysinger, are those what you have? Before I go and spend any money, can I blow your whistle sometime?

Comments

[aemccurry.livejournal.com]

If I can toss in my two shekels here... I have both plastic and wood sopranos and tenors. The wood soprano is horribly flat and can't be played in an ensemble; although it isn't exactly top of the line. The plastic one, which is a cheap Yamaha, has a good bright sound and is generally in tune. On the tenors, the wood one has a sweet tone but it's not as full, and the low notes don't speak as well. I think it's pearwood. The plastic one has a brighter tone and keys for the low C and C-sharp - easier on short fingers. Now a good quality wooden tenor may have a key or two as well. My alto, which I got second hand, is wood, I don't know what kind. Sweet tone and behaves itself well over the full range. My sopranino is plastic, yet another Yamaha I think.

It's been my experience that wood will give a generally more mellow tone but it varies from maker to maker and between different kinds of wood. Wood is also sensitive to extremes of heat and humidity. Plastic is generally more reliably in tune, and better quality models can sound just as nice as wood.

Also keep in mind that unless the music is transposed, alto (and 'nino, and bass) are fingered differently from tenor and soprano.

On another note, you already play harp - spanish guitar might not be too difficult of a transition.

{/geek mode}

[telerib.livejournal.com]

Yes, I have a wooden pennywhistle and it's a piece of crap. I wouldn't go wood just to have it - I'd probably want a Moeck or some other respectable name. But I've definitely heard that the good plastics sound just fine and, although it's been ages since I've heard you or Giddy on yours, I seem to recall that they sounded good. Given the amount of time I don't have to put into practicing, it seems like a much better idea to get a top-notch plastic than a good wood.

The alto's an F instrument, aye? I'm not sure how badly that'll mess with my head. I'm hoping to cope. :) I literally want to get my hands on a tenor before I buy one, just to make sure my fingers can reach all the holes. Um, if I buy one. Because I need to learn on the instrument I have before blowing more money on new stuff. Yup.

Guitar *definitely* messes with my head. There is more than one note per string! And you can play the same note on different strings! More practically, though, I need fingernails for my wire harp, and the guitar needs not-fingernails (on one hand anyway). :(

[aemccurry.livejournal.com]

Ya, alto and bass (and 'nino and great bass) are F fingering - you either transpose in your head or you learn a second set of fingering and try not to get confused switching back and forth. A tenor without keys can be a bit of a stretch if you have short fingers. If you see me before you see Giddy, you can certainly play with mine.

[telerib.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[giddysinger.livejournal.com]

What was that quote from 'The Graduate?'

"One word: Plastics."

I have had a lot of poor luck with wooden recorders, and at my level of expertise they are not a wise investment. I love my plastic Yamahas, though. They've got good sound and they respond well to my fingering.

I agree that woods can have a much richer and mellower tone than plastics, but you really have to be ready to spend a lot of time with the instrument before you buy it -- even to the point of bringing a few friends along to hear how it sounds when played in a group. The soprano that aemccurry mentioned that doesn't play at true concert pitch? Yeah, I've had that one too. It was a complete waste of money, because I specifically bought it to play with the CCC.

I'll come back to this thread when I have some more free time. (HAH!) Off to rehearsal now...