(no subject)
Oh man, I just accidentally ate a whole bag of chocolate-covered coffee beans and then played recorder for over an hour. I'm still feeling the effects of some sort of weird caffeine/oxygen overdose.
So, I've been thinking more about Chamber Music at Caltech, about seriously playing the recorder, and about something that's been on my mind for a few years - buying my own high-quality recorder. Despite the fact I own two trombones and a decent recorder (all inherited from my dad), buying my own musical instrument would be a new experience for me. The recorder I currently own looks about like this:
Although mine is a different brand (Concerto?). I'm guessing it's pearwood, which is a softer wood and means it has a shorter lifetime, with a dark finish. It would probably go for around $25 new.
This is the recorder I'm currently thinking about buying, although I'd definitely need to consult a professional recorder player first. It's an Ariel Soloist soprano recorder in rosewood from Zamir, a company in Israel. It would only cost around $130, which is the cheapest I've found any rosewood recorder for (most are $200-$500). I don't care too much about the price. As long as I'm spending this much, I might as well get a good recorder, but I think this one might be the best choice. If I take good care of it, it will last my entire lifetime.
I've also been reading up on recorder care and spent a good amount of time freaking out over not oiling my recorder every month and breaking it in and stuff. (I had no idea there was stuff you're supposed to do to your recorder. Honest!) Actually, considering my dad bought my recorder before I was born and that it spent years untouched in a cardboard box, I have no idea why it's in such good condition. Also, it was nice to know I wasn't imagining the condensation building up problem and that blowing really quickly through the recorder really is what you're supposed to do (my parents gave me such odd looks whenever I'd do that). And it turns out it's bad for the recorder to be played more than 50 minutes a day. *cringe* I'm supposed to have a back-up recorder if I want to play longer. Honestly, this stuff isn't a big problem for my current recorder, but if I get a more expensive recorder I'll need to know what to do.
In conclusion, Fawkes is very excited about recorders and needs to find a professional recorder player very soon.
So, I've been thinking more about Chamber Music at Caltech, about seriously playing the recorder, and about something that's been on my mind for a few years - buying my own high-quality recorder. Despite the fact I own two trombones and a decent recorder (all inherited from my dad), buying my own musical instrument would be a new experience for me. The recorder I currently own looks about like this:
Although mine is a different brand (Concerto?). I'm guessing it's pearwood, which is a softer wood and means it has a shorter lifetime, with a dark finish. It would probably go for around $25 new.
This is the recorder I'm currently thinking about buying, although I'd definitely need to consult a professional recorder player first. It's an Ariel Soloist soprano recorder in rosewood from Zamir, a company in Israel. It would only cost around $130, which is the cheapest I've found any rosewood recorder for (most are $200-$500). I don't care too much about the price. As long as I'm spending this much, I might as well get a good recorder, but I think this one might be the best choice. If I take good care of it, it will last my entire lifetime.
I've also been reading up on recorder care and spent a good amount of time freaking out over not oiling my recorder every month and breaking it in and stuff. (I had no idea there was stuff you're supposed to do to your recorder. Honest!) Actually, considering my dad bought my recorder before I was born and that it spent years untouched in a cardboard box, I have no idea why it's in such good condition. Also, it was nice to know I wasn't imagining the condensation building up problem and that blowing really quickly through the recorder really is what you're supposed to do (my parents gave me such odd looks whenever I'd do that). And it turns out it's bad for the recorder to be played more than 50 minutes a day. *cringe* I'm supposed to have a back-up recorder if I want to play longer. Honestly, this stuff isn't a big problem for my current recorder, but if I get a more expensive recorder I'll need to know what to do.
In conclusion, Fawkes is very excited about recorders and needs to find a professional recorder player very soon.